Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-10-22

TO the Editor of the Shenan-
doah HERALD.

AOsSAA = = A$AA "A 4SOs
Dear Sir I'm your issue of
Sept. 18th you published letter
relative to conditions at the Dul
Pont Powder Company's Plant
and of Hopewell and CITY Point
which are so unreasonably vague
and unfair that l would appreci-
ate your kindness if you would
find space in your valuable paper
to publish this letter.
The construction of the plant
is progressing remarkably fast.
At the present time, they are
furnishing units 9x12 and start
ing units 1lx12 (each unit COM
prising several large buildings
covering acres of ground.) The
largest sulphuric acid plant in
the world is now rapidly nearing
completion. In fact. the con-
struction department, with its
5000 and over of employees, were
never buster than at the present.
No one employed by the COM
pany need ever fear being dis
charged if he does his duty. l have
known many instances where
men haye applied for work ask
ing that they might be given
the position that would pay big
money and require little work-a
soft snap! The company will
soon find out that class of men
and the discharge will, invar1-
ably follow.
The company exceptionally
generous, never allows man to
go naked when his clothes have
been burned by acid-providing
that the man was not made the
loser by his own carelessness,
which so frequently happens.
Requisitions for pants, shirts,
shoes and hats are Immediately
given in case of accidents to all
worthy ones who suffer loss oil
wearing apparel.
| l have had the pleasure Of
having many of the men from
Shenandoah" working for mt
and they have proved to bt
among the best I've had. Many
of them holding good positions
earned by hard conscientiou:
work and having plenty of TIT
native ability to aid them.
i Considering the number o
men employed the negroes do no
show up very strong, about
per cent perhaps The Italian
!Greek. Russian-in fact, the Ell
tire foreign element employed
may average as high as 90 pc
lcent. Virginia certainly has tn
larger number of Americans an,
proud she may be OF them. Yol
will find men from every Stat
in the Union, and from ever,
Icorner of the earth. Is it an,
wonder that in the large numbe
employed in both construction
and operating department. abou
liz, 200 that there should be SOM
unworthy and lawless men? In
deed, it is remarkable, consider
ing the easy manner that on.
may secure employment
that there has not beef
more crooks around and NOR
lawlessness committed. AS it i
there is hardly a case of hold
ups, ssaults, murders or thiev
ling that is not exaggerated. Ii
many instances mythical, the stor,
of an imaginative mind seeking
notoriety.
| Search the world over and 70,
will never find a better class O.
lpeople than are found here in thu
plant villages. One who ha:
never been in City Point O,
Hopewell villages can conceive
what splendid city of homes
there is. Every possible modern
Improvement is given to the EN-.
Iployees. A magnificent $40, 600
Club House for the pleasure OF
all worthy employees and their
ia antilles, Y. M. C. A. buildings,
School Houses, Churches and
even free Moving Picture build
ings, in fac: everything to pro-
mote healthy and high class
community.
The fatalities occurring in the
plant have been fearfully ex-
aggeratei. In all this vast un-
dertaking the loss of life by ac-
cidents has not numbered more
than ten. In an undertaking
costing $4,000, 900 and more.
employing the large army of
workers that have been employed
here is certainly making a most