Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-25

A painting by Howard Pyle hangs in
the lobby of the palatial Hotel du Pont,
IN wilmington, Del. The subject Is the
du Pont powder train conveying powder
from Wilmington to Commodore Perry
for the battle OF Lake Erie in 1913. The
train consists of a Conestoga wagon,
drawn by six horses, under military es-
cort. That was more than 100 years ago.
They are still making powder, these
descendants of the du Points, and the
powder has made Wilmington. But no
brush of Howard Pyle could express
on canvas the contrast between the pow-
der train of 1873 and the endless powder
trains of 1915. or of the ships loaded with
the munitions OF war which pass In the
night outside the Delaware Capes. Ac-
cording to all accounts, 1t would take
miles of moving picture films to do justice
TO such a contrast
No one in Wilmington seems to know,
even approximately. the present output
Of the several du Pont plants, or IL any
one does know the secret is well
guarded. Guesses range all the way from
100000 to 100000 pounds day. Even the
banks that are asked to lend on du Pont
stock as collateral can get no informa-
ton on which to base values.
One thing Is self-evident: The European
war has brought prosperity to Whining
ton. Money is plentiful. Retail business
Is brisk in all lines, and were II not for
T..
with the machinists and the brewery
workers, unemployment would be un-
known. Labor, skilled and unskilled, is
at a premium.
stupendous war orders are being rushed
through regardless of cost. Wages and
the hours of labor constituting a days
work are no object. Everything is con-
ceded wherever war orders are. being
executed.
But other manufacturers in Whining
ton not reaping a harvest of war orders.
and there are many OF them, are COM
planning of the Generalization of the
labor market. They have plenty OF or
ders on their books, but they cannot
command war prices or make war profits
on their output. Labor, and by this is
meant skilled labor, they say is intoxi-
Gated by the present abnormal condi-
ditions and demands war wages and
war hours, which they cannot grant, so
skilled labor quits work and goes on
strike.
For this reason many machine shops
are running short handed or are closed
down. Although Wilmington is asso-
ciated in most minds with the manufac-
ture of powder and explosives, the du
Pont plants are located at Carney's Point
across the Delaware. in New Jersey, at
Brandywine, at Gibbstown and Haskell,
N j. and the colossal one now in course
Of erection at City Point, Va. AS one man
rlous plants the hands and New York the
pocketbook of the du Port interests.
, At present Wilmington has a popula-
tlon of about $1,000. an increase of about
5000 during this year. This does not in
clude the workers at the du Pont plant
at Carney's Point across the river.
Outside the millions invested by the
du Pont plants, Wilmington has about
s500Oo,OO0 invested in other Industrial in
terests. Leather, glazed kid, shipbuilding,
machinery, specialized and all other
kinds; textiles, paper. vulcanized fibre,
rubber hose are among its principal
r things made. With the exception of the
machine shops, all seem to be on a wave
Of prosperity.
During the last few months general
retail business in Wilmington has in
creased about Is per cent, an indication
Of the improved conditions among the
wage-eaPners. 1t is said that in some
branches of the manufacture of war
munitions the increase in the same. time
Is about 1900 per cent.
There is a dearth of small houses, and
no special enort seems to be put forth
TO meet this situation. According to
Charles f. Anderson, Building Inspector
for the city, this arises from law which
requires the payment of full taxes from
the moment construction begins, and
operates against the builders who erect
that class of houses on speculation.
Otherwise the prosperity of Wilmington
Is amply reflected in the following build
ing operations now in progress.
A county and municipal building. cost
10000; a business college, to cost about
10000; a bakery, to cost $4,000 besides
Continued nm Pare Thirteen. CoIumn Ons