Evening journal., 1915-07-13
BEHIND WALL MEN.
TURN OUT SHELLS
FOR BELuGERENTS
Peep Through Holes in Bar
rier as Machines Press
Explosives
MODERN METHODS IN
new Castles PLANT

Special TO THE EVENING JOURNAL
. NEW CASTLE, Del, July 13-With-
in a few days the new plant of the
Bethlehem Steel Company just below
this place will begin its work of
turning out loaded shells for the
European belligerents. Thousands of
shells will be shipped across the riv-
ef on the steel car float owned by
the company and sent abroad with
other munitions of war from the
New Jersey side of the river
The powder is on hand for loading
the shells and so are the other ma
terials. The machinery has been
operated for an experiment in order
TO ascertain if 1t ran properly and
all is now in readiness for work
when the order comes. The plant is
now fenced in, and no more visitors
will be allowed about It, The pier is
finished and the big steel car float is
making regular trips across the river
TO Carney's Point and return.
There are several buildings Of con-
siderable size on the site purchased
The cost of the plant is estimated
somewhere about S150.OO0. but the
number of people employed will not
be large. According to those about
tie plant there is but one point in
the entire operation in which there
can be danger and that is where the
shells are pressed after the ammuni-
tion and shrapnel is put in. Thework
of loading the paper mache receipt
acles. which go inside the shell is COM
paratively simple according to those
who understand the process, but the
shells have to be pressed, or primed
as some call it. so that they will be
effective and can be handled.
Every precaution has been taken
for the safety of the men who are em-
ployed in loading the projectiles and
also to protect the other buildings in
case an explosion should occur. The
building where the machinery for this
purpose is located is open on the side
next to the river. The other three
walls are stout and the roof is so
made that il might be lifted without
great difficulty. In this building are
-four presses and to each press are
four men. The shells are placed in
The presses which then work auto
matically.
Behind the machines for the protec-
tion of the men and also for the pro-
lection of the other buildings in case
an explosion should occur is a five
feet thick concrete wall similar TO
the wall of a fort Behind this the
men remain while the machines are
working and watch them through a
peephole In case a machine does
not appear to be operating properly
it can be stopped and the trouble To-
Gated. It is claimed that in case
there was an explosion the wall not
only would protect the men, but
would prevent the force of the eX-
plosion being communicated to the
other buildings. In the other build
ings there is belived to be no par
ticular danger of an explosion.
According TO those interested in the
plant the most important job for all
concerned is that of the man who
weighs out the powder for each she'll
So long as he gets the correct weight
each time there is no danger for the
load and the shrapnel will fit and
the presses will make nice job of 1t
but should he get an overload Of
powder and the press force the other
material down on the powder there
might be trouble. He does not make
mistakes, however, for il is to his in.
terest to see that nothing happens. Ir
addition to this there is no desire tC
waste powder even should nothing &C.
cur in consequence.