Evening journal., 1915-11-20

made patriotism and public, service
their watchwords." As a consequence
In the hours Of national crisis the ~
Points have become national counselors'
and were intimately concerned in the
great problems Of defense and offense
presenting themselves TO successive
Cabinets.
But the du Points did not always pros
per financially. for. on at least two oc-
casions disaster overlook the house. In
1918. when the mills i'm Wilmington were
putting out three-quarters of million
pounds of powder a year. the plant was
almost entirely destroyed by an explo-
sion. Stunned by the disaster, Eleuthere,
the founder, saw his personal fortune
swept away. But ere the burning em-
bers had ceased to smoke, he. with his
eldest son. Alfred Victor, set TO work
to resurrect the plant. The rebuilding
called for resource, pluck and per-
spicacity OF rare quality. European
made powder was Offering at the At
iantic ports. and should the factories
not be started up promptly the trade
! would be lost and foreign-made prod
lucts hold the market.
Father and son saw that nothing but
a superior article could retrieve the
market. and the younger du Pont, fresh
from his scientific studies in the Ameri-
oratories. and was ready by the time
lpart of the plant had been rebuilt 10
lput upon the market powder so superior
to any that was offered by the foreign
manufacturers. that the company
speedily regained the trade 10 the prac-
tlcal exclusion OF all European-made
powder.
Eleuthere. the founder. died OF cholerz
lin Philadelphia, In 1884 Four years latei
the young head Of the company was
called upon TO weather the disastrou:
panic Of 1887. and so masterfully did hs
handle the finances of the company thai
LIT emerged vastly magnifed in indus
trial and financial importance. II wal
during the presidency of Alfred Nictol
du Pont that the company was callet
upon 20 furnish the powder for th'
Government during the war with Mexi
co, in the year 1876. Again the company
stood behind the Government and turn
p ed out its product first and sought u
T, profits afterward. Throughout the wa
r the company, by extraordinary EFFORT
> managed TO mold its commercial bust
. ness and furnish the Government will
the large amount of explosives calle'
= for. That 1t did succeed was due Il
!, large measure to the splendid fnancia
genius Of Henry du Pont, a younee
] brother who had resigned his commits
e the burden Of the family.
= Chief Source of Supply.
4 A year after the close OF the war wit
n Mexico a second disastrous explosio
I, wrecked the plant in Wilmington an
= disrupted the family fortune. But III
: indomitable spirit of the du Points ros
/. above fortunes rebuff, and the factorie
e we're a second time rebuilt. Again n
o business was saved from foreign con
4 petition througb combined financial an
e ichemical al For. when the plar
y was ready esume powder maxim
: Improved pc. sr was manufacture
u and again the fortunes OF the famil
T forged ahead. until seven years att
/ the explosion the company was sendir
y powder abroad. IN competition with q
foreign product. and little later b
y came the chief source OF supply for u
= munitions of war for the Crimea.
- Then came the four years of the CT
War, with its enormous demands up
munitions and upon patriotism. T
II company was placed under the awi
of strain and responsibility of not fall
l- their country in time Of need And h
Is torians have recognized the fact that