The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1915-11-04
Millions of Dollars Worth of Ex-
nIosNes to Be Made in
Pennsylvania.
GREAT SECRECY MAINTAINED
Mammoth Industry Due to Europes
Demands for War Materials
Springs Up-Hazardous Work
for Which Men Are Paid
Big Wages.

Philadelphia.-In order to fill vast
wal oruels, a mighty high explosive
plant is being built in a valley near
the small town of Emporium, Cameron
county, Pennsylvania. Emporium for
years has manufactured powder and
dynamite, the explosives being used
chiefly for mining and blasting
purposes. An explosive company,
backed by millions of dollars, has
bought up the old powder and dyna.
mite plants in Cameron county and
has started the manufacture Of gun.
cotton and other high explosives in the
plant now being brought to completion
ear Emporium.
The company has huge war orders
been necessary for hundreds of i'm
ported men to work night and day in
building the new explosive plant, which
extends over one mile up the valley
and which is composed of over loo
separate buildings, the cotton plant"
as the guncotton department is called
at Emporium, being the most extensive
Of the new buildings.
At this time the creation of a great
Industrial plant rear the village of En-,
porium has taxed the rooming capacity
Of the town far beyond its limits. In
order to do the necessary building and
to start work in the buildings as soon
as completed, over 600 outside men
have been brought into Emporium. In
order to house the future permanent
workers of the new plant. practically
new town will have to be built, either
by the company or by local specula'
tors. Many new homes are now under
construction and many more are to be
built.
Suspicious Of Strangers.
On account of the filing of war or
ders for high explosives the company
Is suspicious OF strangers who visit the
new plant. On duty all the time at the
plant are 26 armed guards, deputy
sheriffs carrying rifles and revolvers,
who do not hesitate to hold up stran.
gers on the state highways near the
plant and question them as to their
business in Emporium. Naturally, the
company fears some fanatic might gain
entrance to the plant and do mischief
which might result in the killing Of
workers and a delay in filling war or
ders. The to vn of Emporium was
thrown into a panic a few days ago
by the report that an %aeroplane was
seen lowering over tie new guncctton
plant ct night. From all the writer
could learn at Emporium the story OF
the aeroplane was a mere fabrication.
Nevertheless, the company leaves no
stone %rnturncd to protect it's property
from strangers who might be bent on
making trorh'c.
Rerc-.5 have c~ircr'ated throughout
western Penn sylva~:a and western
New York to The eject that there ia
work at Emporium for hundreds Of
men,. AS a result, the little town has
been and still is deluged with job seek
ers, most of whom are fitted in no way
Tor the work TIE company desires done.
Emporium and to- rs near it have
raised many powder and dynamite
workers. These men have been given
employment III the new plant at great
ly increased wages and they are the
real backbone Of the new industry. Ex-
plosive makers are not made over
night and the big company is not
hiring careless inconpetents to do the
work of filling it's great orders. Car.
penters and masons, concrete workers
and steamfitters, and various other
skilled workers have been in demand
at Emporium and the demand has been
pretty well filled. There is no place
there, however for the average com
mon laborer who is cut Of work, fol-
the average common laborer cannot be
trusted with the handling Of high ex
plosives.
Attracts Many Workers.
The boom at Emporium has attract
ed many men in search of work, mer