The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1915-11-04

who would lave been hired by the
company if they had not lost nerve
after reaching the new explosive CELL
ter. The making of high explosives is
a hazardous occupation, and many
lei who would like to draw the good
wages paid by the explosive company
have given up their chances of employ
ment at the last moment through fear.
There are men, too, who have come to
Emporium for work who have left the
place because they did not care to
work upon war orders. In fact, the
creation Of the new plant, which will
bring great prosperity to the little
mountain town Of Emporium, has
played hob with the consciences Of
hundreds of people. 1t is thing to
make powder for firing shots in coal
mines and Guarries and quite another
thing to make high explosives for the
use of an army or armies. In Elm.
poril m and in the neighboring larger
towr OF Ridgway and st. Marys the
old-f, ,shioned conscience has been dis.
owe ed even among big business NE
80 - w wv
with the new company as long as it
manufactures explosives to be. used in
the Staying Of human beings.
While the company is absolutely
secretive as to it's orders, it is build.
ing a plant which has every evidence
Of being a permanent establishment.
Were the war in Europe to stop to.
morrow there would be a slump in the
making of high explosives in the
United States. 1t is rumored at Elm
porium, all statements there pertain.
ing to the new explosive plant being
rumors, that the great plant being
built by the holding company may
eventually be taken owe by the United
States government for the manufac.
ture Of explosives to be used by the
United States army and navy. The
presence Of government inspectors at
the big plant has given rise to this
rumor. Influential lei in Emporium,
men who are supposed to know a little
of the inside workings of the explosive
] company, are noncommittal as to the
governments interest in the plant,
stating that it is perfectly natural for
government inspectors to inspect the
manufacture of explosives at any plant
in the country and that it is not at all
unlikely that the government is having
guncotton made for future use, a fact
which would account for the presence
Of the federal inspectors at the plant.
A Girantic Concern.
The completion Of the new explosive
plant at Emporium will have been
done in record time. The company re.
Gently raised the wages of all its work.
ers so per cent, promising them an ad-
ditional SO per cent raise if the war in
Europe continues another year. It is
unofficially stated the company has
orders from Europe for $4,000. 900
worth Of explosives. 1t is estimated
the Emporium plant at completion will
have cost $4,000, 0Co. The company
has other plants, but the new one at
Emporium will be it's largest. The
most modern machinery designed for
the making Of high explosives has
been installed in the plant at great ex.
pense. There are huge retorts weigh.
ing 21,000 pounds, which have been
put into position Lately, the biggest re.
torts ever used in the manufacture of
explosives. Everything about the new
plant is on a vast scale, a scale which
dwarfs the old explosive plants still
operating in the Emporium district.