Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-31
MONTHLY PAY ROLL
IS NOW S1,600,0OO
Twenty Thousand Men in Oper-
ating and Construction Forces
Of Big Works.
BUILDINGS ARE PERMANENT
Already Largest Guncotton and
Sulphuric Acid Factory in
United States.

With a monthly pay roll Of $1,000, 69s
the T. I. du Pont dc Nemours Powdc. !,
Company pays out more money ai
iiopcwcll than any other corporation
in Nirginia-an amount probably equal
to the pay roll of all the industries in
any OF the cities of Virginia cXcept
Richmond.
For the two weeks ending Saturday,
October %, there were more than 10000
men on the pay roll, including oDcrat-
ing and construction forces. and at the
present time the number Of employees
is being increased because OF the de-
sire TO rush construction work before
cold weather sets in. AS long as the
war in Europe continues-and every
ono agrees that the end is not in sight
the operating force OF the plant will
not be decreased. When the additions
to the plant shall have been completed
the places OF the construction men will
he taken by regular employees
GuNCOTrON PLANT Is LARGEST
IN THE UNITED STATES
While the powder company has never
made public the exact nature Of it's
plans for the plant at Hopcwell, it is
known that the guncotton operations
are the most extensive in the United
States The sulphuric acid plant,
which is now in course of construc.
ton Will be the largest in the world.
Sulphuric acid is staple product, and
the demand for it is not dependent al
together on the war in Europe
The acid plant will give employment
10 large number of chemists as well
as other classes of men skilled in the
handling OF explosives, and as perma-
ncnt feature of the plant, is more
hn
manufacture of Euncotton. The acid
units are now nearing completion. The
buildings are constructed along moro
permanent lines than other depart
ments. which were put up hurriedly
when the demand for war munitions
first became imperative.
EQUIPPED TO HANDLE
NITRATE AND BY-PRODUCTS
In addition to the guncotton and sui
phuric acid units the plant is equipped
for handling nitrate and manufacture
ing its by-products. by reason OF it's
proximity to Norfolk, the cost OF
transporting nitrate TO ITopewell from
South America is comparatively small.
The nitrate equipment is said to DO
The most elaborate in America
When the Du Pont company pur-
chased its first tract of land in 1912, tho
intention was to erect n dynamite
plant. which would cost $4,000. 900
when completed. No effort was made
to enlarge the original unit until after
the outbreak of the war in Europe
The dynamite manufacturing outht at
that time had cost less than 81, 900. 900.
The construction of isuncotton, nj
trat" and sulphuric acid units has been
in progress only since September, 1914,
when the Du Pont COMPANY began to
Ec; big war orders from England.
France and Russia. The contracts call
for delivery within II certain period,
and offer 4 bonus OF substantial
amounts for each day earlier the prod
uct is delivered at Il seaport specified.
Under the bonus system. 1t has been
worth while to the Du Points to pay
a higher wage scale than the average ,
industrial plant or this character, and
at the same time the bonus Is defray-
ing the cost of construction.
COMPANY HAS SPENT IMMENSE
SUN IN EQUIpI'ING BIG PLANT
Ii is estimated that S1S,00Q,O 900 has
been spent III material and labor on
the plant and that the company Will
have put $4,000. 900 into II whom the
present plans are completed These
Continued on Second Pagel