Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-09-08
Contract For shrapneI.

WV ia
! = n Guaranty Trust company
asks Herr Schmidt to authorize it to
guarantee on behalf of the Deutsches
bank OF Berlin $40, 900 to cover a con-
tract between the projectile company
ana Henry Disston & Sons. Inc, of
Philadelphia. for 1000, 900 pieces Of
steel to be used in the manufacture of
shrapnel,
The present officers Of the Bridgeport
Projectile company are: President,
Walter H. Knight. formerly of New
York; treasurer, Charles Heynen, form
erly of New York: secretary, Attorney
Carl Folver, who holds no stock and is
counsel for the company. The company
was incorporated March 81 last with a
capital of 2. 1000, 900. fully paid in.
Three factory buildings are nearly
completed. They expect to start OPP
September 10.
AS evidence of the charges concern
Ing the financing of a munition plant.
the World presents the following data
and alleged correspondence:
"Ihe Bridgeport Projectile company.
A Of June 80, 1915.
Status of contract between A.
Article 1-(Specihcations):
Advised B under date of June z
to any change in specifications,
he has ordered tools and machinery
to suit h manufacturers of shrapnel
cases In accordance with the speciica-
attached to the contract, this be-
Ing necessary in order to enable him to
comply with the terms of delivery.
Thus the first cases will be manu-
featured under United States e
ment specifications, and A proposes to
make an arrangement with the army
n navy departments at Washington
than If no firm order from the United
States government can be secured by
the time that the manufacturing is
to commence, the first cases shall be
manufactured under the inspection Of
States government officials and
shall be tested by them, SO that upon
subsequently securing any orders from
n United States government imme-
date delivery may be made.
This had the advantage Of bringing
the b. p. company prominently before
and overtures in that direction made
by A personally at Washington, we re-
ceived with great satisfaction.
"The construction Of the factory Is
most satisfactorily, of
which I convinced myself personally on
a recent visit to Bridgeport. The most
buildings, forge and ma
chine shops are almost under roofs:
the other buildings are fairly under
way: presses, machinery and all other
material is being promptly assembled.
and there is every indication that de-
liveries will commence as provided in
the contract, 1. e., on September /, 1915.
Gives Plan Of Plant.
Hereto attached is a plan Of the b.
F. company's grounds, giving floor out
lines OF the various buildings and in
dicating the railway. tracks leading in
to the factory for the delivery of raw
Int fuel, and for the loading
of the products from and to railroad
A advised B under date of MAY IL
(see exhibits M of report May 31). that
534 hydraulic presses, suitable or nee
essary for the manufacture of shells
tracted for. mostly with privilege Of
Of part of the orders
payment OF an indemnity.
There are actually being manufac-
tured. and will be delivered to A.. 1872
presses. the prices of which aggre-
gates $427,550. There have been can
celed until date. 392 presses at an ag-
gregate cost of indemnity Of $23S, 545.64.
A provided for in the agreement,
all contracts of purchase between Al
and the builders have been approved
by me In representation Of B, but as
anticipated. during the discussions
A and B prior to the final
"a AAAo 0R VI AN d6x 0OkAkCIxle IL HAS
impossible to contractually bind
builders to exclusive manufacture
for A. since that would be contrary to
laws, duplicating both con-
parties; furthermore, that
question proved very delicate and re-
CURED a good deal Of diplomacy in
dealing with the manufacturers, SO as
to avoid suspicion.
Concerning finances, the document
1.-THE statement or finance program
submitted with my report Of May 81
exhibit NJ has not suffered any change
since that date.
There exists no doubt as to the eff
cheney n splendid results as regards
pany. was created. BY the purchases
Of all the powder available in the Uni
ted States to January 1, 1915, all the
prospective contractors for complete
ghrapnel rounds who applied to Aetna
TOR powder were advised by them that
q b. =. company was the only cor
Germ that had powder to furnish (the
only other manufacturers) the Dupont
company. having all their output COM
tracted for into 1916, have applied to
tne i. P. company for bids on COM
plete shrapnel rounds, and such re-
quests ave come from representatives
OF all the allied nations.
ct first the 3. =. company re-
tueed 20 entertain any such business,
lately such propositions : being list
TO and negotiations are proforma
carried on. IL only for the purpose OF
causing delays to the inQuirers. Ar q
OF U negotiations both Rus
ana English government represen-
eatives will submit bona fide proposals.
Gil OF war; will have to be held With b.
for the purp00e OF diacuanlne tho Nos.