Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-02
RICHMOND CAPITALISTS
MAY BUILD BIC FACTORY
preliminary Meetings Have Beer
Held, and Agents Are Now So
liciting Orders.
Make SHELLS FOR BIG GUNS
To Manufacture Large Quantities OF
Shrnpnel in Richmond to he Used
by Warning Factions in Europe.
Contracts May BE Landed Mt Once.

The establishment Of large factory
IN or near Richmond which will fur
hish employment for hundreds of cx-
pert laborers I'm the manufacture OF
shrarnel. an explosive she'll filled with
bullets. to be used by the warning fac
tons I'm Europe. is expected TO result
within few weeks from meetings OF
we'll Unknown capitalists which have re-
Gently been held Efforts have been
made fo- several days to perf.c. the
organization of the company to en-
gage In the manufacture OF shrapncl
ana II Is stated that large part OF
inc stock has been subscribed, hut M
yet no application for charter for
the opposed concern has been made
From authentic sources Il was
learned last night that agents for the
ilchmond capitalists Interested in the
project are now In New York CITY con.
fcrrinG with manufacturing experts
and others Interested In the scheme and
communicating with representatives OF
foreign governments in an effort to de-
t",minc whether contracts for large
amounts Of shrapncl can be closed AT
once should those interested deem Il
eNpedicnt to begin work Immediately
on the proposed plant.
MAY CLOSE CONTRACT
RUNNING INTO MILLIONS
agents ut work in New York CITY
expect shortly TO close n contract for
10000 shells. at approximately $50
each making the contract In round
figures amount to s37.50o.oOo.
With many laborers already out OF
employment, and among them many
skilled mechanics. II Is pointed out
that should the scheme materialize.
little trouble in securing men to work
In the plant would be encountered.
Several sites for the proposed plant
have already been suggested, but II
Is understood that definite decision I'm
| this matter will be deferred until a
permanent organization is effected
Haste Will he a determining factor
and the plant, IL built. will be placed
where electric power and railway sid
ings are Immediately available.
Should large contracts for shrapIcl
DO secured II is probable that they
would call for prompt fultllment.
and that the proJectIlcs would have &c
be ready for shipment within twelve
months or less time after the orders
were placed. This would nacessitate
noting the scheme, and many laborers
would have to be employed within a
short time.
WOULD MEAN IMMEDIATE
OUTLAY OF LARGE SUNS
The erection of the plant. the install
laton OF machinery and other equip
mcnt would require q great outlay OF
money. but It Is understood that those
Interested In the scheme are prepared
to finance the undertaking whenever IL
is shown that contracts large enough
TO justify the expenditure OF funds
/ which would he required can be Sc
cured.
Names of several prominent Rich
mond business men who have attended
preliminary meetings and who have
agreed to take stock in the new con-
Germ have been mentioned, and II has
been stated that Fritz Sitterding n
widely known local capitalist. will
head the new company when the or
Ganization is perfected.
Shrapnel Is manufactured at sew
eral plants in the United States. and
1t Is said that nearly all such concerns
are being swamped with orders. III
the manufacture Of shrapnel the best
materials and skilled workmen are re-
CURED. The projectiles arc expensive,
! the price OF a single shell Is usually
more than fifty dollars.
Should the proposed concern be cs-
tablished In Richmond II would mean
much to the city. and to this entire
section OF country The project has
already created genral discussion in
financial circles, and the final outcome
of the scheme Is awaited with keen
| Interest.