Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1915-05-08
GUNCOT1ON PLANT
WORKS 10000 men
Dupont Powder Company's New
Plant, Costing $6,0oo,OOO Will
Employ 5000 Men.


course Of construction for the du-
Pont Powder Company at Hopewell,
III Prince Georges county, on the
Point Branch Of the Norfolk and
western railway, nine miles east Of
Petersburg, one mile west of City
Point, on the James river, and 80
miles from Richmond. The plant it
IS said, will cost in the neighborhood
of $6,OOO,000, and will give employ
ment to yer 5000 workers. 1t is eX-
pected to have the plant completed
some time next fall. There are now
ever $4,000 men, representing almost
every nation on the earth, at work
on the plant, and over so teams are
employed in hauling and the like.
The company owns 1900 or more
acres Of land, 700 Of which are en-
closed and no one is permitted to en-
ter this inclOsure without a permit.
Within this Enclosure are the build
ings of the plant where work is
NiS ""S anu HlSHl Wy Tie many
thousands Of laborers The work at
night is carried on by means of
thousands Of electric lights which
the company has had installed.
The company has many miles Of
railroad tracks: which connect with
the Norfolk and Western railway,
running into its yards, affording am
pie facilities for the trans portation
OF material. Every day long trains
of freight cars can be seen passing
through Petersburg over the Norfolk
and Western railway loaded with
lumber and machinery consigned to
the dupont Powder Company.
Spending 100000 a Month";
The plant is with easy reach
vessels for the shipment of it's proc
rcts to foreign ports 1t is stated
that at present the guncottOn manu-
facured at the Hopewell plant is
shipped in a dry state to Whining
ton, Del, and other plants of the
company, where the manufa cturine
process is completed and then it is
shipped to Montreal, where it is load
ed into shrapnel. 1t is said that the
company has already begun at the
HOpewell plant, the manufa cture of
smokcless powder.
1t is creditably stated that the to-
tai disbursements Of the dupont Com
pany for work done at the Hopewell
plant and other incidental expenses
reaches the enormous sum Of ST.
100000 a month.
For the accommodation of the
men employed at Hopewell and in
order that they may have their
checks cashed, the National Bank OF
Petersburg keeps open on Saturday
night every two weeks from 6 to 8
o'clock The national bank, how
ever, will establish branch at City
Point, and will begin at once the
erection of bank building there to
cost $4,000, and it is expected to
hear of it in operation within &C
days.
The Western Union Telegraph
Company has just established an
office at Hopewell. 8AH
Town of $1,000 In Woods.
Hopewell, which little more than
a year ago was a lot of wooded land
has now become thriving little
town Of $4,000 or more inhabitants
There are 500 or more stores in the
place, and not few merchants are
carrying on business in tents, and
all are said to be doing a profitable
business. There is line Of jitneys
and automobiles which runs almost
every hour between Platsburg and
Hopewell, and it is said that the
sales Of the tickets over the Norfolk
and Western railway to Hopewel
and City Point averages 5000 daily
Every afternoon 1000 or more Of