The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-10
I0PtWfll, AMERICAS
M0Si RlCEhT CITY
Built In Few Months as Result of
Great Development In Powder
making. -
PROJECTED BEFORE WAR
OuPonts Began Construction OF
Plant Last Year and Now Employ
Moro, Than Tycnty Thousand Men
NJ Large Wages.

Moro. Than Twcsty Thousand Men
as Large Wages.
Hopewell, the city built 'in a night
and q day." the fastest-growing and
most widely advertised city In the
world. was raxed by the fire fend in
q period Of time go brief as to startle
the world, even moro than did it,
sudden upbuilding. Hopewell was a
city OF wood, there being barely a
half-dozen completed brick structures
in the town. though numerous other
brick buildings were under construc-
ton, and the frame structures Altered
no resistance to the flames
The fire swept across the new city
ahead OF q thirty-mile wind from the
northwest and the supreme efforts of
man to stay its progress was puny.
The city had grown so rapidly and
% many structures had been thrown
UP within the last few months that
the buildings At best were little more
than fuel encouraging the blaze.
The city was built far ahead Of
modern conveniences, of mocern
safety; far ahead OF equipment for
the prevention of such q conflagration
az yesterday left lying upon the open
cornfel6s OF last spring an uneven
layer Of ashes. dust and smouldering
imners, which slowly burned them
aelves out during the night.
While most OF the attention OF the
promoters of Hopewelrs development
was given to building business houses,
hotels and residences for the thou
sands who came into the new city
from all corners OF the earth. the or
aarl.xations of business men moved
toward securing electricity for light
and power, water for commercial ana
hone use and fire protection. A fire
department was organized, but ifs
equipment and available water and
pressure was inadequate for the great
emergency that presented Itself yes
terday.
Before chaos came the nftesn blocks
IN the business section OF the city Of
Hopewell presented a most meuopoli-
tan appearance. While frame struc-
tures were predominant In proportion
OF more than nine to one. some were
quite pretentious. The less preten-
ttous were constantly being raxed to
make way for brick and metal con-
struction and the city was rapidly TAX
ing on an appearance OF permanency
when yesterdays setback. which VIII
prove but temporary. came. The city
will be rebuilt and in q manner and
OF material calculated to stay the de-
Structive burning hand OF fire.
Fronting by the experience when
cana with the flames that swooped
suddenly from out the northeast hope
well will equip itself for FIRE preven-
ttcn and IRE protection. AS nearly hre-
proof as possible will be the structures,
which replace those reduced 10 ashes
ard such measures as can be appiiea
viii be taken by tnose who VIII again
build the city.
Hopewell came to life suddenly.
springing UP on the land within sa-
dunn OF four miles of the plants OF
the DUPONT COMPANY The a plant
OF the company was constructed WITHIN
the enclosure of the company shortly
before possibilities Of Hopewen were
realized. Those disabilities have not
yet been fully realized though yes
terday's blaze has proven 1clt that
will speed such realization
Last spring. but q few weeks after
the turning OF the hrst shoxeiihi OF
earth for the erection of the nrst or the
DUPONT plants, those who saw me .a-
ture city at the confluence of the APP
pomattox and the James. began pur-
shasinr land This adtoined the works.
Adorned the first section opened--that
which was the business section Oh
HONEYWELL destroyed yesterday-and
subdivisions were placed on the mar
ket Buyers were readily found ana
sales followed each otner WIN an az
most dazzling rapidity.
Last April when hundreds Hockeo 70
the now city and the first sale OF lots
- .uetion was put on. the sale was
marked by buying that WAS surpris-
lar 10 one who considered the TACT
thai Il was a cornheid. In the heart
az the business section. In the Few va
can't spaces In the middle OF the blocks
back from tie street the ~sinenes OF
recent agricultural cultivation were
still apparent this week
Lots that sold last April Al from
slsb 10 $500 are now valued at frofa
ss.oee 70 s1ooae, and many sales have
been negotiated at such prices during
tire last few weeks
Tha houses surrounding the business
section sprang UP a. by mage Ihose
within the area now In ashes were
hurrtedly thrown together. at frse- La
ter the structures we're more suosfan-
tally put up.
Lots sold in the morning would have
buildings under construction on them
heforAs night and within the week pro-
uriitors would be moved In with
oto6ks OF goods and would be doing
Dhrinx June, July and August hun
Ards OF buildings were erected under
atch conditions. The streets were
crowded day and night and whole city
rxsHrnbied . mammouth carnival. Peo-
pIA hooked to Hopewell. those looking
Tor legitimate honest work as well
a the adventurer, the dip and the
nah who played on the unsuspecting
ana living by his wits
The citizens who wanted to see the
nav city thrive and become hnsi-
meas center organized themselves into
- Rusiness Mems Association. and
ShrouRh consen. OF Judge West. OF
Prince George Circuit Court. tenn
uorAry government and police de-
partnaent were organized.
In the earlier days there were dance
halls. cabaret shows and beer saloons
by the scores. but they have vanished
under the strong hand OF the state
laws and their rigid prosecution
When 10000 men gather In the
course OF a few weeks 70 work n
a single enterprise and to help builn
cty Of the proportion OF Hopeweli'
It II 'jko,y to be cosmopolitan crowd.
- >rretsrs were much In demand.
a. sissr- writer's who could Write
many different languages found lucra-
t4e. employment. The signs on the
81 llinss are puzzling TO the ordinary
evs ryday American citizen, but they
serve to let the Italian, tho Greek,
the Serb. the Austrian, the Turk, the