, 1915-12-30

SecreLlVe as 10 luS OTucTb, II ID DullQ'
Ing a plant when has every evidence
Of being a permanent establishment.
We're the war in Europe to stop to-
morrow there would be a slump in the
making of high explosives in the
United States. 1t is rumored at EN-
porium, all statements there pertain
Ing to the new explosive plant being
rumors that the great plant being
built by the holding company may
eventually be taken over by the United
States government for the manufac-
lure Of explosives to be used by the
United States army and navy. The
presence of government inspectors at
the big plant has given rise to this
cumor. Influential men in Emporium,
men who are supposed to know a little
Of the inside workings of the explosive
company, are noncommittal as to the
governments interest in the plant,
stating that 1t is perfectly natural for
government inspectors to inspect the
manufacture of explosives at any plant
In the country and that 1t is not at all
Unlikely that the government is having
guncotton made for future use, q fact
which would account for the presence
of the federal inspectors at the plant.
A Gigantic Concern.
The completion of the new explosive
plant at Emporium will have been
done in record time. The company re-
Gently raised the wages of all its work
ers so per cent, promising them an ad-
ditional 80 per cent raise If the war in
Europe continues another year. 1t is
unoficially stated the company has
orders from Europe for $35, 000, 900
worth of explosives. It is estimated
the Emporium plant at completion will
have cost 5000, 900. The company
has other plants, but the new one at
Emporium will be its largest. The
most modern machinery designed for
the making Of high explosives has
been installed in the plant at great ex-
pense. There are huge retorts weigh
ing $1,000 pounds, which have been
put into position lately, the biggest re-
torts ever used in the manufacture OF
explosives, Everything about the new
plant is on a asst scale, a scale which
dwarfs the old explosive plants still
operating in the Emporium district.
Into the closely-guarded, high-fenced
plant the Pennsylvania railroad has
run a track and cars are loaded with
explosives inside the enclosure at a
great shipping depot. Great quantities
OF cotton are unloaded at the plant
daily. The utmost secrecy is main
tanned as to the destination of the ex-
plosives shipped out from the plant.
Box shops are kept busy night and day
making boxes to hold the explosives,
the boxes being labeled within the
plant. There are two construction of.
fees and a general office maintained
by the company at the plant. The
whole plant is connected by telephone
wires. If a guard encounters a sus-
picious person in the road near the
plant, he at once notifies other guards
of the presence of the person If the
stranger elects to walk along the road
the length of the plant. The guard
system gives a very warlike appear
ance to the new plant. A state police
also patrols the highway along
the plant daily, but does not inter
fere with some of the high-handed
holdups made by the deputized guards.
In Ideal Location.
Emporium is an ideal situation for
extensive explosive plant for 1t is
in the heart of the great chemical dis.
trict in which is made acetate of lime,
much of which goes into the manufac.
ture of high explosives. Quite near at
Ara anna nf tho 1Aol -nal.-x- |
factories in which acetate is made.
was formerly a lumber CEN
ter. The timber in it's vicinity has |
now been almost all cut off and with
the passing of numbering the creation
of the new explosive plant as a
great business boon to the residents
OF the town. Since the town has been
with new employees and with
men looking for work, the merchants
taken on new life, Emporium to-
day being one of he busiest towns of
It's size in the United States. Its no.
tells are crowded to their limit, its
boarding houses are o~vercrowded, and
many men have been forced to go
out into the country and put up at
farmhouses in order to get the shell.
ter necessary for their comfort.
The new plant presents a mile-long
of great activity, such activity
as Emporium never before knew. The
buildings arc not close to each other
as a general rule. for, in case OF ex-
plosions, the company desires to save
as many of its buildings as possible.
The recent explosion at Sinnemahon-
ing, not far from Emporium, in which
six men were blown to bits, drove ter
ror into the hearts of the new workers
at the Emporium plant. Some of the
men left the plant in haste after
the Sinnemahoning explosion. The
company finds no difficulty at present
In R1Ifn1 nm IL. ,o-1.z "a ~ !