The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-10-23
MUNITIONS PLANTS
WILL MANUFACTURE
DYES after WAR
Dupont and Aetna Companies
! Plan to Convert Part Of
| Works to New Industry,
RAW MATERIALS ARE SAME

With the aid and cooperation Of DR..
r. d. Norton. dye expert of the Depart
fnent OF Commerce. two of the largest
munition manufacturers have completed
plans and arrangements to turn all of
their auxiliary plants into dye works as
soon as war contracts are completed.
Such plans have been worked out pfac-
hcally to the last detail by the du Pont
Company and the Aetna Explosives
Company. two Of the biggest explosive
and munition makers In the world. Both
concerns have great new plants built to
meet the requirements OF huge contracts
with European governments When the
demand for munitions and explosives be.
comes normal all extra plants will be
turned to dye-making, II was learned
today.
Changes necessary in plant and ma
chinery are comparatively few, as prac-
ideally the same raw materials and in
termediates are used for explosives as in
dye-making.
government authorities believe that
such substantial expansion Of the dye
stuffs Industry here by countries with
unlimited resources viii put the indus
Try beyond the possibility OF being crush
ed by German composition after the war.
Germany has always held the dye mar
ket' and up TO the time Of the war the
Industry amounted to practically moth
ing in the United States.
Plants Pay For Themselves.
As general proposition, gigantic
new munition and explosive plants
nave paid. or will pay. for themselves.
contracts with the warning countries
were figured on the basis of paying for
new construction and equipment. And
an most cases single contracts carried
mo entire cost of new plants. The big
concerns and many OF the small ones
nave made plans to keep these plants
IN operation after the war.
Practically all of this new construc-
uon was made on a permanent basis.
ana with buildings and machinery paid
Tor by war contracts. II will cost little
rhe new dye industry will not have
neavy preliminary investments to
carry, as plants will come in almost
free OF capital charges.
enormous growth in the dyestufrs in
oustry In the United States since the
war VIII be shown in the census soon
20 be published by the Department of
commerce from DIR. Norton's compila-
ZION. This growth. however, while huge.
gives but slight index to the amount
Of Investment and plant that will be
turned into dye making when the war
closes. 49,
DIR. Norton Extends Aid.
DR.. Norton is extending aid In every
direction. and has practically given his
entire time to conferences with men
entering the dye industry, or who have
prepared to turn plants into dye MAX
Ing.
He Ia bending his efforts to distribute
production to all OF the known coiors,
DO that the United States will have an
entirely Independent dye Industry, and
that production may not overlap
For Instance, he Is keeping ali parties
Informed of prospective production in
every color and line. to avoid oyerpro-
duction OF any particular line of coiors.
with consequent loss, while others are
not developed.
Production In all lines Is being spread
as evenly as possible and thus enter
ing the industry are cooperating fully
to this end, for mutual benefit and pro-
lection.
Every known color and shade, Il is
confidently declared, will be turned out
from American works. and this coun-
try VIII be entirely independent of the
German monopoly,