The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-27

manufacture Of other lines OF explo-
sivss through stock holdings in cor
porations over whose business the
home office exercised O. very loose-con-
troll and management.
In 1899 the company had been
changed from the partnership to the
corporate form. and at the dawn Of the
year 1902 its entire stock was owned
by six individuals. OF these men.
Colonel II. A. Du Pont, later United
States senator from Delaware, and
DR.. Alexis /. Du Point, confined their
activities to administrative affairs,
chiefly in an advisory manner. To
Eugene Du Pont, a man of great pru-
dence and capacity, and for years q
practical manufacturer. had fallen the
chief administrative position In the
company upon the death OF his uncle,
Henry Du Pont in 1889. while the
control of practical affairs had passed
to Francis @. Du Pont, who, through
out his life, had been a manufacturer
of black powders and finally of smoke
less powders.
Alfred I. Du Point.
Alfred T. Du Pont. although a man
OF intelligence and ability, then had
experience in the practical manufac-
ture OF black powders only. the
great development of high explosives.
smokeless powders and other Incl
dental products of the industry were
foreign to him; this was also true IN
regard 10 administrative and financial
problems, as we'll as to the details
connected with the sale and trans
portation OF powder.
Charles /. Du Pont was the young
est stakeholder In the service of the
company and experienced in the manu-
faoture of black powder only. At
the time he was in Ill health and died
shortly after. In October. 1909.
A crisis in the history of the II. /.
Du Pont de Nemours and Company
was reached when. on January 20.
1902, Eugene Du Pont died. Then
was a great, kind and good man gath
cred TO his Fathers, He proved 10
have been the last OF line OF man.
ayers who. through methods perhaps
unique in corporate management, had
made the Du Pont business success
full and honored. Destiny had In store
changes quite as radical az the transfer
of the Du Pont family fortunes to this
country In 1902.
The death Of Eugene Du Pont found
his brothers DIR. Alexis /. Du Pont
and Francis @. Du Pont, approaching
he end of their careers. and within
three years they had passed also TO
the Great Beyond. An appreciation
of their failing physical powers no
doubt precluded them from assuming
greater burdens. and they. as well IN
Colonel II. A. Du Pont. who had re-
tired from business in 1900, after pro-
longed activities in other fields, de-
cided that suitable parties must be
found to carry on the great industry.
The question was discussed for many
days and at great length, and various
proposals made. Finally. Alfred l. Du
Pont suggested that he and his cousin,
Thomas Coleman Du Pont. with whom
he had communicated in the mean
time, and perhaps his cousin, Pierre
s. Du Pont, also be permitted to take
over the property proposition
which was unanimously approved by
his associates.
r. Coleman Du Pont then a resident
OF Delaware. had made a name for
himself in many iinea. particularly in
the management of his fathers coal
properties In Kentucky: in the pur-
chase of and reorganization OF the
Johnstown Passenger Railway, OF
Jamestown. Pa. and IN the develop
ment OF an important part of the man
ufacture OF steel and special work for
the Federal Steel Company now a part
of the United States Steel Corpora
ton. He had marked talent for or
gnnigation and administrative work
and combined q splendid grasp of the
practical part OF operation with a
thorough understanding OF modern
financial methods Beyond question.
he stood alone among the Du Point
family In ability to take charge of
the great industry to take charge OF
problems r. Coleman Du Points in
vitation was not to become an assist
ant to Alfred I. Du Pont. His was
to be the duty Of laying plans which
were TO make for the future managers
foundation on which to build, TO
Alfred /. Du Pont came opportunity;
to r. Coleman Du Pont. the ability TO
achieve success.
A Third Associate.
The third associate In the under
taking. Pierre g. Du Pont- was then
In Lorain. Ohio. II was r. Coleman
IDu Points voice that called him TO