The Dickinson press., 1917-05-26
William T. Dantz, Pioneer
of this Section, Lamentsr
Passing of the Old West

Old-timers of Dickinson land sur
rounding territory, whose residence in
this section of the country dates back
to the days when cattle reigned su-
preme, when this section of North
Dakota was a part of the old west,
about which magazine writers rave
and which movie actors mimic, will
find much of interest in a recent COM
munication received by S. M. Ferris,
vice president of the Dakota National
Bank. The writer is William T..
Dantz, we'll known to pioneers of the
Slope, who spent many years in this
locality.
Mr.. Dantz is now employed in
special guard work for the Dupont
Powder Company, having been with
the concern at the Gibbstown, N. j.,
factory for the past two years. A
/ portion of his letter follows:
Recently received a letter from
Howard Eaton, which recalled old
times so strongly that I am prompted
to write you, to inquire of the old
Bad Lands and the old-timers who
stand out so distinctly even today.
"Have heard that Billings county
has been divided into three, and that
wheat farming has largely replaced
cattle. Also, that the change has not
been altogether a success and that
many have failed to hold their home
steads. 1 would like to hear of the
old-timers, Mrs. Roberts, George
Myers, your brother, Joe, and the
whole shooting match between Ming
usville (now Wibaux) and Dickinson.
Sees Passing of Old West.
my last trip west rather saddened
me. 1 could see that the old times
are going fast, and my inconsistencies
was cured. I rode more than 900
miles on the last trip and finished in
the Indian country on the Rosebud
reservation.
can occasional letter from Jim Fol-
ey keeps me in touch with him. He
writes that he has just heard of
Charlie Mason, 'Whistling Jesus at
Fort Leavenworth. Also, that Gary
Paddock is we'll and happy in Califor-
MIA. The Eatons have been very sue
cessful, and 1 am trying to interest
the multi-millionaire Duponts in their
ranch in Wyoming as a summer vaca-
ton novelty.
81 have been with the Duponts for
the past two years in special police or
guard work. Still own my houses in
West Grove, which remain exactly as
when Mrs. Dantz died nine years ago.
Have never remarked, content with
my two splendid boys. Marvel, now
rs, was graduated from the. Virginia
military academy, and is now assist
ant sales manager of the Chicago di-
vision of the Barrett Company
(Standard Oily. Teddy, aged 10, will
be graduated in June from the Oxford,
Pa, high school, and is president OF
his class. He will attend college for
two years, and then join his brother
with the Barretts.
Describes Dupont Plant.
"The Duponts are the largest manu-
f~acturers of powder, military and
sporting, and high explosives in the
world. They have 81 plants, scattered
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and
employ about a half million men. The
largest and most important plants are
in the Philadelphia munitions district
| along the Delaware river. One plant
| alone has a capacity of a million
pounds of smokeless powder a day.
"The Delaware river at night looks
like a great worlds fair-one con-
%tinuous line of munition, shell and
shipbuilding plants, and oil refineries;;
1.-THE plant where I am employed
is devoted wholly to high explosives.
It covers 5000 acres Of Jersey swamp,
IL miles from Philadelphia two miles
of it river front. About $500 men are
employed. There are more than 8OO
buildings, 80 miles of railroad siding,
200 miles Of narrow gauge track, cor.
Meeting the powder lines, scores OF
magazines for storing, miles OF acid
tanks and r%efneries, and batteries OF
ice machines to hold down tempera-
lures.
"Black powder is more dangerous
than the high explosives which are
used here. I put in nearly a year at
the black powder plant on the
Brandywine, near Wilmington, Del,
and went through nine explosions. 1t
is sure death if you stay long enough:
In 10 months we lost Sc men out OF
less than 300 powder workers. l was
banged about so much it got on my
nerves.
"The east has never known such
prosperity, but it has proved dlsas,,
trous in that it has lured men and
bows from the farms to the munltlon
plants, and it is almost impossible to
get help for the farms. Prices are
"sincerely yy%SgMrS' n nANrz."
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