Evening journal., 1917-03-26
PLENTY OF POWDER
WHEN WAR COMES
dupont Factories, With 5O,-
900 Men, Could Make
AllExploSives Needed
SEEK TO GET NITRIC
ACID OUT OF THE AIR

No matter how lacking the United
States may be in other supplies, there
will be no lack of powder to carry on
a war If tn country should become
involved in one The DUPONT Powder
Company alone has capacity of more
than 100000 pounds of smokeiess
powder day, and this capacity is be-
ing increased 70 meet any emergency
The American army and navy can
Z be supplied without interfering with
/ the steady flow of supplies to the En-
tente allies, It is authoritatively an
nounced. These facts were given ofii-
cially by the powder company officials
today when, in response TO inquiries,
the following statement was made:
"Tbe DUPONT Company is in q posi-
ton to meet any demands that the
! government may make for military
explosives. It's capacity is such that
il believes il oan take care both OF ITS
present foreign contracts and any
United States Government require
ments. Il is now installing at its
various plants and will have ready Tor
operation about the first Of May. addi-
smokeless powder a day
"The difference between the capa-
CITY needed 10 meet foreign contract
requirements and the full capacity
will probably satisfy any Government
demands: in any event the home
needs will be given every consider
alton"
Company Employs $4,000 Men.
The comuany is silent as to wheth-
er the Government has asked it for
immediate deliveries. A contract was
closed few months ago for about
II 600 GOO pounds, but this was foG
Tho peace time needs of the army and
navy. The great capacity available
i is the result Of more than two years
of sternuous work in building plants
IN supply the European demand. Inc
/ comnanv has spent more than $780,
: coo 600 for the purpose and u now
10 employs about 10000 men, as agaihs,
I one-ten;h Of that number employed
before October. 1914 when the output
= was not over 1000O,OOO pounds a
Q year
A recent official Government repor
said that the sole powder plant own
cd bv the War Department neal
- ! Dover, y. d. Tue lSet4hiAS ''
Z pacity of 1000 pounds day. On
Z. of our seacoast fort!fcations coul'
I flre its daily product in minute.
a short of Nitrate OF Soda.
The navy is SAID 10 be little bette
off with its plant at Indian Head. j
war should be declared, it is sai'
! there will be only one danger of IN
terference with powder making, 70
everything necessary to produce a
n military explosives is available in III
a country. except nitrate of soda, tc
N which this country is largely depend
: ent on imports from Chile until plant
u Co.. the fxation. OF atmospheric nitr'
~ gen are built. This would, It is III
!. derstood. take a year at least an
meanwhile there Is said 10 ne IN IN
country only few months supply
the Chilean product, r..
IL Il understood that every e1oft
hoing made bv the DUPONT Company
nroiuce nitric acid artihcially, but u
y said 10 be handicapped by the reiusal
4 the Government TO make possible the u
III of undeveloped water pawers. Its
u ,sstioations into other sources Of pow
IL ,rhicb would make such plant col
u merciallv possible have apparently y
III brought complete success, though II
IN been semi i.olicially announced that
might soon erect n plant for eXpe
mental purposes. Congress made an
nronrintion for the erection of such
nlant for the government, but the :
has not vet been selected, 20 that I'll
y as source OF wartime supply, Is ]
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