Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-17
PORT PENN PLANT
WILL MAKE BOMBS
FOR N-STRAF|NG
Plans So Far Advanced Active
Production Starts Within
Few Weeks.
LIKE A NEW TOWN THERE

Plans for the new Martin Rockwell
Loading Co. plant, which is to so up at
Port Penn are in such state of progress
and development as TO burgeon into pro
ductive activity on partial output with
IN three or four weeks, according To
present indications and reach full develop
ment in from four To six months, It Is
hoped
The special work to be done by the con-
Germ is that of loading bombs of varlous
types, as called for by ordnance and
other divisions of the military establish
ment The company which is a private
corporation, under government super
vision and control. The active officials
making their headquarters here are I, ,.
Russell, vice-president and manager, and
H. r. Tobey, vice-prcsldent and treasurer.
Temporary offices have been taken at S04
Market street, second floor, and VII
minrton will continue To be the working
center even after the plant is in full opera
tlOn.
The site at Port Penn is just North of
that place and between three and four
miles south of Delaware City
Ii comprises portions of the Isaac
Cleaver and the Lawrence farms. and IN
cludes nearly two square miles of area
A branch railroad Of about eight miles IN
length Will be built 10 connect with the
PENNSYLVANIA system ut Mt Pleasant,
with spurs and side tracks throughout the
plant and shops and a pier and wharf
will be built on the water front. to enable
direct loading Of ocean going ships for
Transportation abroad of the finished
products.
BIG HOUSING OPERATION.
4 housing operation along the Gus
tomary lines developed for government
work in other places. Is part of the pro-
ject This will provide for separate dwell
lngs rs well as groups Of houses and dor
mitores for single men, as well As the
necessary commiSsary and community
buildings such rs recreation Centcrs-
The buildings OF the plant will be Of
substantial character, and available for
other uses than the present. IN case Of
changed conditions Tho first structures
viii be those needed for the small army
Of laborCrs and artisans required in the
construction work. numbering several
thousand These. as we'll as the working
force Of the plant itself, will be furnished
through the Federal Employment Serv-
ice. and the materials viii be obtained on q
preferential delivery basis. as a govern
ment utility Ground has already been
broken l0r the 0IIiCtS. conIniSSiIN ana
other immediate needs Of the construc-
ton department. which is in charge Of
Fred n lev X Co, a concern belonging
in Springfield, Mas which is now dong
similar work on the government plant at
Pcrryville. Md and which has carried out
construction and housing work at Bris-
toll Groton, Conn Alexandria, Va,
Brunswick, Ca, ana Mobile, Ala They
have offices In the Queen Theatre Build
ing
The plant at iull capacity is expected
% employ at least 2,Ool people, though it
will start IN smaller basis at he outset
of operations Increasing the force as
buildings are completed and machinery
Installed
The name Rockwell Park has been
adopted 10 dc>ignate the site both of the
plant nj the housing operation