Middletown transcript., 1918-08-24
business, realized the necessity of more
powder production, at once sent men

business, realized the necessity of more
powder production, at once sent mel
over ten States seeking out possible
sites for additional powder plants; j,
also began at once to lay out and plar
for additional construction. SO in April,
1917, when President Wilson declared
Germany was in a state of war with
the United States, du Pont was ready
with locations, layouts and plans well
under way.
1--WE at once pointed out to the pow
| ers at Washington the need for addi-
tiona' sources Of supply and the wisdom
of prompt action. The plants du Pont
had built and was then operating, had
been erected solely to supply the Allies,
and if the United States was coming
into the fight and proposed to equip one
to two million men, it was beyond ques-
ton needful that the United States at
once provide additional capacity as q
source of supply for its army.
1T was not until October, 1917. that
we succeeded in influencing Washing
ton to act, but delays caused by inde-
cision and too many fingers in the pie,
prevented US from beginning this work
until March. 1918, at which ti'ne we be-
gan the construction of large Smoke
less Powder plant at Nashville, Tenn.
Since then we have made wonderful
progress.
II believe when this plant is COM
pleted aud it's history is written it will
be the most wonderful achievement
ever performed in the history of pow
der building.
ut will involve the expenditure of 10
to 80 million dollars and will produce
approximately one million pounds of
p,wder daily. 1t will be the largest
smokeless powder plant in the world
and the last word in powder making. 1t
will require 20 to % thousand men ten
to twelve months to complete it, and
your Company has agreed to give its
116 years of accumulated knowledge
and do this enormous construction At
actual Cost And Without Profit
We are now thoroly alive to the
Prussian menace to civilization and
ready to do our full share as nation:
''The horrors perpetrated by the un-
righteous. davilish Huns against free
do n and civilization made it impossible
for nation Of men with red blood in
their veins to remain outside any long
er.' he sail, II, for one, am ashamed
of our conduct for remaining out as
long as we did, but God in His mercy
will forgive US this shortcoming if we
VII only pitch in now and do our full
duty, as believe we are now really
preparing to do
six months ago we seemed to be
planning for supplies for l, ,50O,000 men,
but today it seems to be the program
for three to five million men. If that
is so, think what has of necessity been
cut out for du Pont to do.
1T is frightful task to contemplate,
but if it must be done, let's be the men
to do it. Let's stand eye to eye, shoul
der to shoulder. hearts afire with en-
thusiasm, giving everything in US.
81 have been much encouraged of
late to see the wonderful progress that
is crowning the efforts of those respon-
sible for the Herculean task of equip
ping this Nation fer fight. In every
section of the country, feverish activi-
ties and wonderful progress, and pre-
dict in another four to six months the
fighting stuff this country will turn out
daily will amaze the whole world, in
cluding ''Kalser Bll'' and his murder
Gus DEVILS"