Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-22
PORT PENN BOOMS
FOR BOMb-MAK|NC
Magic Touch of War Times
Changes Sleepy Village to
Hive of Industry.

Port Penn, Del Oct 20 The village
OF Port Penn, which has been sltnnberIng
peacefully on the bank Of the Delaware
River, about 20 rni1ea below Wilmington
since the landing Of William Penn, has
been awakened at last from its Iethargv
and bids fair to be placed permanently
on the map as one oi the Dusiest localitics
in the State If Delaware
The huge bonb-loading plant now
being constructed by the Fred r Ley %
for The u s Ordnance Department ~
we'll under way and II Is stated on reii-
able authority That it will be the largest
Of its character in the world Hundreds
of acres Of farm lands have been taken
over bv the government and Tho necess-
ary buildings for housing the workmen
are being constructed as well IS an I'M
rnense comrnissary building where
hundreds of meals are served each day
The office building, which is a large
two-storied one. is completed and y tho
centre Of all the business The Gov vernment
representatives. consisting ~ Major Graz
and captain Douglas. : Ordnance
Department and large corps Of assist an a
nccupy tho upper floor of the office build
ing and tho Fred r ieyfo the lower floor.
MODERN dorfnltories. wlts steam heat
electric lights. shower baths, recreation
rooms, etc for use Of the office forv,c are
nearing completion
The we'll known property at .Augustl 5
Beach has been leased BY the government
and the large hotel building situated
thereon Is beng completely rehabilItated
for use as quarters for the United States
army officers connected with the plant
4 single track. standard gauge railroad
l.. - q
the Delaware Division Of the Penn
sylvanla r. r. to he plant and is beng
made pernancn; with ryck ballast Al
ready long trains of heavily loaded freight
cars are arriving day and night, a score
or more Of steam shovsls are busIly en-
gagged in making roads. etc about the
plant, and the county dirt road from
Boyds corner to Port Penn is d D being
rapidly put in good shape before se outset
OF the winter season IN order tIiat there
may be no delay in the delivery u rnaterl
ais by the immense fleer Of motor trucks
row engaged in transferring building
materials. machinery. iood stuffs., etc,
from Wilmington & Pniladelpma as well
rs more distant points
The river front presents a busy scene
with numerous derdgtS pile drlvers, etc.
going al full speed to restore the river
bank. Which was badly damaged bX he
four-daN orth-easter If April
last massive concrete bulk
head Is being constructed. preparatory
to building one Of the largest wharves
on the Delaware River, aJ whch point
the product Of he plant will be loaded
directly on ships for transportation 10 ne
battle feds OF Europe
4 complete system OF D pilce and fre
protection has been established Uni
formed guards. some mounted and Others
afoot, fully armed patrol, the property
at all points and no one is allowed 70
enter without proper credentials The
fremen, who are also uniformed, are on
duty at all times to see that the stringent
rules relative to smoking and other fire
hazards are strictly enft reed Two
chemical motor fire engines have been
provided and may be seen on daily
practice runs from the plant 10 the
officers quarters at Augustine Beach
4 complete modern telephone and
telegraph system has been installed.
4 hospital with physician, nurses and
ambulances has been provided for the
care Of sick and injured employees
Owing to the highly explosive nature
OF the material used IN loading the
pOitliS ~ HIS netll OcSiIlcQ unsafe 10
locate the new village near Port Penn
where FIRST contemplated and accordingly
land has been surveyed near the State
road at Boyd's corner with the object
in view of locating it there and il is
rumorAi that he Government is con
siderina taking over he entire town OF
Port Penn for use in connection with the
plant, the property owners 20 ne fully com
pensated fer their houses and land