New-York tribune., 1919-07-27
Magic City, Built
Overnight for War,
To Be Sold Intact
Hopewell, Va, With Great
Plants. Model Homes and
Modern improvements, to
Be Thrown on Market

WlLMlNG lON, Del. July 26.-TAc
famous and picturesque town of Hope
welb Va. which sprang like magic
city out of the wilderness end CON
tributed more than one billion pounds
of gun cotton as its share in stopping
the Hun. is not to be scrapped, de-
stroyed or sold and carted away piece
meal. 1t is to remain and become one
OF the most prosperous and thriving
industrial sections OF the new South,
if the plans of the business men and
Chamber OF Commerce of the Peters
burg Hopewell section and the du Pont
Chemical Company are carried through
Not alone Hopewell. but the entire
Petersburg Hopewell district, with its
Improvements worth millions of dol
Iarsf It's fine system of roads, railroad
connections, water transportation ia
ciiites, power houses, towns and viii
lagos, will be brought to the attention
OF the manufacturing interests of the
world as a desirable site for location.
According to The arrangements the du
Pont Chemical Company, the owner
Of the Hopewell plant and village prop
erty. has Joined hands with the bust
ness interests of the section in joint
industrial evelopment campaign for
the whole region.
Change for Industry
A. complete industrial survey and
nhfacturing analysis of the region
are to be made. Then full facts will be
presented by scores of statesmen to
the irresponsible heads of industries
throughout the country
Entire villages will be offered for
-
dustiial plants are availa able; every
facility is on hand it is only neces-
saryt to move in.
hepewell's history and wonderful de-
vetopment constitute one of the most
romantic chapters in the story of
Americas great war work.
I'M the summer of 1914. when Ger
many started the world war. the Hope
weiii district was sleepy agricultural
community. In a few months more
than $4,000 men were working night
and ,day to build plant that would
nelp. the Allies stop the foe Millions
Of dollars were poured into the place
by the du Pont company Scores OF
milef OF railroads were built. miles of
narlpw gauge tracks laid down Great
mower houses capable of supplying the
district for miles around with current
Cor manufacturing purposes were built
u osiworking, mechanical, blacksmith,
roissr and other maintenance shops
wers established.
Modern City Built
Miles of concrete roads throughout
the plant and the COUNTRYSIDE were
constructed. Filtration plants, with a
capacity sufficient to supply filtered
water to a city with population great
er rhan 100000 persons, or equivalent
10 supply Boston or % per cent greater
tnans that necessary for the city of
Baltimore, were built Almost every
DEVICE, engine, piece of machinery or
equipment or power needed for the de-
velopment of modern manufacturing
PURPOSES was installed at Hopewel.
Az speed. records were broken in the
construction of the plant. in spite of
the fact that all material had to be
transported there. or built on the
ground.
I3 the vicinity comfortable city
arose>I bungalows. cottages, hotels,
dorFhitories. messhalls camps. service
buildings, such as Young Mems Chris
tom Association and Young Women's
CHRISTIAN Association headquarters:
postotfices, moving picture houses and
all the other appurtenances and COM
1orts that go TO make d comfortable
american community were CONSTRUCTED.
ne Climate is SOOO. ne WOndert III
transportation facilities, not only by
railrpad, but also by water-for the
town is situated at the Junction of the
Appomattox and James rivers elpe !
IN making it ideal for the great work
II had on hand Hopewell worked day
and night to win the war. Millions of
dollars were paid out in wages; more
than million pounds of guncotton
were sent ont to the smokeless powder
factories each day.
Old Town Burned Down
On December 9, 1915. the old town OF
Hopewell with its hundreds of. ram
shackle dwellings, and hastily con
structed quarters, outside the dupont
village, was destroyed by fire. Thi:
was a blessing in disguise, for imme
diately the leading spirits of the towr
gathered together, and as a result o
their effort new Hopewell, with mod
ern houses, substantial dwellings ant
Office buildings, rose from the ashes
This modern town is now an asset il
the Peters burg Hopewell district
Hopewell stands to-day as it stood
year ago, when it was working over
time to help stop the German drive
The machinery is stilled, but in gooc
condition. The great wharves. tn,
railroads, the towns and villages, hotels
and the industrial development are onl,
awaiting, manufacturing industries.
The campaign now to be undertaken
will extend TO manufacturers every
where, and is expected to put Hopewel
on the map permanently as a great in