The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-21
HOPEWELL Center
Of PEACE PLANTS
IS LATEST PLAN
Famous Virginia Munitions.
Town will Be Made Scene
of Huge Industry in Near
Future by Du Points.

WILMINGTON, Del, July 2l.-The
famous and picturesque town Of Hope
well, Va, which sprang like a magic
city out Of the wilderness, and o
trihuted more han one billion pounds
OF guncotton as its snare in stopping
the Hun, is not 10 ne ~scrapped, de-
stroyed or sold n carted away piece
meal. II is TO remain and become
OF the most prosperous and thriving in
dustrial sections of the new South, II
the plans Of the business men and
chamber Of commerce Of the Peters
burg -Hopewell section and the Du PoHt
Chemical company are carried through
successfully.
Manufacturing Center.
Not alone Hopewell, hut the entire
Petersburg Hopewell district, with its
improvements worth millions Of dol
lars, its fine system OF roads, railroad
connections, water transportation IA
CITIES. powerhouses, 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 now
made, the Du Point Chemical company,
the owner OF the Hopewell plant aud
village property, has joined hands with
the business interests or the section
IN a joint industrial development cam
paign for the whole region.
A complete industrial survey and
manufacturing analysis of the region
is to be made, Then full facts win he
presented by scores OF statesmen to the
responsible heads Of industries through
out the country.
Entire villages will be offered for sale
TO manufacturers; complete industrial
plants are available every facility Is on
hand-it is only necessary to move in.
HopeweHrs history n wonderful de-
Nelopment constitute one of the most
sromantic chapters In the story Of
Americas great war work.
History Of Hopewell.
In the summer Of 1914 when Germany
started the world war, the Hopewen
district was n sleepy agricultural COM
munity. In Il few months more than
10000 men were working night and
day to build a plant that would help
the allies stop their foe. Millions Of
dollars were poured into the place by
the pu Point Comnany. Scores Of miles
Of railroads were built, miles of narrow
gauge tracks l4d down. Great power
houses capable Of supplying the district
Tor miles around with current for manu-
featuring purposes were built. Wood
working, mechanical, blacksmith, re
pair and other maintenance shops were
established. Miles of concrete roads
throughout the plant and the country
side were constructed. Filtration plants
with a capacity sufficient to supply fill
tered water to a city with a population
greater than 200, 900 persons, or equiva-
lent to supply Boston, Mass. or Is per
cent greater than that necessary for the
city Of Baltimore, Md, were built. Al
most every device, engine, piece OF
machinery, or equipment for power
needed for the development of modern
manufacturing purposes was installed at
Hopewel, All speed records were bro
ken in the construction OF the plant, in
spite of the fact that all material had
to be transported there or built on the
ground, In the vicinity a comfortable
city arose, Bungalows, cottages, hotels,
dormltories, mess halls. camps. service
buildings such as Young Mems Chris
Nian association and Young Women'a
Christian association headquarters, post q.
offices, moving pictures houses, and all
the other app~urtenances and comforts
that so 10 make a comfortable Ameri-
can community were constructed, The
climate Is good. The wonderful trans
portation facilities not only by railroad,
but also by water. for tine town Is sit
uated at the junction OF the Appomat-
tox and James rivers, helped In max
ing u ideal for the great work Il had
on hand. Hopewell worked day AND
night TO win the war. Millions OF dol
lars were paid out In wages; more thar
a million pounds OF Rinootton were
sent out to the smokeless powder fac
tories each day.
Destroyed by Fire.
On Dec. ., 1915, the old town Of
nopeweH' with It's huuureds of ram