Evening journal., 1919-03-05

the production OF .sOO,OOO,OOO pounds o
standard explosives valued at Sl,O2O,
100000 and special explosives and acces
sOries worth S206,000.000. The create
( part OF these contracts provided for casl
/ advances which at one time exceeded
/ Sl0O.OOO,O00, unsecured except by thl
general credit Of the company as shown
/ in its statement. Few statesmen hav,
undertaken such large work. none has
Z been more successful. No dispute has
arisen with respect 10 any OF these
munition contracts, nor has il beer
necessary TO modify their terms after
execution. The innumerable speciiica.
tions for different kinds OF explosives
and accessories has made il necessary
TO employ a force of men in arranging
notifications that became desirable IL
customers during the progress Of the war
but happily all OF these changes were
made TO their entire satisfaction, with
no consequent delay and without neces-
siiy of modifying the general terms OF
contracts. No additional charge has
been made ON account of any change in
original terms or specifications.
At the beginning of hostilities the
| Military Sales Department showed great
| foresight in establishing price for
powder and terms of payment that en-
abled the company 10 do great work
rapidly. This price, though high, was
not more than % per cent. higher than
that applying TO foreign business before
the war, but differed from the latter in
the fact that factories TO be used in the
completion of war contracts must be
constructed out Of the purchase price
OF the powder itself. However, the
question of price cannot be dealt with
fairly without considering the war
period as n whole.
Taking military cannon powders, by
far the most important in quantity sold
Il sos, 100000 pounds-it is 10 be OBJ
served that the average cost 10 the
United States Government and the Al
lies for powder contracted during the
four years, l9l5l0lS, was 6iafo higher
han the price fixed by Congress for sew
eral years prior TO the war. The con
tracts with the United. States Govern
ment, made in the years 1917 and 1918,
we're AZ prices 1870 lower, and for 1919,
1880 lower than that prevailing be-
fore tho war. At all times a uniform
price was made 10 the United States and
.he Allies. Inquiry has failed TO reveal
mother ease where q war essential has
been sold below pre-war price. IL must
be remembered that during these four
years the cost of all raw material has |
advanced tremendously. During the last [
year Of the war, their cost was 1920 (
higher than for the year prior TO the |
var.
This enormous saving is largely at. /
ributable TO the very efficient work of |
,ur Chemical and Mechanical Research .
including the laboratories |
f the company, with the most intimate !
nd earnest cooperation of the men in
he factories themselves The Chemical
nd Mechanical Research Departments
2l2 men prior TO the war,
While at the end of the year 1918, 9s7
men were employed in this service The
economies effected, by them and by those
working at the factories, have not been
uestions Of dollars and cents alone, as
observation Of the materials saved was
4 prime Importance TO the world at
arge. Thus the reduction in consump-
ion Of alcohol was the equivalent to the
aving of l0,40o,O00 bushels OF corn. The
otsl expenditure for experiment and
esearch during the four years, 1915.
9ls, amounts 70 s3.360,OO0.
Outside Of the company the Develop
nent Dept. seeks new products, and cx-
lmlnes into the merits of new fields of
'Peration. To compensate the loss of
munitions business Investigations and
'tudies OF 100 separate industrial sub.
ects have been made. These investipa.
ions have been valuable in the develop.
nent of the military powder business ]
'lso, as the source and character of raw
Materials was under constant develop.
nent throughout the war The Develop.
nent Department has handled its work
N a masterful manner and deserves ,
great credit for results obtained.
Among the accessory departments that
iave contributed importantly TO the
'uccess Of the military program. men. h,
ion should be made Of the Traffic De. Il
'artment. Their work covered super.
'ision of shipping TO and from Chile for (
he maintenance Of an adequate supplv
4 nitrate of soda at a time of greatest
ongestlon and, In the earlier years. of
of operation of the Panama
anal. The planning OF railroad facili-
les In the United States for the assemb- {
ng of materials for construction and !
peration has been a difficult task, but
here has been no case of failure In this
nportant work, except for a brief per-
ID when the control Of fuel by the {
nited States Government made indie. ,
,ndent action impossible. Results have
zen attained by resorting to many in O
,nious expedients and by ceaseless at ,
ntion to every detail of every ship /
ent. Foresighted provision Of shipping c