Evening journal., 1919-05-21
DUPONTS help OUT
GENERAL MOTORS
Will Work Out Some De-
velopment Plans for
Auto Corporation
JOHN L. PRATT is
NAMED DIRECTOR

The development department OF the
Z. ]. dupont de Nemours & Company
has taken over a similar line Of work
for the General Motors Corporation, in
which the dupont company has become
heavily interested
In the annual report made by Pierre
:. dupont. as president OF the company
IL was pointed out that an interest
amounting TO. more than q per cent,
1ad been secured in the Motors Corpora
lion and IL was added that this in
Vestment was made in such a way as
10 give opportunity for our financial
organization 70 be Of service and at the
same time increase greatly. our flnan-
clal strength. The large engineering and
construction forces OF our company. the
development. legal and accounting de-
pariment facilities. coupled with the de
mands OF the motor industry for talent
Of that kind. has furnished a connect
ing link. which seems desirable in all
Investments
Following out this suggested line Of
procedure. the development department
- is now being carried on virtually by
two separate organizations. one 90 be
known as the dupont Development
handling problems which pertain 10 the
dupont Company. and the other the
Motors Development Department. occu-
pying itself with the work OF the Gen
eral Motors Corporation.
Dr. Fin Spare, assistant director OF
the development department. becomes
the head OF the dupont branch, with l..
4 Yerkes as his assistant.
Or. Spare has been with the com
pany since 1908 and is one OF the most
valuable Of the company's stan OF in
vesiigators as well as a leader in eN-
perimenta work along many CONNER
cial lines After spending several
years IN important chemical work DR..
Sparre was made director OF the du-
Pont Experimental Station in 1911. lie
was transferred to the Development
DEPARTMENT on special assignment. In
1910 he was one OF the commission
which went TO Norway 10 investigate
and take over for the dupont Com
panv patents and rights for The produc-
lion OF nitrogen from the air. During
1917. ne made another trip TO Europe TO
investigate or behalf OF the ordnance
department AID the dupont Company,
several chemical problems connected
with the waL lie brought back a great
deal OF yalwble Information about the
loading OF hgh power shells and with
his reports as a basis the company
went into this line OF munition pro
duciion.
John Ls Pratt. has been appointed
director O. the General Motors Develop
ment Department and will continue a
Inc OF york which he has been fol-
owing or some time. lie is a gradu-
afs Of nc University OF Virginia, TAX
ing hisdegree In civil engineering. lie
also tok the course in junior electrical
tnering. Mr.. Pratt has been with
BpOni Company almost cOntinu-
ia. Since July 4. 1905 and has handled
Il. Gbcr or important problems. lie
bcri o., M assistant engineer, s.a-
louil 90 Rcpauno and has occupied
a rmbcr of positions each more i'm
~ no than the last.
The outbreak OF the war he was |
lned in Chile. where the dupont
lpany has extensive nitrate inter !
lie returned from this field in /
ober 1911, 10 become resident engi- |
at Hopcwell. where the work Of /
citing the worlds greatest guncotton /
ant was Just starting. In a short /
N he was called back 90 the home /
Ice 10 become head Of the develop /
Mt and civil engineering division Of
engineering department. lie was 4
ST actively engaged in the work OF
lstructng war plants for the manu-
turc OF munitions for the Allies.
October. 1916. he was transferred
The American Nitrogen Company. a
nPont subsidiary. which was arrang-
'g 10 erect plants for the production
2 nitrogen from the air. In connec-
ION with this work he continued as
h'ad Of the development engineering
division for the engineering depart
mont. Tie made an intensive study Of
water power in the United States in
connection with processes for the flXa-
ton Of atmospheric nitrogen.
When the United states went into the
war. April. 1917, Mr.. Pratt became an
important factor in the selection Of
sites and the erection Of plants for the
Of munitions for the army
and navy. This work included the
supervision Of important housing pro-
jects at these plants.
Since the beginning OF this year he
has been making a number Of studies
for The General Motors Corporation.
From these studies plans for the gl-
gantic housing operation of General
Motors employees have been worked out