The Penn's Grove record., 1919-11-21
OVER THE RIVER
DUPONT Dye Industries

new after-the-war industries that will
help to make America more nearly in
dependant, commercially, than hereto
fore, is pointed out in an article printed
in the Wall Street Journal. 1t says:
In Germany. war explosives and
chemistry went hand in hand under the
government subvention and protection.
English inventions were the basis of
the German dye industry, historically
considered, but Germany took the Eng
lish inventions and has always improv-
ed, sy~stematized and developed them,
and in his instance became supreme
in the trade OF the world. For, under
meath the German dye industry lay the
war ambitions and war preparations
OF Germany. England quickly felt her
lack Of fostering care for her dye in
dustry, her chemical works, and her
metallurgy; but the United States was
able to supplement many of her neg
lected industries and forces.
1t is not generally known that one
half of the Allies powder used during
the war came from this side of the
ocean. Indeed, the dupont Powder Co.
is said to have furnished 40 per cent of
the total. 1t is well known, however,
that the Allies on their first order to
the duPonts, for 100, 600. 900 pounds of
powder at 81 per pound, accompanied
the order with fifty millions cash, that
duPonts might quickly expand their
plant, To-day on the banks of the
James river, the duPonts have a $50,
600, 900 plant which they hope to turn
into new lines in the uplift of American
industrial enterprise.
Before the war the dupont business
averaged $4,000 600 per annum, and
only 5 per cent of it was military pow
der. Last year the gross earnings of
the company was 1925, 600, 600 and the
net SAT. 900, 600. From 1915 to 1918 the
business of the company, including
S220, 600, 600 of construction, exceeded
by fo%rty-nine million the figure of one
billion dollars.
After the armistice, contracts with
the duPonts for $3.50, 900, 900 were can
celed. Now the ompany is scrapping
as junk, $50, 900. 600 of it's $150,000,O0O
invested in plants. From 125, 900 en-
ployes at maximum construction and
operation, the company is now down to
$4,000 employees, and 1000 are engaged
in the dye works.
When the dye plant is finished and
fully operated, it is the expectation OF
the managers to nave employment for
"A JU,UOU people,. Ills - t4PVSIto ~ ~ -
most important future business of the
dupont mpa next after the invest
ment of it's surplus capital gathered
during the war.
The importance of this latter item
may be judged by the fact that while
the gross business of the duPonts is
now under IS millions per annum, it is
expected to be soon one hundred
millions per annum and yet be
only half of the company's gross
BUSINESS; for its investment in the
General Motors Co, where it owns
4 npg1 than y per cent of the capital
a also represents a gross business IN the
8 motor field of another one hundred mil
lions. as the General Motors mpan
gross business is now approaching the
mark of 400 millions per annum.
If the entire gross business now
under the capital and surplus of the
du Pont returns liz per cent,
as expected, on the $500, 100000 du Pont
assets. the resulting $23, 600, 900 of net
earnings can pay the 6 per cent of the
du Points debentures and present 10 per
cent dividends, or S14,150,000 on the du
Pont common
Rut what more concerns the people
of the United States is the maintenance
and expansion of the American Cheml-
cal industry, in which the duPonts are
expected to take the leadership. they
Il. nave d dS lie ~ 90 ~
in experimental chemistry in all its
branches.
Last month the War Board Division
of the State Department, which has
taken over the functions OF the war
Licensing Board, gave permits Tor the
importation of $4,000 POUNDS OF Ger
man dyes. at an average of four times
nre-war prices, or S1.60 per pound
1rhe idea is that licenses shall issue
for the importation of dyes that are
not made in his country, and for the
protection of the 43 dye makers in the
limited States, who have no protection
for the future in an average duty or
20 per cent, and no present protection
when German marks stand 1~nternation-
a,1v at 4 cents instead of "a cents.
Regulatory Legislation
There is a bill now before the SEN
ate that will give al ideal regulation
if it functions properly, in place OF tne
War Board Licensing functions, which
will expire with the declaration OF
neace. Unless this licensing bill IS
nassed in due time, more than a hun
dred thousand tons of dyestufs, piled
I'M in ma may quickly inundate
This country. Dyestuffs, at present
nrices. will take little note of high
Shipping rates. The dye values are by
the pound, and shipping rates are by
the ton. Ine uyesluhS
Germany are understood to be OF
double and triple strength.
ON Armistice Day, or November llth,
10Th houses of Congress showed their
Intention to protect the American dye
Industry by the introduction of a joint
resolution, forbidding, until January
l5th. 1920, any new permits for import
bf DIVES or coal tar products. This may
rive time for Congress to formulate
plans for the full protection of this in
1ustry.
If the American dye industry is to
continue. Wall Street must get out a
-. dictionary The cOlOrS which are