Evening journal., 1919-03-13
PROSPEROUS YEAROF
ATLAS POWDER COMPANY

, the largest producers OF Ammonium
, Nitrate In the United States, was re
: quesled 20 design, construct and oper-
ate for the government under agency
contract, a plant at Perryvile. Nd
with annual capacity Of 2O0OOOOOl
pounds Of Ammonium Nitrate. The
construction Of this plant was begun
In March, 1918 and finished product was
delivered 10 the government in July.
1918. At the time Of the gning OF The
armistice, on November II. 1918, the
| plant was operating al capacity, and as
soon as the United states government
decided the output Of the plant was no
! longer required. operations were sus-
/ pended and the contract has since been
| cancelled. An increased supply Of Am
monlum Nitrate during the war was
| considered by the government 90 be
matter Of utmost importance, this ma
terial being the principal ingredient in
the manufacture Of Amaiol, the burst
ing charge IN high explosive shells. and
in order 10 provide this supply. In ad-
d ton 90 the problem Of constructing
the plant with the utmost speed, 10 was
necessary 10 devise a new manufacture
ing process which had neye! before
been operated I'm this country. and
your company Is proud Of the fact that
its research, chemical and engineering
personnel has succeeded so well in this
project. We are quoting below. t's-
tImon al letter dated January "a. 1919
from Major General T.. G.. Williams.
Chief Of Ordnance. L. =. y.
With the winding up Of the muni-
tions production subsequent 20 the sign
ing Of The armistice, there has been
called TO my attention the very remark I
abel achievement OF your company and /
your sUb-c0nlractOrs, the Fred n. Ley
Company, IN the building Of the Perry /
Vile plant for the production Of Am |
monium Nitrate by the Brunner-NiondI |
process. The completing OF so large /
and substantial a plant within virtually
four months from the date Of breaking
ground cannot but be regarded as a re-
markable achievement.
still further. the very satisfactory
results secured by the operations. vir-
tually since initiation, despite its high
ly technical nature, bcspeaks very
the thoroughness with which
your research and engineering built
upon the assistance that was placed at
your disposal in the matter Of our al
lies.
" It Is a pleasure to me therefore 20
express TO you my very sincere appre-
citation and that Of the War Department
Of the very high eff cheney shown in
your contribution 10 our military prog
ress.'
In addition to producing Ammonium
Nitrate at Perryville Md. the Atlas
Powder Company at the time Of signing
li the armistice, had IN hand contracts
,or construction and operation Of T. y.
T. plants at Giant, California and Per
willie. Nd, and Tetryl plant at Senter,
Michigan.
I'VE have adhered TO our usual Gus
i'm Of setting aside from earnings am
pie reserves % provide against loss
rom bad debts. acc dents at plants. de-
lreciation OF plant values, etc.
The authorized capital stock OF the
company remains at S20O0O.OO0. consist
ng Of 100000 par value 6 per cent.
preferred stock and $4,000
90 par value common stock. There is
low outstanding 100000 par value
per cent. cumulative preferred stock
nd 5000 400 par value common stock.
10 capital stock was issued during the
ear Your company has been required
o finance greatly increased inventories
I raw materials and all other work {
1g assets incident TO an increased vol
me OF gross business. It IS gratifying
D report that this extraordinary flnanc-
lg was accompl shed entirely with \
urrent earnings and by short time :
ack loans.
Your company is constantly increas-
ig the scope OF its research, develop
ent and experimental activities in the
lplosives and chemical fields. Our poll
y is TO supply our customers with the
est explosives and chemical products
lown in the industry and we feel our
lccess Is largely due to the efficient [
ork Of our laboratories.
Dividends on the per cent. cumula- 4
We preferred stock have been paid L