Evening journal., 1919-03-05

! iAitlNhlH0 lN~Ss
known abroad. TO guns designed 20 us'
other ammunition. This neccssitated de
vclopment of forty different powders fol
as many guns. These powders function
under eXacting specifcations-tho
some of them average $1,000 pieces TO the
pound each OF these pieces is a perfectly
formed cylinder with one or seven longi'
tudinal perforations whose important di.
mensions require an accuracy of not
more than l-lO00-in inch variation from the
mean.
In addition to the foreign powder the
United States Government needed, for
army and navy use, ninety different
powders all produced under strict specifi-
cations. Many changes in the ballistiC
requirements of the guns made il neces-
sary So re-establish for characteristics
of the yowder, a change that was equiva-
lent 10 the fitting OF entirely new guns
IL will be appreciated that the produc.
tion of military propellant powders is
an exact science and that the wonderful
achievement in enormous production
brought about by our Smokeless Powder
Operating Department is increased in
value when we consider the minute care
that is necessary to produce accurate re-
suits. The measure ofsuccess attained
lies in the fact that all specifications
have been met while not a single lot OF
powder has failed of final acceptance
and no powder has been returned to us
as unsatisfactory.
! Great as has been the Ouput of stan
dard military products il should not be
allowed TO overshadow the production Of
| special explosives and Of countless ac-
cessories such as caps, fuzes, ignition
pellets and the loading of explosives for
use IN the field. Sales Of these so-called
minor items aggregated S206,OO 900, an
amount eight times the company's total
annual business jrior 10 the war In the
cap works and loading department alont
the number of employees increased from
225 before the war TO over $500 in No
vember. 1918.
The production Of so large a quantity
of explosives and accessories has not
been without attendant risk due TO acci-
dent or enemy interference. The com
pany has maintained a most efficient
guard at oil Of its principal factories. /
400 men having been employed in this /
service. The organization and main !
tenance Of this guard is in line of
military activity that had been unnec- I
essary before the war The work has
been handled with great efficiency. aud
as far as can be observed no accident /
has befallen through failure of this /
"Protective Division" TO act at the /
proper moment. The company has been /
fortunate in its freedom from serious
disaster during the war period. The T.
ratio of the number of killed and in
lured and property loss 10 total men
employed was far less than in preced.
ing years, indeed was much less than
IN many reputed safer industries. How
ever this should not lead one 10 mini /
ml1e the Importance of the accident L
question during the four years under
consideration. Three hundred and forty
seven employees have lost their lives
through accidents that have cost $1,000.
Vuu' including value of property de-
stroyed by tre and explosion. Sixtv.two
hundred and fifteen fires have been re-
ported and accidents of more or less
consequence have happened nearly everv
day Numbers OF these were possible
starting points OF disaster that was pre-
vented by the prompt action Of the FIRE.
lighting forces of the company and nv
unrsmitting attention TO the prevention
Of spread of fire and explosion. In
consequence a loss of over $4,000 has
resulted from 81 only out of this great
number of accidents.
The foregoing program placed a great
burden upon our purchasing organiza. /
tion and those who assisted in tho dif. /
ficult task OF furnishing punctuallv
when and where needed enormous ouan.
titles of materials and supplies not only /
for construction but for operation.
Their task was performed success. j
fully and with foresight, ability and
vigor Every pound of material re-
quired was secured without a single !
hours delay, either In the completion of .
work or in the execution Of /
contracts, and the company was at all .
times able 10 sell, manufacture and de-
liver the maximum output Of its plants.
The purchasing program was handled
~ such q way as 70 effect large savings
md TO materially augment profits for
he stockholders.
The pumber of employees In the de-
'artment IN 1914 was 50; in November,
9ls, 26S.
The total purchases increased from ,
25 100000 In the year preceding the
lar 80 an approximate total of $780, {
10000 for tho four and one-half war 1
ears. II
The Military Sales Department of the 4
onpany is numerically a small organ |
Sation whose chief, Colonel Edmund G. p
,uekner, has handled personally the b
'ester part of the many contracts g
nrus, rusr winch al military explosives wers q
iheso contracts called for n