Milford chronicle., 1930-11-14
COLEMAN DUPONT,
EX-u. S. SENATOR,
DIES AT HIS HOME
rContiruea from First Paael

powder business on account Of the
large family In Louisville he en-
gagged in the paper manufacturing
business. He was not wealthy as
some of the other duPonts but was
able to live in a style betitting his
position.
r. Coleman DUPONT was educated
at Chauncey Hall School, Boston,
UTbana University at Urbana, Ohio,
and Massachusetts Institute of
TechOnology where he graduated
with honors as a civil and mining
engineer.
Engaged In Coal Mining
Having graduated at the Boston
Tech Mr.. DUPONT went to Central
City, Ky, where he engaged in coal
mining. With the thOroughness
which marked everything which he
undertook he learned the business
from the bottom. He drove a mule
team and he dug coal. Later he be-
came head of the coal mining COM
pany. 1t was while he was filling
this position that he married Miss
Alice DUPONT, a cousin and daughter
of Victor DUPONT, well known
lawyer of Wilmington. Despite the
fact that he had become head of the
company which operated the mine
he continued to arise before 5 o.
clock in the morning and was at his
place when the men arrived to go
to work at z O'Clock. According TO
his wife, He always wanted to be
there before the whistle blew" This
trait distinguished him all through
life
Deciding that the position of min
ing engineer did not pay enough,
the highest price paid at that time
being about $4,000 a year he went
to JOhnstown, Pa, where he became
general manager of the JOhnstOwn
Steel Company of that place. He
made a success of that company and |
then entered the traction business |
and became president of the Johns
town Street Railway Company. |
About this time he became interest
ed with Tom l.. Johnson, later fa-
nous as street car manager and |
mayor of Cleveland and together
they built electric railways in var
iOus parts of the country. By many
they were both regarded as vision
aries but they were successful. In
the meantime the future Senator
bought a number of coal mines lin
the vicinity of Central City where
he had first located.
Goes TO Wilmington
In 1902 he returned to Whining
ton. The E. |. dupont deNemours
and Company was about to pass in
to the hands of outsiders and some
of the members bought it with the
understanding that Coleman dupont
was to consent to become pfesident.
He took this position and at once
began the organization of the Big
gest explosive company in the
world. Practically all of the large
powder companies in the country
were absorbed and the company
started on the wonderful career
which has since become history.
Would Share Prosperity
Feeling that the older and faithful
employees of the DUPONT Company
should be rewarded for their part
in developing its property, Mr., du-
Pont in 1914 proposed to the direc-
tors that the company purchase
from him at nominal price, 10000
shares of his stock and present it
to the employees. Some of the di- {
TectOrs demurred at the price and y
Mr. DUPONT then offered to sell his [
entire holding. 81. {
Again a majority of the directors I
declined his offer, but others headed {
by Pierre S. dupont purchased his i
interests through a syndicate of {
bankers, which they had organized. I
Coleman dupont reOrganized the t
company and placed it on a sue j
cessful foundation and then re- g
signed the presidency. S
Shortly afterwards a suit was t
begun to set aside the sale that had 4
been cOnsummated, but it was up t
held after having been in the courts n
three years. c
Mr.. dupont disposed of his hold i
ings in the dupont industries in Il
1915 at time when the company s
had in prospect about $40 0OO, 900 Il
profits in wartime contracts. He il
received $2O,OOO,OO0 for his inter b
ests. ... ft
1t was impossible to keep Cole t.
man dupont idle, however. He had c,
no sooner recovered from his ill Il
ness than he bought the controlling o.
interest in the Equitable Life AS Il
iurance Society of New York which S;
le later sold to the company under Il
is naturalization plan. AT the same 81
ime he organized the Equitable Il
Office Building Corporation and
erected a $9O,OOO,O0O Office building
n New York City. Later he became I'll
director in the Boomer Hotel sys- W
EN- and was interested in a. num- dl
,er of large hotels throughout the az
country. Il
Gave Roads TO State al
Always being interested in good pl
Dads Mr.. DUPONT in 1912 conceived &C
he idea of a concrete boulevard the al
ntire length of the State. The Leg m
stature approved his plan of build
lg the road at his own expense but al
here was litigation over the sub a
ect and it was some time before vi
he road was built. When opposition WI
D the original plan was shown he $4
epOsited fund for the completion tn
the road by the State and it was te
ompleted and named DUPONT Boul- of
ward. He spent about $4000,000 ON pa
le road. This road led to the estab- TO
shment of one of the finest road tn
ystems in the country in this State. va