The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-09-27
SMOKELESS POWDER
SHORTAGE

DESTRUCTION OF the kenvil, N. j.,
powder plant was a far more seri-
Gus blow to national defense than
anyone in high official circles want
ed to admit
1t now leaves the United States
with only two Smokeless powder
plants in the entire Countrywide du-
Pont plant at Carney's Point, N. j.,
and the government-owned Picatin-
ny arsenal at Dover, N. j., not far
from Kenvil. 1t produces only a
very small amount of powder.
Real fact is that powder plants
are Slow and cumbersome to build,
requiring a series of buildings in
which the powder is gradually dried.
Two new plants are being rushed to
completion by the war department,
but they will not be finished until
next spring.
One of these is near Charlestown,
Ind, and will be operated by the
duPonts, though built by the gov
eminent at cost of SOS, 000, 900. The
other will be at Radford, Va, and
will be operated by the Hercules
Powder company, though built by
the government at the same price.
How serious is the powder situa-
ton was illustrated by the fact that
one day after the New Jersey ex-
plosion, the war department issued
"speed-up" letters to both DUPONT
and Hercules, whereby they are or
dered to increase powder production
from 100000 pounds day to 300,-
600 pounds a day in the Radford
plant; and from zoe, 900 day to 400
600 a day in the Charlestown, Ind,
plant. This means that the plants
will be bigger, but it does not mean
they will be finished earlier.
Day after the New Jersey explo-
sion, also, the war department sent
confidential memo to the White
House on the seriousness of the pow
der situation.
NOte-German intelligence agents
unquestionably knew the exact ca
pacity of American powder facto-
ries, and how limited our present
production was-namely, 20, ZOO, 900
pounds a year. They must have
known also that the destruction of
one factory would throw the Unit
ed States off its preparedness SEIZED
ule more than any other single in
cident.
SECRET AIRPLANE CONTRACTS
The public is not going to get any
more information about airplane
contracts let by the war department.
The army is putting the lid on as
military precaution.
Inside fact is that news of recent
contracts was released only to offset
the impression that the work was
not getting ahead. Secretary of War
Stimson had stated on August that
contracts had been let for only 80
planes of the 1000 authorized in
June.
Just month later, September 10,
the war department released figures
that told q different story. Instead
of 80, the number of planes contract
ed for was 2,797
These figures were put out to re-
assure the public. But from now on
there will be no talking. The war
department is following the lead Of
General Marshall, who says, you
can't play poker with everybody
looking at your hand"
MERRY
The state department is still try
ing to keep the muzzle on Mrs. "Dai-
sy" Hartman, fortnight minister to
Norway. Apparently Mr.. Hull fears
she will tell what really happened
| there.
Sen. Joe O'Mahoney polled the
highest vote ever received by q
Democrat in the recent Wyoming
primary. With less than half Of the
normal vote cast in this election,
the Democrats figure they have q
GOOD chance to carry the state in