The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-03-14
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Washington, d. @.
GUNPOWDER EMERGENCY

GUNPOWDER EMERGENCY
In the public mind Americas Ma
tional Defense Problem No. is pro-
duction Of airplanes. Actually, how
ever, it isn't.
War department chiefs haven't
been advertising 1t, but their great
est worry is gunpowder. You can't
fight a war without powder. And
UP until recently the annual powder
production Of all U. S. factories was
only 10000, 900 pounds, which would
last us a few short weeks in war
time.
In comparison, the United States
produced 500, 900, 900 pounds Of pow
der at the end of the last war, and
had partially built factories which
would have produced another $780,
100000 pounds few months after
the Armistice.
It happens that nitrate Is the key
to gunpowder production. Manufac-
ture Of powder is a simple and
speedy process. But it Is made from
explosive nitrate, and nitrate pro-
duction Is far more difficult.
There are two kinds of nitrates,
natural and synthetic. Major source
of the natural is Chile. But it has
two big drawbacks: ~ the desper-
ate shipping shortage; (2) the prod
uct's inferiority to synthetic nitrate
for powder purposes, although good
enough for fertilizer. Use of sym
thetic nitrate for explosives is far
more efficient, less expensive and
militarily more desirable.
In the United States there are only
two big producers Of synthetic ex-
plosive nitrate-Allied Chemical and
Dye corporation, at its giant Hope
well, Va, plant; and DUPONT.
First hitch was objection to the
governments plan of importing Chill
can nitrate, thus permitting Allied
Chemicals Hopewell plant to stop
making fertilizer and devote its en-
tire capacity to explosive nitrates, if
necessary
The chemical industry fell on this
plan like a ton of brick. Backed by
certain army officials, it holly de-
MED that the nation faced a nitrate
shortage. Hopewell's full facilities,
it was argued, would not be needed
for powder purposes.
The defense commission then
turned to developing new plant IA
cilities. Here good fortune seemed
to smile. iva still had its World
war nitrate plant at Muscle Shoals.
When the defense commission
moved to use this government-owned
plant, it again ran into powerful OPP
position from big business, particu-
larry from the dup Points, tactitly en-
couraged by the army. However,
weeks later, the defense commits
sion finally had its way and the plan
was approved. Defeated, the du-
Points did the sporting thing and Of
fered to sell IVA latest types of
oxidizers, thus expediting renova-
ton Of the Muscle Shoals plant.
iva and defense commission
heads were delighted. But their
pleasure-and duPont's willingness
was short-lived. When it came to
installing the machinery, DUPONT de-
manded a guarantee that it would be
used only to produce explosive nj
trate and never fertilizer, in which
DUPONT is heavily interested.
This was rejected fatty by iva,
which pointed out that even if it
wanted to, it couldn't accept such
restriction under the law. Further
more, it didn't want to.
DUPONT remained adamant, re-
fused to lend its machinery without
the guarantee. So IVA had to 60
into the market, order new ma
chinery for the government.