Show HERCULES POWDER CO ABSORBS THE AETNA new york june 7 rumors of the proposed purchase of tile the aetna explosives company inc by the hercules company received definite confirmation Sest yesterday erday when the ae tena stockholders sanctioned tile the sale of its properties assets and busness this marks tile the culmination of a transaction that has interested financial and business circles for the past two years and which in addition to being a deal of considerable sid erable moment also presents an unusual legal aspect by this purchase the hercules company will acquire high explosives or dynamite plants near birmingham ala emporium por imil pa pa ishpeming midi mich and fayville ill two black blasting powder plants one at goes station ohio and the other near birmingham ala a plant for the manufacture of blasting caps and electric blasting caps at port ewen eiven N Y and a plant for the manufacture of fulminate of mercury for use in blasting td caps at prescott ontario canada the explosives industry differs from most others in that it is limited geographically in making sales because of freight rates it is only possible to ship such commodities a limited distance from the place of manufacture before a point is reached at which transportation costs make it impossible to compete with other companies having plants nearer tile the particular consuming center the principal significance of this transaction of the hercules company is that it will in the future because of the locati location oil of the aetna plants be able to enter territories in which it has previously found it unprofitable to sell it will thereby compete all the more successfully cess fully with other explosives manufacturers with the aetna companas Comp anys business tile the hercules powder company becomes a much larger factor in the explosives business of the united states said J T skelly vice president of the hercules company the company is now nov in a position to compete for business in all parts of the united states and will be greatly strengthened in important fields which have hitherto been closed to us on account of freight rates from our plants |