Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-10-04
O. H. b.
Another Mystery Sees the Light
of Day.

AnOther Mystery sees the Llghl
of Day.
For some weeks past persons driving out
the Millerstown road have wondered what
was the purpose of that bunch of buildings
Just this side of the Karns crossing
The buildings are located near the Water
Works, on the narrow strip of ground be-
tween the 6. q A K. r. and the Rev.
White property. and have gradually as
sumed such proportions as to excite gen
eral curiosity. which the projectors have
not seen fit to allay.
However, the enterprise has now so far
advanced that the principal man in it has
yielded to the oft repeated request Of the
newspaper man for information, and has
un bosomed himself as follows:
The style ofthe firm is The Butler Salt and
Manufacturing Co, the capital is s400, 900
$50. 900 of which is held BY Pittsburg and
the rest by Butler parties-and the pdrpose
Of the plant is the manufacture Of all those
chemicals that can be obtained from wood.
the shIl-WdttI oi illt l"b "cll7' anu 't"''4
coal
The origin or history of the plant Il
about as follows: Mr.. Joseph Britain, Jr.,
has for some years been engaged in cutting
railroad ties in this county. He has done
a large business, often averaging thous-
and ties day for several consecutive
weeks, and he always regretted the I'M
mense waste of wood, in tops, slabs and
dust.
Upon inquiry he learned that some Of the
most valuable chemicals, such as acetlc
acid, which is used in making white lead;
wood alcohol, creosote and other things
were made from wood, and upon inquiry of
the consumers of these articles, learned
that supply Of muriatic acid was neces-
sary for the production OF the quality that
suited them. Then he learned that muriatic
acid came from saltwater, and after hav-
ing the saltwater from the wells on the
George Reiber place analyzed and found to
be rich in the acid, and also in bromine, be
purchased three acres Of ground, contain
ing one Of the wells, and leased the other.
Further investigation showed him that the
products of coal could be used to advantage
in connection with the products OF wood
and saltwater, and so it will be seen that
the plan Of complete chemical works was
gradually fixed in his mind-all originating
from his desire to make some use of the
wasted tree tops
The plan being completed after two
years of study, the next thing was to raise
the money.
Some Pittsburg men who have money
and who know the manufacture Of chem
icals is, next after the manufacture of fancy
bronzes, the most profitable in the world,
offered to furnish the money necessary 10
start the thing if he would sell them
five -eighths Of the stock I. e. controlling
interest, but Joe remembered the fate of
other inventors and projectors who had
trusted capitalists and didn't propose get
ting into that kind Of a hole, and after
canvass of the moneyed men of Butler and
Pittsburg secured enough to help him start
the enterprise without relinquishing its
control.
Work was begun on the lst Of May last,
and since that time the company has used
half a million feet Of lumber, 300, 600 brick,
$50, 900 shingles and hundreds Of per ches Of
stone. Their expenses for labor have
averaged 800 day, and their plant is yet
not near completed.
Eight large buildings and several small
ones are up, but the muriatic acid tower,
which is to be of vtrified clay, 80 feet high
and enclosed in an oak frame 10 feet
square; the large boiler house, the engine
house, the lime house and one large ware
room are not yet built.
The plant, as it stands to-day, beginning
at the salt well which produces $500 bar
rels day, il as follows: Brick boiler
house. containing five boilers; brick build.
ing with large metal evaporating pan and
brick stack, with settling tanks adjoining;
salt house, for manufacturing and storing
salt, frame building, 44x4 fect-thc Co.
proposes making only fine table salt; bro
mine house, 40x50,-bromine il a drug and
disinfectant, is worth 50 cents n pound
wholesale, and the water of these two wells
is very rich in IL; frame building 44xl0O,
for manufacturing carbonate Of soda, which
Is used in making plate glass; frame build
ing 44xl00, for the dry distillate machine
this machine is Mr.. Brittain's own invcn-
ton, was made by II firm in Wilmington,
Del, and il now in successful operation
there. and with it he will distill the waste
wood, and produce charcoal, wood alcohol,
actate Of lime, acctic acid and crcosotc.
Creosote is the poisonous quality OF wood
and il used for preserving wood. Il it not
strange that in almost everything there IL
both sugar and poison; and by the way
this establishment will give every bit Of
waste wood within market distance Of But
Ter a certain value, fact that our farmer
friends should remember
Another building, 44xl00, IL 10 be used
in refining the crude products Of the build
ing just mentioned, and still another large
frame building below this and next TO the
railroad switch, will be the wareroom.
The Co. has already built substantial
railroad switch into their grounds The
buildings not yet erected are large ware
house just below the bromInc house, the
boiler house for ten boilers, which will be
Of brick and stand nearest tho road, and
the engine house and machine shop, which
will be located just below ii.
Besides these, tankage for 1000 barrels
of water Ia being built on the hillside, on
ground leased from Rev. White, and tank