San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-12-24
Is the San Antonio Soap Fac
tory, Located at 4i6
North Laredo St.
Superb in its Equipment, Founded
in 1855, Its Product Is Used
Throughout the Lone Star
State - Erich Menger,
Proprietor Fred.
Bill, Manager.
A Brief Re-
sumo.

tial progress marks the record o
this plant, which, from small be
ginning, has grown to be one o
the most important concerns OF the
kind in the southwest.
The commencement of the plan
dates back to 1858, and stood
where the Alamo brewery nov
stands. In 1861 the factory wa:
moved to its present quarters
Year after year passed by and the
business grew until today we have
no hesitancy in saying that it is the
largest establishment of its kind in
this section.
The plant in its entirety is an
eminently we'll conducted one, and
reflects great credit upon its excel.
lent management. 1t is located on
two acres of ground and covers one
entire block of ground. The Soap
Works proper is substantial one
story stone building, 40 X 60 feet
in dimensions. This building is
divided into the packing room and
warehouse boiling room, engine
room, and toilet soap room.
The packing room and warehouse
is IS x IS feet in dimension, and
here the soap is packed for ship
ment and stored.
The boiling room contains one
kettle, having a capacity of $1,000
pounds. In the near future an ad-
ditional kettle will be added, CIV
ing a combined capacity of $1,000
pounds. This addition has become
necessary, owing to the large in
crease in business.
Next comes the engine and boiler
room, the entire plant being run by
steam.
In the rear Of the engine room is
the room where toilet soaps are put
UP and packed. Just south of the
main building is the rendering
room. This contains two immense
kettles, one for rendering and one
for grease. Contiguous to this
building is the warehouse where
the ingredients are stored. This
building Is 20 x 40 feet in dimen-
sions.
lust east Of the rendering room
is the large cotton-seed oil tank,
with capacity of 1900 gallons.
This oil is used for making finer
quality of washing soap.
The boxing house, I5x 90 feet,
is the next building, and here an
enormous quantity of boxing is
carried, ready to be made up. Nj
merous improvements are to be
made throughout the entire plant.
A number of men are given con-
slant employment. They manufac,
ture the following well known
brands of washing soaps, viz: Mag
nolia, Extra Olive, German sc bar,
Rex, Excelsior and others. In the
line of toilet soaps we mention
Toilet CASTLE, Gem, and Pure
Cocoanut Oil Soap. The capacity
of the plant is $4,000 pounds of
soap per diem. These products are
consumed locally, while shipments
are made to various points along
the different railroads of this Sec
ton. Wherever the soap of this
old reliable plant has been used,
general satisfaction has been ex-
pressed. This is strictly home
enterprise, and everybody that be-
lieves in building up Texas ought
to patronize the plant. The bust
ness is growing and increasing
yearly and today has reached very
large proportions. The CONNER
cial prosperity of San Antonio is
due to such plants, as they cause
our city to be known and talked OF
all over the state, as headquarters
for the best soap manufactured.
The success of this vast plant is
due to Mr.. Eric Menger, one OF our
best known and most solid citizens
Mr.. Menger was brought to San
Antonio in 1916, when but three
years of age, and is in a measure
identified with the onward progress
of the city. He has served the
Alamo City in council and scarcely
needs an introduction to our people.
His works are a credit to his mas
ter mind, and are certainly the
pride of San Antonio.
The management Of the plant is
in the hands of Mr.. Fred. Bill,
son-in-law of Mr.. Menger, who
took hold August, 1895. He IS a
Young maEoS push and energy and
bids fair to become one Of our most
representative business men IN the
future. tz.:ss.'z,-.z