Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-03-07
ENLARGED AND IMPROVED.


The New Plant of the LiebiE Manufacture
ing Co., Succeeding the Walton g. Whann
Co.--One of the Largest in the Country.
Extensive Improvements are under way
at the old fertilizer establishment of the
Walton g. Whann Co., which was recently
swallowed up by the Liebig Manufaetur-
ing Co., u sub-concern of the Standard Oil
Go. The head office of the new firm is in
New York but the officers of the concern
have paid several visits to Wilmington
during the past 10 days, and have ordered a
complete remodeling of the entire works,
which they hope to have in operation by
the first of May
The manager of the company is John
Gibbons of New York, and Albert French
is treasurer. Coleman Cressey. who was
superintendent under the old fertilizer
firm, will be the general superintendent.
The head book-keeper is Frederick +.
Ward
1t is understood that the new concern
will be the largest of the kind in this
country. and will have capacity of 200
tons of fertilizer per day. A force of 100
men are now engaged in making the i'm
provements necessary TO put the works in
lirst-class condition. Master Mechanic
Thomas Birchall has charge of the i'm
provements and under him is a force of 25
carpenters and mechanics in addition to
| the force OF laborers at work under the
direction of the general superintendent.
| II is stated that about $25, 900 worth of i'm
provements will be made to the works, and
the machinery will be renewed at cost of
| about 5000 more.
In the fertilizer department three large
mixing rooms are being erected, one of
them so feet square, another 3Sx50 feet,
and third, 3Ox5O feet jim dimensions.
A double roof will enclose the large bins
at the top and the apartments will be her
lnetically sealed SO as to prevent the escape
of the accumulating gases which will oe
conveyed from the bins by means of a
iume to the water tower where the gases,
becoming condensed, will pass out into
the air.
For the condensation of the gases arising
from the generation of oil into the
| immense fertilizer bins, a large tower is
being constructed Just east of the mixing
bins, with an altitude of 55 feet, 81 feet
long and 1 feet in width. The gases will
be generated from the mixing department
into the water tower where the combined
pressure of air and water will remove all
the offensive odor which would otherwise
be detected.
As receptacles for the oil which will be
shipped here from the works of the Stand
ard Oil Co., two large iron tanks will be
erected south of the main building. These
tanks will be about 20 feet high and 40
| lteI Ill ultueter. Inc OIL Will De pumped
up to the disintegrators by means of an
engine, and from the disintegrators it will
pass into the mixing bins.
The acid used in the manufacture of fer
tili2er is recovered by the oil reliners after
it has been used in reducing the petroleum,
and is rendered useless for any other pur-
pose except for making fertilizer owing to
the offensive odor arising from the
acid. In order to obviate Objectionable
smelling qualities of the acid the lirm was
compelled to erect the large tower which
will condense .he gases as already de.
scrlbeG. The water tower is being erected
by Arthur Reason, contractor of New
York.
A tramway is also being erected the
whole length of the building which will
be utilized in conveying the fertilizer from
the sweating bins to the warehouse after
the goods have been finished and ready
for commercial purposes. From the ware
house the manufactured rock will be CON
veyed to the wharf ready for shipment t.
all parts of the country.
The new company will commence the
manufacture Of fertilizer Just as soon as
the improvements are completed aud will
give steady employment to large force Of
men. The acquisition Of the concern will
prove an important enterprise in the his
tory of local industrial development.