The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-19
BERLIN MILLS co.'s. PLANT.
New Industry In Operation ON Conn
mercisl street.


Brief reference was made In the
PRESS some time since to tho projected
plans of the Berlin Mills company. and
now that the plant Is in operation, de-
scription Of IL win be Of general interest.
The plant is thoroughly modern one
and occupies the entire triangle bound
ed by the easterly side OF High, Com
meroial streets, and the Boston 81 Maine
railroad tracks. 1t was started last June.
and considering the Size OF the plans 1t
has been completed in a remarkably short
time.
A unique feature In this mill Is that
all the machinery is painted white. This
is In lins7with the best modern ideas as
adopted by large Western mills and fac
tories Of ell kinds. 1t is estimated that
a saving Of 20 per cant in light Is realized
by adopting this color,
In the large mill ba.ilding prorer the
first and second stories are devoted to
general planning mill work and jobbing
10 all it's branches, including wood turn
Ing. The third story is used for cabinet
making and fine high grade interior
wood finish work, including wood oarv
ing. separate room on this Il DOT Ii Civ.
en- up to composition and papier mache
work. The company have spared no ex-
rense TO make and equip the department
on this floor In most complete and
thorough manner as they will make a
speciality Of high grade wood work and
interior finish, including stair work.
NANTES. special furniturs, etc.
The corner building. which will be en-
tirely rebuilt ana renovated, viii have its
lower story fitted up as a sample room,
not only for the display of the manu-
featured products, but also of the differ
ent kinds Of cabinet and finish woods Of
which the company intends to keep a full
line both foreign and domestic for
wholesale and RETAIL
The upper story OF this building will
have the min Office which is to be located
in the end facing Commercial street; the
rest to DO fitted up for sketch and panel
room.
Stepping into the yard we find neat
fire-proof shed. directly opposite to the
mill on its easterly side and here are
running two machines which are the
largest and best of their Kind in New
England. One is No. IA Woods planer
and thatcher. capable of dressing four
sides; stock 80 inches wide by IA inches
thick. Alongside of 1t is a huge band
re-saw. capable of resawing stock 80 inches
wide by 20 inches thick, and yet so fine
and delicate in adjustment that 1t can
accurately split board of l-s of an inch
thick. The saw which accomplishes this
fine work Is six inches wide and makes
kerr OF only about Lie of an inches 1t
runs over wheels at top and bottom which
are i've feet in diameter. Both of these
above described machines are located
outside of the mill SO as to be easily ac-
cessible.
The Boston & Maine spur track, which
runs into the mill yard, passes close to
the machines. enabling stuck to be
handily loaded from or unleaded to both
machines, while there is also ample room
left for handling the stock ty teams. On
tho Commercial street side of the mill
yard we find next to the office building.
but separated from 1t by dive way, a
commodious store house building of
which the upstairs Is used for storing
hard wood mouldings of all kinds and
the down stairs for storing wood lum-
Ter Next to this building comes three
dry kilns, each of something over two
carloads capacity. By special device the
exhaust steam is utilized for drying. A
driveway separates the dry kilns from
anothec large storehouse building adjoin-
ing. This storehouse is over 200 feet long |
and Is two stories high and will be com
pletely fitted with high grade lumber to |
be used for interior finish. The quality |
of this kind of stock carried on hand
will be large. as besides the quality con.
sumed in their own plant the company
will sell 1t at wholesale and retail.