The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-03-16
A BIG WORK.
Linseed Oil Works Changing
to a Brewing Plant.
The Numerous Large Structures Being
Remodeled by Force of Forty
TO Fifty Men.

A person who has not visited the
plant can have no idea of the extent of
the work being done on the buildings
of the old linseed oil plant in re
modelling them into proper shape for
the use of the Standard Brewing Co.
The numerous buildings are of much
greater size and capacity than one
would imagine from the outside, and
were all built in the most substantial
manner and are as good today as when
they were erected. Doors and arches
have been cut through walls, floors
torn out and new ones constructed
at different heights, windows bricked
up and new ones cut through, and ad-
ditions built. The central part of the
main building has already been raised
one story and is to go up two more
stories, with solid frame of steel
work, metal screeing to take the place
of lath, and cement flooring, rendering
the building as nearfre proof as possible.
1t is under this part that the steam
busy excavating for it. The ammonia
cooling plant will also be located here.
While great amount of work has
already been accomplished in the
various buildings by the continuous
employment of thirty to fifty men all
winter, still there is much to be done
yet, and the lumber piled up in some of
the buildings would stock a good sized
lumber yard.
Under the guidance of good natured,
progressive-idead Henry Zimmerman
Jr., Free Press reporter climbed up
ladders from floor to floor in the
various buildings, going up four or
five stories to the very top of the big
beer cooling house. Dizzy heights
were reached in several of the build
ings. leaving the city spread out in a
panorama below on the outside, and
elevator shafts or empty stairways on
the inside where misstep would send
a person down fifty or sixty feet to in
slant death at the bottom.
Carpenters, brick layers stone cut
tiers and other mechanics are at work
in the buildings, few here and a few
there, with ex-Alderman John Adams
over them all and gradually bringing a
finished brewing plant out of chaos.
The size and durability of the linseed
oil plant would indicate that it must
have cost close to s15o,OOO yet the oil
trust turned it over at figure that
was practically free gift, the most i'm
portant consideration being stipula-
tion that it should not be operated
again as an oil MILL The machinery
went with the buildings and much of
it is useless to the present company and
is waiting for somebody to take it.
The Standard Brewing Co. will have
a magnificent plant when everything
is in order. A few sleeping rooms and
sitting room are being prepared in
the north end of the main building for
reyeral of the employees. who are to
sleep there and guard against fire.
The company will have it's own hose
and fire protection It's sand we'll is
also to be enlarged by digging out a
basin for certain distance down.
A change in the personnel of the
Mankato Electric Street Railway,
Light and Power Co. has occurred, the
other members buying out the interests
of w. L. Hixon and A. E. Clark, who
are no longer connected with it.