The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-22
KANSAS NE VS..
At Last Decided to Resu me Ar
gentine Shelter.
Plant to Be Brought Up-to- Date
In Every Particular.
TO EMPLOY 600 MEN.
Will Rebuild and Have Largest
Plant in the u. s.
Authoritative Statement Given
Out by Committee.

Kansas City, Oct. 22.-"So far as the
Investigating committee is concerned,
the rehabilitation of the Argentine plant
Is an assured fact" said Daniel Guggen-
helm, chairman of that body and also
head of the executive board of the
American Smelling and Refining COM
pany. late yesterday evening.
This committee, composed of Daniel
and Simon Guggenheim, Walter T.
Page of Omaha, A. r. Meyer of Kansas
City and L. P. Fuerstman, purchasing
agent and member of the committee on
transportation, visited the Argentine
plant Monday returned to the Coates
in the afternoon, and after a long con-
suitation agreed to give out an au-
thor1tative statement as to the object
of its visit and it's intents touching the
d1smantled Smelter at Argentine.
When the combine was perfected"
Mr.. Guggenheim continued 1T was
found that there was an excess of
plants, and for that reason the one at
Aurora, H., was shut down. The rea-
son for the closing of the Argentine
refinery was that we had acquired a
similar plant at Perth Amboy, N. J.,
and found that the cost of transporting
ore from Ell Paso to that place by the
water route effected great saving
over the cost of railway transportation
to Argentine. The Argentine plant was
consequently dismantled and shut down
pending thorough examination of the
situation. Now that the examinat ton
has been made and conditions found to
be favorable, it is practically certain
that the plant will be reopened on
much larger scale than before
How many men will be employed,
Mr.. Guggenheim % was asked
Probably about 500, practically the
same number as before. The capacity of
the plant will be almost doubled, but the
modern improvements and labor saving
appliances will obviate any increase in
the operating force. This trip of ours
has been very instructive. We have
been out about six weeks, and during
that time have inspected nineteen of the
twenty-four plants belonging to the
company. We have been from New York
to Denver, and from Helena, Mont, to
the City of Mexico. Almost every plant
excelled in some one detail. All these
were noted, and the new plant at Argen-
tine will profit by tn knowledge gained,
for it will combine all the best points
of every plant in the system.
Another disadvantage under which
we labored at Argentine was the fact
that, owing to the position and arrange
ment of the buildings, it was intensely
hot in summer, and we found great diff
Guilty in getting men to- work during
that season. This is to be remedied by
placing the new buildings further up
the hill and arranging them so as to
catch the prevailing winds. No pains
will be spared to make this the most
perfect, as it will be one of the largest.
refineries in the United States. We
have come to the conclusion that Kan
sas City is the best point geographically,
for the location of the plant. It has
many natural advantages possessed by
no other city We propose that this
plant shall be permanent, and for that
reason shall equip it with the most per-
feet apparatus possible. Understand,
that this is what our committee will
recommend to the executive board,
which will probably take favorable ac-
ton upon the report"