Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-18
FOR REMAINING SPACE
JOBBERS AND SHIPPERS SOLICIT
ING SUBSCRIPTIONS.
Option Extended by Jamestown Ex-
position Observation-Disclosures
ling Plant to Employ 1000 Men.

The members of the jamestown exposi-
ton committee of the Jobbers and Ship
pers' Association, at q meeting yester-
day, gave consideration to the matter of
securing subscribers for the remaining
space in sections II and 10 in the exhibit
ton building. A report was made stating
that the option on those sections had been
extended two weeks, and the decision was
reached to try and sell all the exhibition
spaces before that time expires. The
opinion was expressed that now that the
restrictions had been removed as to the
exhibition of food products in the space
that has been set aside for the District,
there will be less trouble experienced in
selling the remaining space.
The members Of the committee COM
mented favorably on the attitude of the
several citizens associations in supple
menting the efforts of the Jobbers and
Shippers Association for a greater COM
mercial Washington. 1t was said that the
membership of the commercial body has
passed the 200 mark.
Will Employ 1000 Men.
Viewed from the river, the new steel
making plant of the Firth-Stirling Com
pany, which is being established on the
Potomac a short distance below this city.
shows up like a big city, and 1t is under
stood that operations will be begun there
shortly after the first of the year 1907
One of the buildings-the biggest on the
grounds Of steel sheets on a metal
frame. 1t is all windows and will be
used, 1T is said, as one of the mills in
which the steel shell will be cast The
numerous windows are for the purpose
OF carrying off the intense heat from the
molten metal.
completed, and this, it is said, is to be the
machine shop where the finishing work
on the shells will be done. An office build
ing of brick, on a steel frame is nearly
completed, and two or three other steel
frame buildings are going. up. These
buildings. will have brick walls. The con-
struction of the buildings at the plant is
of the most substantial character, and
there are no makeshifts in any of them.
One of the first objects about the grounds
of the new plant to attract attention is a
big circular steel water tower which rearS
it's head hundred or more feet up in the
air high above all the other buildings. The
tower will give water pressure for the
plant, and is fed, it is said, by deep well
of flowing water. A large force of men
is employed in grading the grounds and
putting them in shape for the beginning of
operations. The material for the construc-
ton of the plant was brought to the ground
by rail, spur from the Shepherds track
of the Baltimore and Ohio having been run
into the grounds several months ago when
the work on the buildings was first started.
Extent Of the Plant.
1t is said that when the plant is in full
operation it will give employment to about
1000 men. When work is first started
about 400 will be enrolled. The bulk of
these, particularly the skilled ironworkers.
will be brought here from the north. AS
these workmen will make their homes in
this city or Alexandria, arrangements have
been made by the managers of the plant to
have the ferry steamers make stops there
several times during the day to take the
workmen to and from their work.
The new plant is by far the largest pri-
vate enterprise in this section Of the coun-
try. The navy yard employees many more
men, but with that exception the new Firth
Sterling plant will give employment to
the largest force ever employed in a manu-
featuring plant in this vicinity, and 1t
marks the beginning of Greater Washing
ton as a manufacturing city.
The coming of the plant to this city was
by chance. 1t is stated, for 1t was first in
tended to establish 1t at Alexandria. Ac-
cording to the story when the projectors of
the big works, which would have meant
much for the Virginia city. went there and
endeayored to secure a suitable location
for a plant. the real estate dealers held
the land at such fancy figures that the
idea Of locating on the Virginia side of
the Potomac was abandoned, and the site
now occupied by the plant was chosen,