The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-07
WORK ON THE SHOPS
DETAILS OF THE WESTERN RAIL-
 WAY IMPROVEMENTS.
President Wickersham Visits Mont gomery and ConsuIts With Of- flcials-Buildlng to Begin
 in a Few Days.

Mainly for the purpose of consulting officials regarding the details of the large additions and changes that will be made in the general shops of the Atlanta and West Point Railroad at Montgomery, President 10. A. Wicker sham of the latter company was in the city yesterday. He reached Montgom- cry from Atlanta late Sunday night in his private car and left last night for Selma. MNe
 Yesterday afternoon Mir. wickersham was in protracted, consultation at the Western Railway freight ofIlce with the officials of the railway who are draw ing plans and specifications and mak- ing arrangements for the stupendous work that to be done at the Western Railway snops.
 With the contemplated alterations that are to be made 1t is said the Western shops here will be second to none in the South, and when the work Is completed. the expenditures may have reached $100,0 900 although at this time figures as to cost are not accur- ately known.
 First of all, new blaming mill and coach shop will be built and this struc- ture will be the largest and most costly and coach shop will adloin end to end. the former being two stories high and the latter one story. This building will be built of concrete, brick and steel throughout and will be fireproof. The second story of the blaming mill will be suspended from the steel roof, thus avoiding posts on the interior of the building. This floor will be used for cabinet work.
 The blaming mill and coach shop feet wide by 4S2 feet long. The plan ing mill will he 198 feet long and the coach shop 234 feet long.
 With the addition of the coach shop q zl-Nv 1I4 70 any kind can be built from the ground up, and with these facilities, a new chapter wilt be written in the life of the Western shops. Heretofore the shops have been able to practically build coach. but never have they been equipped on such a large scale fer the work.
 The demands for an adequate blaming mill have been long recognized by the railway company. The old blaming mill will be abandoned and the building will be torn down. The machinery of the new mill will be modern in every re- spect to meet the requirements of mod ern times.
 Instead of the small blacksmith shop now being used, large finely equipped blacksmith shop, one-story high; will be erected. The building will be 70 feet wide and 115 feet long; g,s The 9ld 9aa
 A freight car repair shed. SO feet wide and 2l0 feet long. will be erected This will be something distinctly new for the shops.
 fre-proof oil house, 20 by 40 feet and modern building to be used as a lavatory, with separate compartments for blacks and whites, measuring 22 by 43 feet. will be built.
 All of these buildings will occupy sites on the grounds of and in close proximity to the present Western shops
 President Wickersham said that plans and specifications are about completed, and that. In a very few days bids will be asked for and work will commence immediately after the contract Is let. He saw no reason why the great i'm provements should not be started by August 25. It is expected that the buildings may be completed inside of year.
 A. B. Edge of Atlanta, the architec- employed by the railway company, has been in Mon tgomery since June l draw ing plans and making specifications Tor the buildings. He said yesterday that the plans and specifications are practi- cally complete When. the work Is be- gun. MT. Edge will remain in Mont gomorv and supervise the construction.
 With all of the contemDlated i'm provements complete, the Western shops will be a great industry. com prising paint shop. a blaming mill, coach shop. freight car shops. machine shops. blacksmith shops, boiler shops, round houses. store rooms and various outhOuSeS.