Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-07-18
NEW PLANT F|REPROOF
Work on Asphalt Masticote Com
pany's Factory is Well
Advanced.
TWO BUILDINGS COMPLETED
Many Delays Experienced Since Con
struction was Started-WilI Begin
Operations Septemb I.

After many delays which have re-
tarded progress in the construction
of the Asphalt Masticote company's new
plant, work on the buildings is now
going ahead rapidly. 1t is expected
that the factory vii, be in full opera
ton by September /. Two of the
three buildings are finished except for
the installation of the machinery and
the foundation of the third is almost
completed.
The melter building is so feet
square. 1t is two stories in height,
and is constructed of brick and cor
rugated iron, being as nearly fire
proof as it could be made AT the
south end of this structure are the
boilers and engine room, inclosed by
solid brick walls. The process of
melting the asphaltum and mixing it
with lime will be carried on in the
melter building The asphaltum will
be melted in great kettles, heated by
coal fires After being reduced to
liquid form it will be transferred to
the mixers, and there combined with
lime With the addition of the lime
the substance becomes asphalt. While
still hot the asphalt is run into bar
rels
Adjoining the melter building on
the south side is the passage, or cool
ing room, where the barrels of as
phalt will be kept until their contents
become solid. The finished product
resembles the crude asphaltum, but
is much harder. The cooling room
is one story in height and 15Ox27 feet
in size.
The dryer will be located east of
the melter building Here the waste
lime from the sugar factory will be
dried, sifted and bolted until it is as
fine as flour. The dryer will be built
of brick and will be 35 feet square.
Machinery is being installed as fast as
it is received. Much of the apparatus is
already i'll place. Delays have been ex-
perienced in receiving the equipment, as
we'll as the building material, so that it
cannot be stated positively when every
thing will be on hand. The engine is
expected this week.
As soon as the new plant is finished
the old buildings will be torn down
Until recently the daily output has
been about IS tons. The capacity will
be more than doubled when the inn
now in progress are com
peted. About 25 men will be en-
ployed
In spite of the vicissitudes that the
asphalt mastic factory has experienced
the sale of the product has constant
ly increased Shipments are now
made TO all parts of the country. The
fact that duplicate orders have come
from many who have already pur-
chased the asphalt shows that the
is giving satisfaction.
Asphaltum, which is the basis OF
asphalt mastic, is a product obtained
from refining crude petroleum. All
that is used here comes from Los
Angeles, California.
Asphalt mastic is used principally
for roofing, paving and lining bar
rels and various other wooden re-
ceptacles used to contain liquids. II
is superior to resin and other sub
stances used for the same purpose,
as it adheres closely to wood and does
not wear off.
Last December a Cincinnati COM
pany, of which Allison Bishopric is
president, assumed control Of the as
phalt masticote factory. Considerable
local capital is invested in the enter
prise Mr. Bishopric is the company's
commercial agent and looks after out
side interests. Adelbert Thum is local
In renting the city taxes OH the
Asphalt Masticote company's plant, the
city council has followed precedent
established when the sugar factory was
located here. The action of the city
fathers is in line with the policy gener-
ally followed by other towns desiring to
the building up of new indus
tries, and has met with unanimous APP
proval.