The Ketchikan mining news., 1907-03-01
A BIG PLANT
Ketchikan Power COmpany's Mill Terse Tales of Town and
 The Vicinity

| lanuS, ana Is, pefnaps, the most lm- portant industry of which Ketchikan can boast. The mill has a capacity for cutting p M per day of ten. .hours, and gives employment to from 30 to 5o men, according to the season-the minimum number being required dur ing the winter months, and the max imum during the summer and more active season.
 The mill is equipped with one 300 horse power boiler, two engines of l25 horse power each which operate the mill machinery, one GO horse power engine, which runs the dyn- amo which furnishes light for the premises together with light and power for the Frye-Bruhn concern and lights for the residences of the mana ger and one of the share holders, one large circular saw and re-saw, two planers, and complete plant of box making machinery, for the manufac- Lure of salmon packing cases. The lry kiln has capacity of 3 M per day, while the wharf facilities and storage, or piling, yards are sufficient to all present requirements. The company also owns the tug Vigilant, which is kept employed in tow ing logs to the mill and in delivering lumber to the outlying camps and settlements for which last purpose it has its own barge and scows. The company is erecting building in which it will shortly install a new 150 horse power boiler, which will be used as an auxiliary and to provide | against accident to the one now in use. This new boiler is rendered | necessary on account of a contract entered into by the company with the | Town Council to furnish salt water to the town for fire protection. This contract provides that the town shall furnish the pump and the water mains to be laid through the princi- pal streets as far as Newtown, and the company the steam for the J teady and uninterrupted operation of the pump. The Blake pump, which has capacity for raising 750 gallons per minute, has been received, and will be set up as soon as the house and foundation can be made ready. It will be capable of throwing five streams through 4 inch or seven streams through B inch nozzles over the highest building in the business part of the town. The water will be pumped through S-inch mains, and the pump will be kept in steady operation night and day, and conse- quently always ready for instant use in case of fire. This, with the other ap- plicances for battling with the destroy l ing element, ought to render the town wholly immune from anything in the shape of destructive confagra- l tion.
 The industry thus briefly described has grown in a few short years, from what could properly be considered nothing more than a mere scrap heap of old and practically useless machinery, to its present magnitude and importance, under the careful management and supervision of Mr. H. z. Burkhart, who began business in Alaska with the nucleus of the present mill at Dolomi, afterwards associating himself with his pesent partners, Messrs Summers and Daily, and removing the plant to this place. He has well earned the success which has resulted from his indomitable enterprise and energy.
 Entertain Their Friends. .--Wednes- day night the local lodge of Arctic Brotherhood held open house to their friends at Redmen's hall. After an hour or so spent at dancing by the younger, and in cards by the more se- date, ice cream and cake was served. J. J. Daily, under the head of ''good of the order" told of the organization of the original camp of the Arctic Brotherhood, ten years ago on board the City of Seattle on which boat he happened to be a passenger north bound at the time. It is the inten- tion of the lodge to hold socials of a kindred nature with considerable fre- quency hereafter, the next one, smoker for members only, Wednes- day evening March 6.
 Some Fish. The fishermen are bringing in fresh halibut at a lively rate just now. Hamilton & Co, brought in $500 pounds yesterday, which they sold to one of the cold storage firms, and immediately depart- ed for the fishing ground, for another "catch. !" The Alma came in this morning with 5000 pounds of halibut, and others are expected in steady and continuous order, as long as prices continue renumerative as they now appear to be.
 Capt. Richard Stack, one of Lor- ing s staid and sober citizens, and master of one of the boats of the Alaska Packers Association fleet, took in the city sights the fore part of the week.
 Supt. A. c. Geiger of the Hadley shelter was in town day or two this week,