The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-06-17
DANGER
FROM GRANITE PLANT
Continued from first pagel

ator, and containing long coil OF
pipe through which the water passes
These boxes are kept full of ice dur
ing tile warm weather, thus making
the water refreshingly cool without
having it come in direct contact with
the ice City water is used.
The plant is heated in cold weather
by mammoth fan operating at high
speed which forces the air through a
system Of steam pipes then delivers il
into the various departments by means
OF a large metal conduit Formerly
this air was taken from the interior
of the plant thus heating and reheat4
ing the same air During the winter
months the granite plants have to be
kept tightly closed in order to keep
them warm enough for the men TO work
in comfort This necessarily results in
dust laden atmosphere, making work
ing conditions during the winter un-
healthier than in the summer
In an effort to better these condi.
tions Barclay Brothers, during the past
winter, tried the experiment Of draw
in air from outside and forcing It
through the steam coils into the plant.
The results, from healthful point OF
view, were most gratifying, as the inn
mense volume of pure air being forced
into the plant every minute dispelled
the stforeing it to every opening,
crack and crevice, and to the floor
The atmosphere of the plant was as
pure and free from dust during the
past winter as in summer when the
doors and windows are all wide open.
Owing to the rapid condensation Of
the steam in heating coils when the
"helow zero" air passed through them,
it necessitated much more coal than
usual In fact this new method cost
several hundred dollars more than for
merly to warm the plant. But the
results in improved, heslthful working
conditions were so great that the old
method has been permanently discon'
| tinued.
With the aid Of this fan, which cools
the plant in summer and heats it in
winter, the establishment has not lost
an hour. on account Of weather ex-
tremes, during the past four years
Another important device recently
installed is suction fan which re-
moves all the dust from the grind
stones when they are being turned
down. Large flexible rubber hose at
tachments with metal ball and socket
1 Joints are connected to each grind
stone when it is to be turned down"
and the ran removes everp particle Of
dust, depositing it in closed recep-
tacle outside the building This work
was formerly done before and after
working hours and the dust spreading
around in the immediate vicinity OF
the grindstones, and being of a heavy
nature it would not settle quickly, thus
creating an unpleasant condition.
The members of the firm are deep.
Nv interested in anything that viii i'm
prove the healthful and sanitary work
ing conditions Of their employees They
have already spent considerable time
and money experimenting with devices
TO remove the dust from the movable
surfacing machines, which are located
in the rough stock department, and,
although not wholly successful in this
venture they are not discouraged, but
expect to eventually succeed in their
aims In the meantime an ingenious
arrangement of new window openings
has rendered material assistance on
this problem.