Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-22
P0RTNER' s NEW
B0TTL|NG PLANT
Ground Broken Today for
New Building on East
New Building on North
TO COST $40. 0 90. 90
New Building Will be Constructed Of
Reinforced Concrete, Iron and
Brick-Contracts Are Let.
TO COST $40. 90. 90
New Building Will be Constructed of

The Robert Portner Brewing Com.
Company, which is one of the largest
breweries in the south and one of the
most important industries of Alex
andria, started work today on an i'm
portant addition to their plant in the
shape of a new bottling works which
will largely increase their facilities
For several years the plan of having
new bottling house has been under
consideration but only during the past
few months has it been put in def.
mite shape
The actual work of construction
was started today and the contract
calls for it's completion within foul
months time. The new building is
located on the east side of St. Asaph
street between Pendleton and Wythe
1t is expected the excavations will
be completed next week and the ac-
tual construction, which will be done
under the supervision of the Boyle
Robertson Construction Company, OF
Washington, will be Immediately
started.
The building will be about 165 feet
long and 95 feet deep to side track
in the rear. 1t will be one story and
basement and built of reinforced con-
crete, brick and iron.
It provided that the work be done
by union labor and Alexandria me-
chanics will be given the preference.
The four largest contracts have al
ready been given to local firms. W.
A Smoot 4 Co., Inc, will furnish all
lumber and mill work, sthe Alexan-
dria Iron Works the iron and steel;
Gilroy & Howard the brick work, and
j. C. Gates the plumbing and sewers.
The contracts for the other parts
Of the work, such as painting, galva-
nized iron, Stag roofing, etc., will be
awarded later, and local firms have
submitted estimates for this work.
Including Incidental work and
changing and moving machinery, the
cost will be approximately $4,000
When the new bottling works are
completed the brewing company will
be able to handle their bottling busi-
ness to much better advantage than at
the beer is hauled from the brewery
on St. Asaph street in wagons to that
place. The beer is now drawn from
the watts into barrels which hold 81
gallons each and these barrels bear
revenue stamps. When the new
building is completed number OF
tanks will be placed in the brewery
which will hold 100 gallons each
These tanks will be filled with beer
and sealed by the United States rev.
enue officers and the beer will
be pumped from them direct to the
bottling works, doing away with the
expensive hauling and handling of the
beer. When the beer is bottled ii
will be loaded on cars which will rur
to the rear of the new building, on g
side track to be constructed to thai
point.
The Brewing Company has moi
definitely decided what will be done
with the old structure on Washing
ton street which is now used for th'
bottling works, but in all probablllt!
it will be torn down. For some time
there has been a rumor in real estat'
circles that it would be turned int
modern apartments. 1t has also oeel
rnmored that the site would be use'
for the location of row of moderl
residences.
The structure used as a bottllne
house was the old Mount Vernon Cot
ton Factory, which was constructs
about the time Alexandria was re
troceded to Virginia, and it has VIII
messed many of the ups and downs o
the city. 1t was operated up to tn
breaking out of the civil war, whel
the United States government selze'
the building and, after removing Tn
machinery, used it for hospital pur
poses. At the close of hostilities tn
company again secured possession 0
the factory and, with the late Georg
X. Wilmer as superintendent, opera
ted it for time Mr.. Wilmer wa
succeeded by the late D. w. Scho
field. It finally closed down and TO