Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-04-29
Prominent Business Men Learn Some Things About
 City's Industries.
VISIT EIGHT PLACES
ROwerhouso of Pine Bluff Company and Seven Manufacturing Plants Inspected-These Employ
 More Than 1,2OO.

More Than 1,200.
 The powerhouse of Pine Bluffs public utilities and seven industrial plants employing 1900 men and whose aggregate volume of business reaches into the millions were in spected by sixty-five prominent Pine Bluff, business men yesterday after noon on the first "Know Ourselves Better excursion under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce. The excursionists also viewed the incom- plete plant of the Morgan Veneer company, which will begin operations about June l.
 That the trip was a success was demonstrated by the queries fired at Secretary Bloom of the Chamber of Commerce as to when the next Know Ourselves Better" "xcursion will take place by many members of yester- days party. Wise and well-posted business men were surprised by some of the information procured on the trip, and several admitted in apolo- getic tone they had not before realiz- ed Pine Bluffs importance as a manu- featuring town, nor had they any idea that this city was sending out such volumes of merchantable stuft to the remainder of the world.
 But now that I have learned that I know little about Pine Bluffs manu- featuring enterprises" said one, "l intend to take in all these excursions and nuke it my business to acquire all information can about our 1n- dustries. Until today I had never been inside the powerhouse, and did not really know what well-equi2ped mechanical establishment had been erected to supply Pine Bluff people with conveniences and protection. Other members of the party enthusi- astically declared that the excursion was one of the best things the Cham her of Commerce had undertaken; that they had acquired information oi value and interest, and that they pro posed to take part sia each excursion
 Because of the many events to take place in Pine Bluff during the. next few weeks, it is hardly probable the next Know Ourselves Better" excur- sion will be held within month.
 Thirteen Not Unlucky.
 Thirteen autos rolled away from the. intersection of Pine street and Second avenue at 2:30 p. m., with Secretary Bloom of the Chamber of Commerce in the pilot car and with each one of the other machines car rying from four to six business men That there is nothing in a number was demonstrated by the absence o1 any untoward circumstance. The en- fife trip was made without accident or incident that would mar, the party being welcomed warmly at each man. uf&ctory and at two served with re- treatments.
 POwerhOuse.
 The first place visited was the pow efflouse of the Pine Bluff company where B. c. Fowles, manager. and Frank Emerson, chief engineer. took pains to show the visitors over the plant and explain in detail the work, ings of the big and complicated ma chimes. In addition to the electrica equipment, in the power plant are two big compressOrs which are used t3 force water out of the wells anG into the reservoirs or mains under pressure of 80 pounds to the square inch. This is sufficient to send q two-inch stream like cataract over the top of the &Iotel Pines as was demonstrated last Thursday night Two water reservoirs, each 130 by 175 feet and with a depth of fifteen feet, have a capacity of 300,000 gallons and are filled each night. Gas is used for fuel at the power plant, Carl E Bair, of the gas company, stating thai the power plant consumed as much gas the is used in 1000 homes.
 Spokes by Millions.
 The Pine Bluff spoke factory, man aged by c. A. Cunning, was next wis tied, the business men finding attrac- tion in the manner in which the spokes are turned and in the excel lency of the product. About fifty men are employed at this place. where A. O00. .OOO auto and auto truck spokes and 1,5O0,0OO buggy spokes are turn ed out each year, thousands of feet o1 Arkansas timber being thus manufac- tured for use in autos and buggies sent to- all parts of the universe Among the cars fitted with Pine Bluff made spokes are the Buick, Cole, Oak land, Carter, Case, Auburn, Cadillac Royal and Reliance. Mir. Dunnlne says his company has orders booked for all spokes the factory can turn out in the next six months, and thai the goods have given entire satisfac- tfon to all users. Some of the spokes are about three inches in diameter these being used in auto trucks for heavy hauling. All are of the clear est timber, and each is inspected be- fore 1t leaves the shop.
 Lumber for Export.
 J. F. Mcintyre & Sons mill was the next stop of the business men engag- ed in acquiring information about Pine Bluffs industries. This plant employs seventy-tive skilled and un- skilled men, cutting 30,000 feet oi Vmber per day. More than half of \ |. nxrortpd fhiS huSineSS being