The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1916-06-10
Zion Baking Industry Now
Settled i'm New Plant
Former Capacity More Than Trebled---
Machinery and Equipment Of Newest
Design ---Visitors Cordially In
vited to Inspect New
Plant

The above photograph shows the new
quarters Of the Zion Baking Industry, the
interior of this building having been re-
constructed to fit it's requirements. The
business Of this institution has grown so
rapidly that larger and more cOmmodi-
Gus building became imperative. The
prime requisites kept in view in the
arrangements Of the new plant have been
sanitation, cleanliness, ventilation, and
efficiency in every operation.
The raw material is received direct
from cars at the west door, conveyed from
thence to the mixing room on the second
floor, and from there to the cracker and
cooky machine, where it is cut and
stamped into the desired shapes. After
being baked and packed, it is conveyed
down to the shipping room by means of
large chute; the goods are then ready for
shipment. This new equipment enables
the plant to more than treble it's former
output. 1t will also require the services
of several additional employees, in order to
turn out far larger and more complete
line of goods in every respect.
The goods Of this industry are sold
over several surrounding states, the sell
ing being done on a mail order basis
original with this institution in the
cracker and cooky field; hence but two or
loo, 10
handle a very large output.
At the northwest corner of the build
ing are the large and commodious boiler,
coke and coal rooms, built of cement
blocks with cement floors The coke and
coal compartments are large enough to
contain more than one car each, the cars
being unloaded in the building direct from
the plant s own side track
The first floor of the main building is
laid with cement, finished with a special
composition so as to insure hardness,
smoothness, and durability On this floor
are located the stock rooms for both the
raw material and finished goods; also
the marshmallow room On the second
floor are located the cooky and cracker,
bread and pastry departments; also the
office. This is the floor upon which most
of the machinery operates.
The oven, which is one of the largest
in the country, and of the very newest
design, extends through both floors, being
fired from the lower floor, while the bak-
ing is done on the second floor This
oven is about 81 feet high, by % feet long,
and Is feet wide In it's construction
10000 brick and about 10 tons Of steel
were required. It is built in the shape Of
reel having Il large shelves 1919 feet
long by 43 inches wide, with a capacity
Of so barrels of -four per hour day,
baked into soda crackers
The rest Of the machinery, going to
make up the requirements of the plant is
Of the same proportion being Of the very
best and latest design obtainable.
A large steel conveyer is being con-
structed, having capacity of 120 large
steel pans, each "a ~ inches, for taking
goods direct from the oven to the packing
table, cooling them in the process. This
arrangement eliminates all handling, such
as heretofore has been necessary The
facilities Of the marshmallow department
have also been increased by the addition
Of an icing trolley, which enables the