The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1916-07-20
five STORY FIRE:
PROOF BUILDING
TO Be ERECTED
MinOt Auto Co. Have Plans for New
1885,, 900 Building, 100 Foot Front
Two Acre Floor Space

| Two Acre Floor Space
Plans have been drawn by Archi-
tect Frost for new five story fire.
proof building for the Minot Auto Co.
with a 10O-foot front at an approx
mate cost of $4,000, the erection of
which will be under way within the
next two weeks and will be pushed to
completion at the earliest possible
date.
This new building will be erected
north of the present quarters Of the
Minot Auto company and will give
them 225 feet frontage and a floor
space Of nearly two acres. Their new
quarters will be in an ideal location
from a wholesale standpoint, as the
500 Line already has a side track
along one side of the building. 1t is
also splendidly located from a retail
standpoint on account of being locat-
ed at the head of the viaduct-one of
the busiest corners in Minot.
The Minot Auto company has found
it necessary to erect this new building
on account of the wonderful growth of
its Overland business during the past
three years. They now have one of
the largest distributing contracts un-
der the Overland factory, having sold
over $500 Overland automobiles dur
ing the past twelve months.
This building will be equipped with
an elevator, will be practically all
glass on three sides, and when finished
il will, together with their present
quarters. which will still be used, pro
vide the Minot Auto company with the
most complete and up-to-date automo-
bile establishment in the middle west.
The entire ground floor will be used
for show room, offices and stock room.
approximately 50x100 feet. It will
be equipped with tile floors: Plate
glass windows will be used along the
entire north side facing the viaduct
leading to the Great Northern passen-
ger depot and plate glass windows will
face Second street. 1t is the Minot
Act, company's intention to have a
show. room that will rival in beauty
and convenience any display room of
it's kind in this part of the country-a
display room that will be sufficiently
large and attractive to properly dis
playaall the new Overland models.
The entrance to the offices will also
front on Second street and they will be
spacious and fully in keeping with the
size and progressiveness of the Minot
Auto company A large portion of the
ground floor will be used for stock
room, in which will be carried a large
stock Of parts for all Overland and
WHY'S Knight models. 1t is the aim
of the Minot Auto company to be able
to supply all Overland cars in their
territory with any repair parts that
ever may be needed, promptly. They
deem it one of the most important fea-
| lures of the automobile business to be
equipped 80 that they can give imme
diate service to owners of Overland
cars.
All the partitions will be removed
from the present garage floor. This
will give them 100 square feet space
for transient storage. 1t is their in
tention also to use one entire floor of
their new building for transient stor-
age. This will provide facilities for
storing at least 200 cars. In this de-
partment will be carried complete
line of automobile supplies for the
convenience of motorists.
Another entire floor of the new
building will be given over to the use
of the repair department and will be
completely fitted with all modern
equipment 1t is the intention Of the
| management to secure corps OF ex-
pert mechanics. who are specialists in
their respective branches of automo-
| bile repair work.
On the top floor two wash racks will
be placed in charge of competent men.
| These will be fitted so that warm wat
er will be provided, which has been
found to give much better results for
washing cars This feature of the Mi
not Auto company's service will fill
long felt want in Minot, as it has here
tofore been practically impossible for
an owner to have his car washed with
out great deal of delay.
The paint shop will also be located
on the top floor and will be fitted with
dust-proof drying room and will be
in charge of an experienced and COM
petent painter. This will afford an
opportunity for car owners in Minot
to have their machines refinished and
made as attractive in appearance as
they were when first turned out from
the factory This feature will be very
much appreciated by car owners of
Minot, as heretofore it has not been
possible to have refnishing done in a
thoroughly satisfactory manner.
When the Minot Auto company is
established in their new quarters they
estimate that they will employ be-
tween seventy-fve and hundred peo-
pie and as practically all branches Of
the automobile business require eX-
perienced help or in other words, high
salaried people, they estimate that
their annual payroll will run very
close to 100000 per year. This will
without doubt greatly exceed the pay
roll of any other private undertaking
in the City of Minot. AS every dollar
of this money is being spent among
Minot business firms, this should en-
title the Minot Auto company to the
most hearty support Of Minot business
! interests.