The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-06-03
Construction Work at
Missoula Plant Amaz-
ing Sight

Last fall a kindly citizenof
Missoula offered to the Great
Western Sugar company a
five-acre site for its factory,
If it isn't too large.
That man might not survive
a trip today to the rapidly ris-
ing plant Of the corporation.
Almost every foot of a fenced
area of 100 acres is full of
business. In one far corner
plows are turning a plot of
ground which is to give hay
for the company's use; the
rest of the big tract is clut-
tered up with buildings and
building material and men
and machinery in a stupen-
dous tangle.
A visit to the factory site is
like a trip to the French front.
The mitrailleuse Of rivet ma
chimes makes a deafening
clamor among a confusion Of
huge steel tanks and scurry-
ing men and teams and deep
trenches. 1t is, indeed, a trip
to the American front; the
factory is an,important part in
the huge food-producing ar
mament which is to be this
country's main reliance in the
war against Germany.
The government, recogniz-
ing it as such, has asked that
extraordinary safeguards be
used at the plant, and at
night, after the rivet cannon
ade is over, great electric
floodlights illuminate every
corner Of the grounds for the
guards stationed at the plan,
by the company.
Making Rapid Progress.
Two hundred and fifty men are
working on the big factory now, ant
they have made remarkable progress
already. Not much Of 1t. to he sure
is in sight: the quantities of steel ly,
ing about the ground seem to indicat L
that the work has barely been started
But underground and finished is a biz
proportion OF the great task Of erect
ing the million dollar plant.
Cement foun dations, which 20 dccl
below the surface have been laid an,
| are now ready for the steel work. !
! 24-inch pipe line from the Missoul;
| river and "a big sewer line to II poin
| lower down the street have been laid
| And the excavation of a huge coal pi,
| the grade for the big high line" owe
which beet cars are to be run. and ;
great cinder pit are almost finished.
| Much Erection Done.
| A great deal Of erection has bee
| finished. too. as the Accompanying
| pictures will show. A huge warchous.
capable OF holding $4,000 sacks q
| sugar. is nearest the visitor as he ap
| prOaches the factory from the car lin
The warehouse is of steel and bricl
built sOlidly throughout. 1t has prac
ticaliy been finished. The roof is nc
ready yet and the floor Is not in bu
the rest Of the const ruction has bee
done. The wooden roof, by the wa,
is the only inflammablc thing in tn
i whole plant. Automatic sprinklcrs, fe
from a 10000 gallon tank which ca
be seen in the picture. towering hig
above the warehouse, will protect tn
roof.
Whole Plant Fireproof.
/. There will be no sprinklers in II
: other buildings" said +. A. Wilso
manager of the factory. THE goo
: reason for that Is that the other buils
ings will contain nothing that ca
burn"
A wooden floor will be put In Il
. warehouse at first. The great weig
I Of the sugar would crack n ceme
s floor laid now. before the ground h
settled. Next year Il flooring of C
n ment will be put in.
Just beyond the warehouse the ma
factory building is slowly being arti