The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-10-08
SPLENDID IMPROVEMENTS
At JONES BROS. co. PLANT
Fine Office Building Nearing Completion
Grounds Are to Be Graded and Set
Out to Lawns-Comforts for the
Workmen Provided - New
Machinery Installed.

After many months ot lneessant Ia
boring, the changes at the Jones Broth
ers company's manufacturing plant are
fast being completed. Thousands of
dollars have been invested in changing
the system of manufacture to make it
the most economical and efficient, as
well as one of the most healthful plants
in the city Additional structures were
erected for the possibility of enlarging
the output of Jones Brothers company's
dark blue quarry stone, which is fast
becoming much desired stone for memo
rials Cement floors were laid and inn
proved methods of draining installed,
and to-day workmen are engaged in ad-
justing the new dust suction fans for
the surface cutting machines.
Aside from this, new office is being
erected directly in front Of the old cir
cular shed and office, where for years
and years stood nothing but heaps Of
stone chips or grout piles. Now, an edi-
fee erected after the latest design Of
architecture is nearing completion and
will possibly be ready for occupancy by
Jan. |. Nothing is being left undone to
make it the most up-to-date Office in the
Barre district, and to this end all modern
conyenienees and equipment are ordered
for the building. This structure is two
and half stories high, has 52-foot
front and is 4S feet deep. Ii is arranged
for a large corps of office employees to
bring relaxation from the cramped con
ditions of the old office.
These improvements enable the firm
to produce manufactured memorials. or
sawed blocks in much shorter time; and
the old methods and system have been
abolished for the latest Improvements in
machinery and equipment,
Contractor Foley, who has supervised
about all the construction work at the
plant, now has a gang of men installing
four new Lane polishing wheels in the
new eastern wing Of shed No. 2, known
as the small shed. These wheels are the
latest in the polishing industry, are driy-
en- from the bottom instead of overhead
and have bed capacity of las feet In
this same section two new Lincoln gang
saws are added to the present number
giving in all, mill of five-gan eapa-
city, In the large shed, or shed No. /,
near the office, 10 surface cutting ma.
chimes are lined up along the nortkerly
be increased to Is, which means chat
eight new machines are soon to be in
stalled.
An improved hot air heating system
is being piped by representatives of the
Sturtevant company Of Boston. This ia
expected to insure the comfort of the
workmen, as well as the continuance of
the manufacturing during the eoldest
days in winter. New suction fans that
will replace the first dust suction device
installed in Barre will add materially to
the health of the workmen. Instead of
disposing of only part of the dust
made by the surface machines, this sys-
tenn disposes of it all.
On the site of the present office, ac-
cording to plans now being designed,
workmen will have recourse TO sanitary
and comfortable dining and waiting
rooms. These will accommodate men
carrying their dinners or those arriving
at the shed before working hours in the
morning.
The last and most noticeable change
ever made in the granite district in these
parts, will be the conversion of grout
piles to shady lawns, made beautiful
| with various plants and trees. These
are the intentions of the Jones Brothers
company that are TO be carried out next
spring The work Of grading has already
begun about the new Office, giving it
an artistic setting, II will be continued
around the entire plant. Old structures
| that for years have been of no avail will
be removed from the precincts of the
plant.
Never in the history of Barre have
such progressive plans been adopted by
any manufacturing firm of this nature.
When all the changes have been COM
pleted the Jones Brothers company plant
viii doubtless have the distinction of
having the most modern equipment of
any granite plant in Vermont, to say
nothing of being one of the leading man
ufaeturing plants in the state.