South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-15
MICA COMPANY TO
START OPERATING
New Concern Will Eventually
Give Employment to
Several Hundred.

Judge GHmer IS spending several
days In Alabama In the interest OF
The Consolidated Mica Co. Of the
city. Of which company ne is the
president. The company. which has
purchased the plant Of the old
synthetic Dye works. is 20 eventual
- give employment 90 several hun
bred persons.
Mica and its by-p-oductA were ex-
planned Thursday by an official Of
.he COMPANY. He also explained the
purpose OF the Consolidate CO. In its
operation here. He said.
There are comparatively few
people who understand the utility
and value OF mica. This is because
~ the fact that il IS principally used
lu the electrical industry as an in
sulating material The electrical in
dustry itself. although now tremen-
dous in extent is a growth Of the
last 40 years and though the need
and demand for mica has grown
with this industry, practically no
one has realized 10 except those in
timately acquainted with the manu-
facture OF electrical apparatus. The
situation had reached the stage,
previous 20 the war. wherein the
PRODUCTION Of mica was insufficient
TO supply the urgent demand. one
result OF this situation IS that the
market value OF mica is controlled
entirely by the demand against the
available supply and bears almost no
relation 10 the cost Of production.
Prom a commercial. manufacturing
and investment point. OF view. this is
"a very interesting fact.
Result OF Local Endeavor.
The Consolidated Mica co. Is the
result IF the efforts of local men
and II their dreams and hopes are
realized. and there seems no reason
TO doubt that they Will be. he enter
prise will be a credit to South Bend.
The Consolidated is bringing a
new industry 20 South Bend and will
eventually furnish employment for
several hundred persons in its plant
which is located at the corner OF
Indiana av. and Olive ST.
This IS the plant Of the old Syn
thetic Dry works which was used
by the government during the war
for the manufacture OF acids used
in the making Of high explosives.
The liant comprises 10 buildings on
a six acre piece OF land. There are
$1,000 square feet OF floor space in
Guiding all the buildings. The main
building is 60 feet by 300 feet, brick
construction throughout The plant
IS steam heated and electric lighted
throughout and is, in fact, complete
Is provided with the necessities for
operation with the exception Of the
special machinery which is required
for the punching. cutting, grinding
and forming the mica products. AT
rangements are now being made TOT
the procuring of these machines.
Tho plant is especially well To-
Gated for the factory purposes being
adjacent TO the main line of the
New York Central railroad and al
ready provided with a private spur
track the full length of the property.
The company now owns 40 acres
OF valuable mica bearing land in
Randolph county, Ala on this prop
erty the mica bearing lodges or dlkes
have been prospected and the exist
ance of extensive deposits Of the very
finest clear MuscOvite mica have
been proven. The value or these
derosits IL Is impossible 10 estimate
with any degree Of accuracy as they
undoubtedly reach To a great depth
and the value Of the mica increases
as YOU go down on the vein. the best
mica being found below the water
level"