The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-01-24
The Gem State Laundry
(BY r. KENNETH EvANs)

There are few people living in Blackfoot who
really realize the efficiency that is maintained in the
plant of the Gem State Laundry operated by W. w.
Davis This is an institution which would be credit
to city several times the size Of Blackfoot and which
will be abreast of the times as the city grows. ~
~ There is not laundry in the State of Idaho or
the great northwest that better equipped for turning
out the work in thoro manner with promptness and
satisfaction to every patron. When Mr. Davis came to
Backfoot to start laundry five years ago it with
the intention of installing eventually plant that would
not only be from financial standpoint, but one
that would be credit the city and county where in
it is located Three years ago he constructed his pres
ent building which is of brick and modern in every re-
spect and designed especially for laundry. This build
ing was erected by Mr. Davis at cost of approximately
$12 ,ooo 1t light and airy thruout, well ventilated
and aAording ideal working conditions for the ten girls
employed to handle the various parts of the work.
An eighty horsepower boiler is Used for the heat
ing of water and generation of steam. This boiler is
operated at the expense of burning two of coal
daily to keep the various machines hot and in working
condition. One of the recent Improvements and
which is seldom found in laundry in city the size
of Backfoot is the Pernutt water system. This sys
tenn was installed at cost of approximately $4,000
for the purpose of sofenng the water used in laundry
work. The water of Blackfoot Io per cent hard Re
ing impregnated with lime and other minerals. The
capacity of this plant is 1890 gallons daily and
turns out water which absolutely soft and free from
all mineral deposits. The people of Blackfoot have
come to know this class of water and many 60 to the
laundry to secure for drinking purposes. Deliveries
of this water are made from the laundry Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday and charge of Is cents per
five gallons is made.
The soft water makes the work of the laundry
much easier we'll saving much decoration of the
wearing apparel. A new Vento drying tumber has
ently been installed in the laundry department we'll
is new sleeve ironer which installed cost of
5000. In the month of November at the time the
sleeve roner was installed Mr. Davis installed shirt
body and press as well electric collar shaper
machine The latter costing $78. All the work in the
laundry however, finished by hand by expert ironers.
In fact there is piece of up to date laundry
chinery that it be found in this institution lend
ing to its state of efficiency.
The laundry maintains dry cleaning department
which horoy equipped turnout for the handling of all class
dry cleaning dantiest fabrics handled
thru this department without tear what so and
arned good they the day they of the
machines Hoffman steam storage under
the sidewalk the gasoline pumped into the washers by
part the equipment which machine seldom found
in the dry cleaning plants of the smaller cities.
With delivery system to all parts Of the city,
equipment handle the work. with payroll of 5000
weekly employing girls and five the Gem State
Laundry truly progressive institutions