The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-25
M WAVE PLANT TO BEGIN OPERATIONS ON SCHEDULE TIME
Pipe Making to Start March 1, President of Company Announces to the
 Public

Less than six months ago ground was first broken for the new pres sure pipe plant of the McWane Cast Iron Pipe company in East Birmingham. On March 1, exactly on schedule, they will be making pipe there, J. R. McWane, presi- dent, announced Saturday.
 The plant is on portion of 30-acre tract along the main line of the Louisville and Nashville rail road, extending from Eleventh to Fifteenth avenues, north, purchased last summer. The first unit con- sists of main foundry, 108 by $40 feet, which will later be ex- tended to length of 540 feet, and additional units of this final size will be built az business grows.
 Serving the foundry are the nee essary machine, pattern, finishing and joint making shops, cupola house of concrete and steel, office building and company cafeteria. O O o
 History of Plant.
 Much interesting local and national history lies back of this just-ocm- pleted plant.
 On January 1, 1922, the newly organized company, with ]. R. Me Wane, president, and James D. Sam pie, vice president, secretary and treasurer, announced it's entrance into the cast iron pressure pipe field to make the very small sizes of cast iron pipe. For some years previous Mir. McWane had been president and Mir. Sample assistant to the presi- dent of the American Cast Iron Pipe company of Birmingham.
 For the years time necessary to design and erect the new foundrles small plant in North Birmingham was leased from the Southern Pipe and Foundry company and operations begun immediately in limited way.
 By summer a national market had been obtained for the McWane Pipe and distribution established as far west as the Pacific coast and the Hawaiian Islands by the water route through Mobile and the Panama canal.
 At this time two important prod- ucts were brought out: The small est cast iron pipe made in America 1 14 inches in diameter-and the patented McWane precalked pipe joint, which received immedia te recognition as more speedy and economical method os jointing cast iron pipe so equipped. This was made as large as six inches.
 Within the last 60 days Arthur T.. McWane, for some years treasurer of the American Cast Iron Pipe com pany, has joined the new organiza- tion as secretary and treasurer.
 Sales Offices Established.
 Sales offices have been established at Los Angeles, Dallas and Philadel- phia and stock of pipe placed at points from Boston to Honolulu.
 In addition ta making water and gas pipe equipped with the McWane precalked joint, the Mcwane com pany has some very large orders for special l 14 and inch cast iron underdrainage piping at the new water filtration pants or FnlladeI- phia and Detroit.
 Railroads are adopting the new cast iron pipe in small sizes very extensively. being quick to recognize the advantage of small pipe that could resist corrosive soil conditions where cinders were present
 The new plant is completely cleo trically operated. For this reason it will be able to turn out 5000 feet of pipe per diem with an operating force of only 150 men.
 After the new works are thorough ly broken in" further important de- velopments are expected to be carried ant