Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1923-01-05
BEALLS ADD MUCH
TO Big GREENHOUSE
Oil Supplants Coal for Heat.
ing...Two More Houses
Planned.

The Beall Greenhouse Co. is Just
completing the installation of "a
modern fuel-oil burning heating
plant to supplant the old coal
burning plant, making its green
houses the most modern as well
as the largest west of Chicago.
In addition to this important i'm
provement, grading is being done
for the construction of two more
mammoth houses, the same size as
the last one erected (40x400 feet) I.
One will be built this coming
season but it is not probable that
the second one will be built before
next year.
In adding an oil-burning plant,
a complete change has been made.
A huge new boiler Of $50 horse
power has been put in, equipped
with the latest three-burner type
feeder. The burners are operated
by an electric motor which sprays
the oil onto fame. This will be
aided by an auxiliary gasoline en-
gine which will supply the neces-
sary power in case the electric cur
rent fails. just how much more
economical the oil burners will be
over the old coal-burning methods
is not yet known as the new ap-
paratus has not been in operation
o sufficient length of time to ascer-
tain. However, this will soon be
know as an oil meter has been in
stalled to keep an accurate check
on the daily consumption.
To keep the plant supplied with
fuel the company has purchased
large Seattle made Vulcan auto
tanker truck with 24-barrels ca
pacity. Then there are two stor
age tanks near the heating plant,
one with a capacity of 10 barrels
and the other of so barrels. A
considerable amount of freight
can be hauled ON the truck in adj
dition to the fuel oil.
Wallace Beall, who conducted
the writer through the big plant,
assured him that it is an interest.
ing sight to see the burners in op-
Grafton, but unfortunately at the
time Of the visit the plant had just
been shut down for repairs. Those
who have seen the burners in op-
Grafton testify that it is little
glimpse of the the fires of eternal
torment.
The oil is known as frel-oil, i. e.,
crude oil from which some of the
more valuable products such as
gasoline, kerosene, ETC., have been
extracted.
The old coal-burning plant will
be maintained for emergencies.
Ground is being graded at the
extreme south of the plant for the
plant for the two proposed
houses, each to be 45 400 feet in
dimensions. One will be CON
structed during the spring and
summer season. in time to produce
crop next winter, and the other
the year following. Each house
will cost $4,000 at present ma
terial and labor prices, and when
completed will add a great deal to
the already huge spread of over a
quarter of million square feet
of glass.
The greenhouses at this season
present rather a stripped" ap-
pearance due to the great demand
for floral products during the holi-
day season.
The largest house. which grew
an excellent crop of chrysanthe-
NUNS, is being prepared for GU
Climber crop. Tomato seed was
planted on New Years day for the
spring crop.
Other crops grown in great pro-
fusion, that are now coming into
their best are roses, maiden hair
ferns and cyclamens.
The Beall Greenhouse Co. has
without doubt the largest in
dustry on the island, employing a
force of men from 25 to 30 the
year around. This makes a very
substantial payroll for the com