The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1928-04-26

April II, 1928
] have just had the most inter-
esting experience and will try to
write it down while it is fresh on
my memory. For some reason or
other two of our meetings COM
bined. so we had the morning off.
This we used to good advantage
by visiting the Dow Chemical
works, which is located here at
Midland in the county we are
working this week.
The guide first explained to us
that the wells which we had seen
around the country were all owned
by the the company and pumped
thousands of pounds of salt brine
daily. This is brought to the fac
tory and separated into magne-
SUM sulphate, calcium cloride and
bromides and from these are made
some 140 different products. We
did not see them all for lack of
time and because. l suppose. the
processes are more or less secret.
He started out by showing us the
mechanical side. This is the first
time I had really known that mar
nesium itself is metal, resembling
aluminium. except it is lighter in
weight. 1t is mixed with some al
10y and made into automobile pis-
tons. also parts of auto horns are
made from it. We next saw them
make the barrels which they ship
in. Very few of their products go
directly on the market. Most of
it is sold in quantity to small con-
Germs who put it out under trade
name.
We saw the process of making
washing soda and lye, also all of
the spray materials used in the
fruit game-bordeaux, lime sulfur.
arsenate of lead and many others.
They also make drugs, chloroform,
carbon. letra chloride. asperin, ep-
som salts. synthetic flavorings,
dyes and goodness knows what.
Last but not least they make salt.
tons of it, guaranteed to have a
very minimum amount of mois-
ture in it. Probably it retails I'M
der the "when it rains it pours"
sign altho he didn't say so.
The plant is a very large one,
employing thousands of men. They
have a pumping plant which will
pump 48 million gallons of water
and generating plant of 1000
XIV capacity. just to supply their
own factory.
1t was a real treat to see it all.
hope in time to see a great many
more of Michigan's factories. That
is an outstanding thing here. AL
most every place has some sort of
industry. We passed thru small
town and -sign over a building
said eve steer the world" They
are almost exclusive makers of
steering wheels of all kinds. As
for automobile factories: this sur
prised me lot. find that one
company makes the engine, anoth-
er the horn. third steering wheel
and the real company just assem-
bles the thing into his auto. Odds
mobile and Reos are made right
in Lansing. Originally they were
| both made by r. E. Odds, showing
the original of both names. It sure
Fly is very interesting state. They
try to tell me that it is the most
diversified state in the union but
/ always come back at them on
how truly great Washington is.
My work here is interesting but
much more specialized. We each do
one thing day after day, hopping
here and there. meeting many and
knowing but few. / miss the per-
sonal contacts of county job. Per.
haps I'll get used to it in time.
The weather remains very cold
and except for a suggestion OF
green grass all is brown and win.
terry. Easter Sunday was the cold
est day / ever experienced. 1t is
well I am having a little now so
will know what to expect nexl
year.
We have meeting morning, night
and afternoon which keeps us from
pining for what we cannot have
Today was an exception.
GERTRUDE GAGE