The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-11-13


into it. It has to be seen closeup u
A representative of this news
paper had the privilege of being
shown over the new installation
during the week by Walter Neils,
vice president and general manager
of the company II was a revelation
to us. We were impressed with
the thought that were this new
industry divorced from the present
sawmill, and if it were being es-
tablished by a new company, it
would be looked on as an outstand-
ing addition to the business life of
the district Which, in fact, it is.
The plant consists of two main
units. One installation is the peel
ing department; the other is the
treating plant. One peeling machine
has been in operation for a year
or more, in a temporary set-up. Two
will be in operation in the new
plant when that is completed. The
second peeling machine is now be-
ing built in the company's machine
shop, TO design originated by AL
Becker, foreman of the company's
planning mill
1t was necessary to excavate and
construct large pond to hold the
poles as they are brought in from
the woods. Leading from the pond
into the peeling plant is a heavy
bull-chain. similar to that in a saw
mill. This chain delivers the poles
to about the center of the large {
building At the end of the chain
the two peeling machines will be
placed, one on each side of it, and
the poles can be kicked" to either
side. After going through the peel
err the pole is carried by chains
to the other end of the building,
where it is given a right-angle l
kick" to one side onto another h
bored in it, and il will be notched n
to hold cross arms. 1t will also be q
rooted" the top of the pole cut n
at a slanting angle so as to reduce v
weather exposure 1t is then car o
ried to the end of the building r,
where it is given another right IL,
angle kick onto another system of Al
chains that carry it out of the peel ~
ing plant proper into the sorting "
and grading department. From Al
there the poles will be carried into OF
the pole yard where they are stored te
in piles until they are ready to be
put through the treating plant AL ca
ready the company has several g,
thousand poles stored over several dc
acres of ground. liz
A Maze of Machinery an
AS one enters the treating plant, w
one is struck by its size and compli- mr.
Gated set-up One is impressed by an
the number of huge tanks, the large de
steel pipes running hither and yoh, NJ,
the deep concrete pits filled with m,
pumps and other machinery.
The principal part of the treating %
plant consists of two large horizontal Z
cylindrical steel retorts. Each is IA Al
eet long and eight feet in diameter. "
Above them are two other large
teel tanks. Between them are two
n three large upright tanks for chr
he measuring of the creosote as coz
t is being used in the treating. A ',c,
arge overhead pipe runs from the ~
oiler room of the sawmill to the lin
reating plant for the steam heat III,
lg of the creosote. in
A steel railroad track runs from ,yo
ne yard into each of the retorts. itv
he poles are loaded upon small -
ars or dollies in preparation for the
etort and then are pushed, by 90
nall Diesel locomotive, into the IF
etort, the rails of the track run On
ing on into the retort. A break Fac
this track is so constructed that see
can be swung to one side thus will
the entire end of the hun
tort to be swung back and forth free
a door When the load of poles ente
placed in the retort, the door is ACE
osed and tightly sealed, the re- able
TT is filled with hot creosote, and oops
e impregnating or treating, of now
e poles starts under way, under exn,
pressure of 125 to IT'S pounds per as y
uare inch, depending on the we
ecies being treated. sion
An interesting remark was to the fold
ect that the creosote is moved cont
)m tank to tank as needed by air S.
essure None of it passes through and
e pumps. Hi-J
The length of time required for thor
Eating depends on the depth OF show
netratlon desired ana on the con- miss
ion of the pole. A seasoned pole If
I be treated IN about four to you
Int hours; a green pole IN from the
to "a hours. The plant will be
e to handle about 600 poles in
a-shift day. AS the poles come MAJ
Oh LilG IGlOIlSs lAiGy GdAl DC AOdAGu
ectly onto freight cars for ship t..
e, or stored again in the plants ~
d. A standard-gauge track con-
is with the Great Northern rail Ea
d and standard cars can be Time
tched IN and out OF the plant. urda,
another large building stands be- Blacl
2 the one housing the retorts. Rasn
track runs into 1t, eral
the carrying IN OF tank cars of shop
osote. Below this track, to one shop
:, In an excavation, is another Mr.
&c steel tank into which the comic
osote will be pumped from the apart
road tank car. II viii hold about build
ar and g half Of creosote. Bel Servi
en- this building and that hold pleas
lCnrnainlanL ~. rlnnn E,....nA -