Hungry Horse news., 1953-05-22
June to Provide Jobs at Plant

Men and machines by early
June will start moving approxi-
mately 100000 cubic yards of dirt
and gravel as construction of the
new Anaconda Aluminium Co.
S5O,OO0,000 plant gets underway
two miles east of Columbia Falls.
This dirt moving of 100000 cubic
yards compares to the 100000
cubic yards of excavation in con-
nection with Hungry Horse dam
construction.
CONCRETE IN LATE JUNE
Next phase of the Mcneil con-
tract for excavation and concrete
is placing of about $4,000 cubic
yards of footings. The Anaconda
company furnishes such materials
as cement, reinforcing steel and
conduit. Start of concrete oper-
ations is viewed as late June
pending arrival and setting up
of an aggregate and batch plant.
Final announcement that the j.
A. Mcneil Co., Inc, of BIS West
Mission Road, Alhambra, Calf,
was the successful ''first phase"
contractor in building the new al
uminum plant came Monday in
an announcement by Chester H.
Steele, Butte, ACM vice president
in charge of western operations.
It was April 18 that various
contractors were notified that the
contract was being awarded the
Mcneil company, and then tele-
grams rescinded this earlier mes
sage and there were contractor
negotiations. Among reasons for
delay was that Anaconda was OBJ
tanning further information as to
design of the plant that had to
be incorporated into the specif-
ications. This is to be the most
modern aluminium reduction works
in the United States.
MCNEIL MEN ARRIVE
Arriving in Columbia Falls
Thursday afternoon were repre-
sentatives of the Mcneil COM
pany, Don Mcneil, vice presi-
dent, and G.. P. Smallwood, gen.
eral superintendent. Smallwood is
completing a copper plant for
ACM at Yerington, New.
Employment pattern for the
Mcneil company next week here
is perhaps 20 men working, carp
enters and laborers, obtained
through local union halls.
j. A. Mcneil, company presi-
dent, contacted by telephone
afternoon expects peak
this summer on the
contract to total about 400 men.
However there will be other
contracts at the aluminium plant
such as erecting structural steel
in progress. The forseeable en-
ployment total with 400 for Nc
Neil could easily rise to 600
during the construction phase.
There are numerous other con-
tracts to be let Mcneil may get
4 number of them, but there will
De others.
Details as to number of shifts
% be worked each day and the
number of work days in a week
lave not been worked out. Nor
S information available on sub
contracts regarding gravel and ev-
n cement.
Amount of this first contract to
'uild the plant does not involve
'ublic money hence is not public
However a reason
BILE estimate is $3,000,000.
MANAGER ARRIVING
Arriving in Columbia Falls next
5eek will be James Cullen, Nc
Teil company vice president, who
yill be Flathead project manager.
. survey crew will arrive likely
Ionday to start laying out ex-
AVIATION patterns.
Equipment for Mcneil is en-
)ute here.
Monegan and Rowe were con-
Icted Thursday afternoon, and
re building a temporary con-
ruction office for the Mcneil
J. A. Mcneil stressed that men
ready living in this section of
ontana would be given pre-
renee for jobs, and that local
aterials would be used where
'ssible. Hiring local men will
leviate possible more serious
,using problems.
PLANNING CONSTRUCTION
First buildings to be started are
}. l and potlineS, measuring
out 1,l00 feet long and 80 feet
de, and then the office and
arehouse structures.
railroad spurs are to
started shortly.
Total peak employment at the
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