THE BEE: OMAKA, WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1911'.
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ARLY Monday morning the industrial
S I expert tripped into the office with
ll I the staff photographer.
A I "We're going out to see the big
gest steel tank manufacturing plant
in the west," informed the expert,
"and we want you to go along and
write up the place. Get your coat and come on. '
The photographer held a suit case in his hand,
eo the writer knew that photographs were going
to be taken and that the public was going to learn
some interesting facts about a prosperous Omaha
Industry. So, with industrial expert and staff
photographer, the writer set out for the home of
the Nebraska & Iowa Steel Tank company. The
trip appealed strongly both to the writer and to
photographer, for the industrial expert had told
us that the place we were going to visit was the
largest plant of its kind in this section of the coun
try. Immediately we were interested, and were de
lighted to make the trip.
A Sherman avenue car deposited the .trio of
Bee men at Sherman qvenue and Grace streets. A
walk of three blocks east brought the trinity to
Thirteenth . street and then another Journey of
three blocks brought them up at the big, new
plant of the Nebraska & Iowa Steel Tank company.
As the group of three passed through the
gateway a constant hammering produced such a
volume of noise that the picture man ventured
a remark to the effect that we probably had ar
rived at a noise factory. It seemed to him that
the entire building was full of hammers.
When the crew of three entered the building
my, it was impossible to understand words ut
tered in an ordinary voice it was necessary to
shout in order to be heard.
Like Huge Bee Hive.
Men were here and there with hammers,
piercing large galvanized sheets of steel, driving
holes into the metal, putting bolts into them, and
riveting the big pieces together, forming huge
grain tanks, bins, dipping tanks, special troughs
tor the .Baker Ice Machine company, oil tanks,
water troughs, oil barrels, etc., etc. Everybody
was doing it so it seemed. Everybody in the
whole plant was busy, and it seemed as though
the trinity of newspaper men were in the bee hive,
where the ordinary buzz of the bees had been in
creased a thousand fold.
, Some of the sheet metal lay In long strips up
on the concrete floor. Workmen were busy in put
ting holes in it and getting it ready for the bolts
and riveting that were soon to create the sub
stantial tanks and steel culverts. Other men in
the plant were riveting the pieces together and
completing the substantial products. Others were
using the welding machines in perfecting the
tanks. Still others were busy at machines that
turned iron sheets and shaped them for tanks.
But everywhere, whether men were sitting on the
floor or at the machines, there was evidence of
much thrift much evidence, too.
Perfect Protection for Grain.
Three men were engaged in putting the fin
ishing touches to an Immense galvanized grain
tank, with a diameter of eighteen feet and a height
of twelve feet. It was a strong, durable looking
contrivance, and was being formed for use on a
western farm. Farmers who can afford such a
granary are assured of perfect protection for their
grains. Water or mice or any devasting agency
will not harm grain that is kept in this kind of
tanks. Because of this fact The Bee men learned
that the number of orders for these tanks were
growing rapidly every month. This tank was so
large and looked so durable that the visitors were
Intensely interested and asked all sorts of questions
just such questions as one unfamiliar with such
things would naturally ask, and the facts they
learnjd were numerous. -
The informant stated that these tanks were
unquestionably the best that any farmer could use.
They can be set up in any place in two or three
hours. There is only one side seam and the bot
tom to bolt together. The top of the tank has a
large, square opening into which the grain is
shoveled. The cover of the opening, when thrown
back, makes a shield to keep the grain from spill
ing. Some of the bins have three openings in the
sides, each being protected with a sliding shield.
These openings are so arranged that the granary
can be filled, or the grain drawn off, by using the
conveyor that goes with each bin. 1
Tight Cover Guards.
The conveyor that, draws off the grain is made
so that it will cover the opening in the side and
make a tight cover protecting the grain from raia
and snow. It also locks at the top with the man
bole cover, so that only one padlock is necessary to
lock all the openings.
In case the wheat, .oats or any other grain
has not gone through the sweat, and is in need of
air, an arrangement is made so that the top can be
raised from one to three inches, at the same time
protecting the grain from the ill-tempered weather.
These storage bins are efficient for protecting and
keeping in perfect order any kind of grain. They
are absolutely free from rats, mice and dust, and
are fireproof. They are made in various sizes, and
some are priced so low that they are within reach
of the most humble of farmers.
Just at the moment that The Bee force had
acquired every fact in regard to the grain bins, a
bell pealed out above the noise of the plant, and
the trio of visitors glanced toward the southeast
corner of the plant. They espied a young girl giv
ing the final Jerk to a rope that ran to a fair sized
bell cage which housed a flaring mouthed vessel
with an iron 'clapper. In answer to the summons
of the bell (for the workman with the visitors in
formed them that the bell was used to call the
"boss") a tall, pleasant faced man hurried toward
the office, which is located a few feet from the
bell rope. First impression marked this man as a
genial, likeable fellow. His black hair and "mus
tache were tinted with gray and he strode forward
as though he were very busy. The trio followed
this individual to the office, and there were intro
duced to A. N.- Eaton as the owner of the Nebraska
& Iowa Steel Tank company. ' . -
Fine Fel tow to Meet.
Mr. Eaton was "easy to talk to," as the
photographer put it. He seemed to be one of the
men about the place, so far as conversing was con
cerned. He was just a common sort of a man with
no false varnish and with no attempt to impress
his importance upon any one. He came right
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down to facts about the plant at once, and told the
newspaper men interesting particulars about the factory.
"t From Mr. Eaton it was learned that the new plant
of the company employed a force of more than forty
men. The new building, which is a substantial brick
structure, 100 feet wide and 200 feet long, was opened
January 1, 1912. It is solidly constructed and is one
large room, with the exception of the office, which takes
up only a few square feet. This building la located at Thir
teenth and flDrucn streets. The old Dlant of the conmanv is
situated at Fourteenth nd Nicholas streets. It includes a
building 66x112 feet. In it are manufactured steel cul-
rerts. The main working force of the company, however,
is kept in the new plant.
With the owner of the plant, the writer inspected the
the various products, while the photographer "snapped"
the several views that have been reproduced on this page.
At one machine, where a young, muscular employe was weld
ing tanks, had been gathered several hundred oil barrels.
Some of them bad a capacity of thirty gallons and some of
fifty. They were strong, being made of heavy galvanized
steel, and looked solid enough to stand the hardest of usage.
These tanks are manufactured in large numbers, so the writer
was informed, and are shipped to various parts of the middle
west. . ,
Repairing Large Oil Tank.
In another part of the plant four men were engaged in re
pairing a large oil tank that had fallen from a wagon and sus
tained a dent in the side. It was necessary to take the bottom of
the tank out in order to straighten the sheet steel, and the men
were accomplishing the task in rapid order. It seemed a hard
proposition to the visitors, but to the workmen it was one of the
simplest of tasks.
Near at hand, Mr. Eaton pointed out a harness dipping tank.
It had a diameter of 24 inches and was 30 Inches high. A skirt
top surmounted the main tank. By filling one of these tanks with
warm water mixed with a gallon of good harness oil, and placing
the harness in it, the life of the leather may be doubled, according
to data gathered through experimenting with these tanks.
Through ,the entire large plant Mr. Eaton conducted the visit
ors, showing them the various articles made by this company. Now
he stopped to show them a cistern tank and to explain that the kind
r:ade by this company has been used for years that they are not
an experiment; now he pointed out several galvanized garbage cans,
the strongest made; now it was a dipping tank for hogs and sheep,
and now it was an anti-freezing fountain trough, a contrivance
patented by this company. ,
Long List of Products.
A list of the articles manufactured by this big concern would
include practically everything that .is manufactured . in the steel
tank and bin lines. There are ash pits, bottomless tanks, cone
covers for house tanks, cone covers with manholes, corrugated
steel culverts, faucet tanks, floats, milk tanks and crates, oval bot
tom wagon tanks, perforated Irrigating pipe, pipe channel and angle,
round bottom troughs, sanitary hog feeders, Bcalding vats, square
end pans, tank heaters, taper tanks, underground storage outfits,
well tubing and casing, wood tanks, etc.
The Nebraska & Iowa Steel Tank company was
the first firm to make the gas pipe rim.. This firm
also has been one of the leaders in pushing to the
front with improvements in tank making. This
smooth rolled pipe rim is a perfection in tank
building. This company has received high praise
all over the country for its fine tanks and the
many improvements that it has made. The pipe is
completely covered with the body of the tank, and
this arrangement leaves no chance forf the rough
edges to injure stock or for rust to accumulate.
The bottoms are flanged. With the galvanized
angle formed around the bottom, riveting the side,
bottom and angle firmly together with one row of
rivets, this idea makes the most solid bottom that
It Is possible to put on a tank and prevent injuries
in transit.
Uses Best Materials.
In making their products this company uses
the best Apollo sheets, made expressly for use in
this plant by the Vandergrift Mills of Pennsylvania.
All seams In the tanks are closely riveted with 4
pound rivets. In the angle 8-pound rivets are em
ployed. All soldering here is done by experienced
men. The solder is thoroughly soaked into ail tne
seams and joints, thus making these seams and
joints one of the strongest, parts of the tanks.
These tank are so thoroughly constructed that fire
can be placed under them to thaw them out with
out injuring the product in any way. Freezing
will not injure them, and they will not collert moss,
nor will water sour in them.
The steel culverts manufactured by the Ne
braska & Iowa Steel Tank company are made of
Keystone steel sheets, manufactured expressly for
use in this factory. They are the best tight coated
galvanized sheets that can be purchased anywhere.
They are cut in lengths for each size culvert, and
are corugated before being galvanized, leaving no
chance for rust to get a hold on them. Many of
the best roads in Nebraska are equipped with these
culverts 'and the various counties that use them
declare they are the best that have been employed
In this state.
Cleanest of Factories.
One feature of the large plant that left a
strong Impression on the' minds of the three Bee
men who were the visitors there on Monday, was
the cleanly appearance that the whole factory
presented. Unless food products are the output, a
factory is not usually Inspected for the purpose of
ascertaining 4ts sanitary condition. But there Is a
steel tank factory that is without doubt one of the
cleanest and most sanitary In the' west. It Is
painted white inside, and the paint may be seen in
covering every bit of wood and metal on the walls.
The floor Is made of concrete, and is kept scrupu
lously clean. The work benches are repositories
for no rubbish, and the corners and nooks hold no
accumulated dirt. One wonders why such is true;
so also did the visitors of this week wonder why
the factory was so clean, until one of them chanced
to see a set of rules that had been posted for the
employes to obey, and then the puzzling feature
was clear to all. Mr. Eaton has an Idea that the
factory ought to be as clean as any business house,
and he has made rules which require employes to
keep the Plant free from all unncessary trash and
dirt.
"Garbage cans will be provided at each end
of the building. Put all lunch papers in these cans.
Be careful not to scatter lunches over the. floor."
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. That rule is one of the reasons for the clean
liness of this factory. It tells a story. It helps
explain why the factory is the most sanitary of any
Industrial plant. Here are others which further
explain why the commendable conditions exist in.
the large factory of the Nebraska & Iowa Steel
Tank company:
Some of the "Directions."
We must keep our building clean and neat so
it will be healthful to work in. Everyone will have
to help accomplish this end ;
"Those chewing tobacco must get a box filled
with ashes or sawdust and empty this receptacle at
least once a week.
"Those who smoke must be very careful with the
matches. Do not throw lighted matches on the floor.
All matches must be removed from clothing left In the
factory over night. . '
"Nails must not be driven Into posts or walls. If
It is necessary to fasten tools on the floors or walls,
consult ttm foreman as to the best method of arranging
for this, and follow directions.. ,
"Be cure to keep the rivets cleaned up from the
floor. Have a box and see that all loose rivets are
picked up and put into the right places.
"Please follow these directions and it will make it
more pleasant for all."
So this. Nebraska & Iowa Steel Tank cbtnpany's
factory is more than a mere manufacturing plant; it 1
. a clean and healthful working place for the men who
. labor tihere;. and, by the way, it has as clean and bright
. a looking crew of working men as the writer has seen
.In Omaha.
- Prosperous lookiii; Hen.
Most of them are young men; some have reached
middle age: but all have an Intelligent gleam In their
eyes and all look prosperous look as though they were
highly satisfied with their positions. From the man
ner in which they conversed and "mixed" with their!
employer, it was easy to conclude that they were
pleased with their positions and that they worked un
der agreeable conditions. ,
them hurled a question across at a workman who was
eating hts noonday lunch:
wno are you going to vote ror this ralir
"Oh." came back a redv. "haven't decided vK
' Haven't studied the candidates -enough, yet Anyhow,'
politics . don't bother us much out here. Guess the
rnilHirw H1I atn dinner a n. a1 1 n t . i. U . 1. .
Taft, Wilson or Roosevelt Is elected. We aren't going!
to worry about politics." ' . .
As he finished there was . an agreeing" chorus of
six or seven of his co-workers, saying, "That's the way
-we feel." ", - - t. -. ............ r -
Could anv statement from fhesa wnrbmiui . hnai'
. more clearly that the force of employes of the Nebraska
& Iowa Steel Tank company were very well satisfied
and that they were prospering. . No discount there: na
willingness to make unnecessary venture. ' - !