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A.C. Tiede & Co.'s New Diamond "T" Mill at East Elkport On the morning of April 10th, 1890, half a dozen men and teams could be seen in the corn field adjoining the creamery at East Elkport. They were there for the purpose of breaking ground for the new mill. The remark was made that inside of four months flour would be made where there was then nothing but corn stalks. Few of the hearers however, believed the assertion, and none of them thought at the time that in so short a period this could be accomplished. Yet, in three months and twenty days the genius of progress has transformed the silent cornfield into a busy scene of activity. We refer to the new Diamond "T" Mills of A.C. Tiede & Co., which has just been finished, and which commenced operation on the 4th inst. The building is an "iron clad," the sides being covered with beaded iron, and the roof with sheet steel. This makes it practically fire proof from without. The main building is 40X50, of three stories, and stands 46 feet above the ground. The basement, constructed of stone, is high and well lighted. The engine and boiler house, which adjoins the mill on the east, is 30X30, one story high. The interior of this, as well as each story in the mill, is well lighted, comfortable and practical in every respect. The engine house is constructed of stone, and is as nearly fire proof as it could be made. The mill building is "crib-work," being 2X6 pine, surfaced and nailed flat, one upon the other. This is upon the plan of elevators as they are now built, and makes a strong building. The out-side was first covered with paper and then with iron siding, making it very warm in addition to its fire proof qualities. Its general appearance is well illustrated by the cut which appears herewith. [refering to the photo printed with the article] The outside is painted a dark red color, and the building presents a pleasing appearance. We enter the first floor from the north side, at which all wheat from farmers is received. This floor contains seven double roller mills - fourteen pairs of rolls - and the flour packer. On the south side is a little device which looks like the dial of a clock. This is the motion indicator, and is for the purpose of having the motion at a certain point and keeping it there. It is necessary because all machines employed are speeded to a certain motion, and if kept there furnish the most satisfactory results. Many mills leave this matter to be guessed at, which though seemingly a small matter, yet it contributes much towards a successful result. It is this attention to all these small matters and the adoption of every practical improvement, which has made the business of the firm successful in the past, and which will no doubt do the same in the future. As an instance, we noticed a feeding apparatus on the rolls, which had not been made by the makers of the rolls. Upon inquiry we learned that these feeders were an improvement upon those furnished with the rolls, and had been bought afterwards at an expense of $35.00 each, or $245 for the seven roller mills. Above the first break rolls is located a Welch wheat heater, used to warm the wheat in cold weather. The remainder of this floor is used for flour storage and the transaction of exchange business. In one corner is the office, which is neatly furnished with such appliances as are necessary, among which is a telephone connecting the office with the depot, the general office of the company, which is a mile away on the west side, and the residence of the senior member of the firm. Going down from the first floor we enter the basement, where we see a line of shafting and pulleys busily engaged in keeping the machinery in motion. Here we find a separator, cockle machine, scouring machine and a brush, all used to thoroughly clean the wheat. This might be termed a Barnard & Leas flour, as all the cleaning machines are of their make. The impression left on a visitor to this floor is a pleasant one, as it is light, cool and clean. Going from here to the second story, we find seven round reels, one three break sieve scalper, one first break sieve scalper making the two separations, a bran duster, flour chest, and automatic scale. The latter is used for weighing wheat received by rail, and more especially for weighing the wheat which is ground. The scale weighs and registers all wheat as it passes. Attached to the flour packer is a tally showing the number of pounds of flour made during the day. When the mill shuts down all that is necessary is to see the number of bushels ground from the dial on the scale, and step down and read the amount of flour made on the dial of the flour packer. In this manner a daily yield is taken which can be best appreciated by our most practical mill owners. The mill thus weighs its own wheat and counts its own flour with infallible regularity. Leaving this floor for one more climb, we reach the third story, where are located three centrifugal reels, one double purifier and one single purifier, a receiving separator and two cyclone dust collectors. This is called the Geo. T. Smith floor, as all the centrifugals and purifiers are made by this firm. He we can look down on the storage bins for wheat, located at the west end of the mill. There are five of these, capable of holding 12,000 bushels, and with room for enlarging them to about 4,000 bushels more. They are located at one end of the mill entirely out of the way of the machinery. The foundation walls of these bins are on an average of four feet thick and laid in cement. From here we pass down again to inspect the steam plant of the mill, located at the east end of the building, and consists of a 60 horse power boiler and engine, together with hot water steam pump, a Stillwell heater, cold water pump, tank and other accessories. The boiler is supplied with Reliance safety water columns, which have a whistle attached to warn the engineer when the water becomes too low or too high in the boiler. The engine is a "variable cut off," and with the boiler, was furnished by the Frost Mf'g Co., of Galesburg, Ill. The entire outfit embraces all the practical improvements made. When looking at the engine room with its abundance of light, clean floor and pleasant surroundings, it creates the wish in many of becoming a steam engineer. This department is under the control of Mr. W.G. Every, who has worked for the firm for two years, or ever since they began using steam. The mill was planned by Mr. L.Y. Ehrlich, and embodies the result of his life long experience as a miller. To show to what a degree he possesses the confidence of the firm, we will mention the fact that his system and plans were adopted after the systems of some of the leading mill furnishers had been carefully examined and compared. It is more than a compliment to have the entire control of an undertaking requiring the capital that a mill of this kind does, and speaks highly of his ability as a miller. The millwright work was under the personal supervision of Mr. Ed. Fitch, and was well done. Mr. Fitch is a competent mechanic in this line, and makes it a rule to do good work or not do it at all. The wood work of the building was under the supervision of Mr. Henry Schuette, of Garnavillo. It was done rapidly and in an acceptable manner. Mr. Schuette has few if any equals as a builder in the county. The stone work was done by Messrs. Buechel & Vogt, of Guttenberg, and C. Hoffman, of Elkport. It is solid and substantial. The rock were quarried under the supervision of P. Dietrich, who got them out well and cheap, owing to his experience in this branch. Mr. Dietrich worked the greatest number of days of any man on the job. During the construction of the mill there were employed 42 men as masons, carpenters, millwrights, engineers and laborers. It took 110,000 feet of lumber, 400 perch of rock, 10,000 brick, 105 barrels of lime and cement, 12,000 pounds of iron and steel, 4,000 pounds of nails and other monor items. The nominal capacity of the mills is 100 barrels per day, but there is no question but what it can make 125 barrels with ease. A side track runs to the door of the mill, affording ample opportunity for shipping flour and receiving wheat. The home grown wheat will be principally used. This is a fine grade of winter wheat, which is raised here to almost perfection. The mill being located almost in the center of this wheat growing district, enables it to select the best. This will go far towards increasing the well earned reputation of the firm for producing an invariably good article. In order to show how an establishment of this kind benefits a place, we mention that two years ago there were four or five houses for sale here. Today no one wants to sell. One house we understand was offered at $400.00 a year ago, sold for $500.00 a short time since, and would bring $600.00 now. The people of East Elkport are to be congratulated on the location of this enterprise, and are already beginning to feel its good effects. With the advantages of location both for shipping flour and buying wheat, with an abundance of wheat offered at its doors, with an equipment of machinery not excelled by any mill in the state and equalled by few, with a management that is progressive and energetic, the prospects of the "New Diamond T" certainly are bright. If they are realized it will be a benefit, not only to our town town, but the entire surrounding country. ~Elkader Register, August 28, 1890; page 4 |
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