make even more money! They identified a location in north Boston to build a molasses storage tank, and tapped Arthur Jell, the company treasurer, to supervise construction. They dangle a promotion in front of Jell if he can complete construction in time to receive a molasses shipment by December 31. - ThreadSky

mbenfinney.bsky.social • 66 days ago

make even more money! They identified a location in north Boston to build a molasses storage tank, and tapped Arthur Jell, the company treasurer, to supervise construction. They dangle a promotion in front of Jell if he can complete construction in time to receive a molasses shipment by December 31.

Comments

mbenfinney.bsky.social•66 days ago

Construction began in early December. Jell had had to negotiate a land lease with the Boston Elevated Train Company, which took longer than he expected and he was up against his end of the year deadline. Hammond Ironworks provided the material and constructed the tank, a massive structure 50 feet

mbenfinney.bsky.social•66 days ago

tall and 90 feet in diameter, with a 2.5 million gallon capacity. The construction was entirely riveted mild steel, welding not being commonly used in construction (or shipbuilding) at the time.

mbenfinney.bsky.social•66 days ago

The tank was completed in time to be "leak tested" before its first delivery of molasses on December 31. Leak testing, in this case, meant "filling" the tank with 6 inches of water, noting no leaks, and declaring it ready for service.
The tank leaked molasses from day one.

mbenfinney.bsky.social•66 days ago

The tank (1) was located in a working class Irish and Italian neighborhood, 200 ft from Boston Harbor. It was next to Commercial Street, a fire station (2), and a section of elevated train tracks.

mbenfinney.bsky.social•66 days ago

From 1916 through 1918, the tank was filled frequently. Many people note the groaning and rumbling sounds after it was filled. Despite frequent caulking, the tank leaked all the time. Neighborhood children would collect and eat the molasses that gathered in puddles at the base (a 3-ft concrete pad).

mbenfinney.bsky.social•65 days ago

Isaac Gonzales, a worker at the tank and pump house, brought concerns to Hell several times. Gonzales was so concerned about the tank that he would visit it in the middle of the night to drain molasses into the harbor.

In 1918 alone, the tank was filled above the 2 million gallon mark 7 times.

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply