From Peace River Block News, November 10, 1931
Fort St. John — that enterprising frontier town of the north — experienced another gala day on Saturday, November 7. That afternoon the C.E. Phillips Milling Company’s flour mill opened. There was quite a gathering of representative farmers and others including a number of Pouce Coupe, Dawson Creek and Rolla residents as well as others from surrounding districts.
Mr. Ogilvie, a well-known farmer of Fort St. John, who is always active in all good causes, acted as chairman. He called upon Mr. Morrell, Government Agent, to address the gathering. He congratulated all upon the completion of their mill, voicing the sentiments of all that a very useful utility had been established in their midst. Among other things he wished to remove erroneous impression that had got abroad. Some people supposed that the provincial government had provided part of the capital necessary as a gift but this was not the case. They had simply made an industrial loan to Mr. Phillips, which had to be paid back both — principal and interest. It was purely a business proposition to enable him to get action quicker than might otherwise have been possible. He hoped they would take advantage of the opportunity offered them and that the mill would prove success in every way.
Mr. Ogilvie then called upon Mrs. B.E. Carmichael, as one of the oldest residents north of the Peace River, to cut the ribbons. This set the machinery in motion, and declared the mill open for business.
Mr. C.E. Phillips, the owner is to be congratulated upon his enterprise. The mill is a complete 50-barrel capacity with all the very latest equipment. This includes a Monitor combination cleaner and double scourer, Carter disk separator, tempering plant, flour packer and 7 stands of elevator legs. It is built on a cement foundation, with a large basement receiving pit and conveyors to handle grain quickly. It has 4,000 bushel storage capacity in addition to 4 tempering bins, grinder and chop bins and also bins for 1st and 2nd grade flour, bran and shorts.
The driveway is 52 ft. long, 16 ft. wide, with a 10-ton dump scale, arranged so that grain for milling or chopping can be delivered over the scale, and bulk chop delivered to the truck or wagon on the scale. A large office and engine room, with ample storage capacity for the finished products has been provided.
The power is provided by a 30 hp Ruston fuel oil engine built at Lincoln, England and furnished by the Mumfort-Medland Co. of Winnipeg. All transmission equipment was supplied by the Strong-Scott Co. of Winnipeg. The cleaner and scourer were made by the Hintley Mfg. Co. of Tilsonburg, Ontario. The heating is furnished by a furnace in the basement.
Mr. F.W. McDougal of the McDougal Construction Company of Calgary was in charge of the installation of the equipment. A first class miller has been placed in charge of operations. Thus another forward step has been made in this fast growing, splendid district.