A long – envisioned blooming mill at Geneva Works was put into operation Monday as an integral part of U.S. Steel’s Geneva Works. Appropriate ceremonies marked the occasion, with a fair sized crowd of community leaders, steel customers, and steel officials present as Utah’s first lady, Lucybeth Rampton, threw the switch to signal the official start-up. The new mill represents the largest investment for steel producing facilities at Geneva Works since 1946 when U.S. Steel purchased the plant from the U.S. Defense Plant Corporation. The plant was built earlier in that decade to augment the nation’s wartime steel production. General Sgerintendent Henry A. Huish of eneva says the new mill will roll ingots into a primary shape called blooms for later rolling into structural shapes or semi- finished steel billets, The Geneva – producedbillets will be further rolled at the Pittsburg, Calif. sister plant into steel rods for final finishing into a variety of products, including wire rope and nails. I Geneva officials have not disclosed how the blooming mill will affect employment at the sprawling Utah County plant, but obviously it should prove a stabilizing factor, Installation of the blooming mill was approved by U.S. Steel officials in 1974, Raymond W. Sundquist, former Geneva general superintendent now assistant to the president of U,S. Steel at Pittsburgh, was credited with playing a strong role in convincing the corporation of the need for the unit. Mr. Sundquist was present for the Monday ceremonies, along with the steel officials including Ralph W. Seely, vice president and general manager of U.S. Steel’s Westem Division. The entire steel – making team at Geneva can take pride in the new mill which will add breadth and versatility to the over-all operation. Top Geneva officials are quick to warn, however, that orders still must he won under highly competitive conditions. There must be no relaxing of effort or vigilance in providing the best possible service and highest quality steel to offset the handicap of distance to market and attendant freight rates. Our congratulations Geneva on the new mill – a milestone for the local steel industry and an asset for the entire area.