Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-04-20
The West Castleton STATE Wills Con.
sumed by Fire.
LOSS $l5O,OO0.

On Saturday night, about 10 o'clock
the Slate Mill and adjoining buildings
connected with the West Castleton Slate
and Railroad Company's Works. were
destroyed by fire. The FIRE was fret dis.
covered at half-past eleven o'clock. in the
upper part of one of the mills, where lum-
Der and other dry materials were stored.
The flames spread rapidly, and no conve-
niences being accessible for fighting fire,
the four mills or buildings of the COM
pany's works we've rapidly consumed.
The building In which the fire originated.
the main portion was used for saving the
lumber and making boxes for shipping
the mantels and other marbleized slate
goods manufactured by the company. In
this building were also rooms for polish
ing the slate, and an oven for baking and
finishing by the marbleizing process. Be-
tween this and the large mill, two build
ings used for various purposes, although
not connected, were soon on fire. and
from them the flames communicated to
the large mill, where the slate was sawed.
and where also were larger rooms for pol
ishing and marketing mantels. billiard
tables, and manufacturing black boards
for schools, etc. This building was soon
in ruins, and what but an hour before
was valued at over one hundred Thousand
dollars. was but heap of blackeued de.
bris. Beside the machinery destroyed
was an amount of valuable lumber. 200
mantels valued at $4,000; 200 mantels
valued at $4,000; 300 mantels valued at
$21 900; and 90 billiard table beds val.
ued at $1,000. The whole amount of prop.
erty destroyed is valued at $4,000, and
was insured for about $4,000 The prop
erty was owned by Mr.. Thomas R. Haz
ard, who had recently purchased it on an
execution agaist the company.
The Gre without doubt was the work of
An incendigary, as there had been no fire
IN the building in which the fire was dis.
covered for more than two weeks, nor in
he large mill for two days. About a
fortnight ago the men struck for higher
wages although they were averaging
bout 81 so per day. Mr. Hazard refused
o accede to their demand and the men
topped work. During Saturday they
we're gathered in squad, cauousing
mong themselves, and one individual
allied upon the foreman and asked if thew
we're to be given work the next week, and
lie replied they had none for them. 1t was
;nown to the men that Mr.. Hazard had i
arge orders to fill in limited time, and
linking his anxiety to do 80 would lead
i'm to aecede, made demand for addi-
ional wages. Tire were some 90 men '
mployed in the mills, and twelve men in !
he slate quarry near at hand. The loss t
you'd have been much larger on manu- I
actured work but large amount was !
hipped from the mill to the railroad at y
iydeville on Saturday. ......--. II
The West Castleton Slate and Railroad e
company was Incorporated in 1859 and q
as been in operation until the failure of !,
he Company about year since. Some
7eeks ago the property was sold on exc 7
utions against the Company, to Thomas
Hazard. Mr.. Hazards father is Super.
of the works at the present.
ime. Mr.. Hazard the owner is absent in
Washington. ~ees-1-