Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-10-23

Destruction Of the Enterprise
FIGURING Mills, and Heavy
Loss on Cotton at the
Old Navy YaRd.

The Enterprise FIGURING Mills, situated
near the Beal street market on Short Third
street, south Of Gayoso. we're totally de-
stroyed Saturday night last between 8
o'clock and midnight The FIRE caught
in the basement Of the establishment;
some say in the southwest corner, othen
in the furnace or boiler room, and still
others about the machinery somewhere.
Its origin cannot be asoertained Persons
near the mills report having seen q light
in the basement for sometime before the
alarm was sounded, and they thought it
was a lamp or some other light used blythe
workmen. Very o after the alarm was
given the fire engines were at the scene Of
the conisgration, but the flames could
not be subdued and the structure with its
contents were entirely consumed. Moth.
ing remains but the machinery, now only
ft for old iron, and the blackened and
badly wrecked brick walls. The smoke OF
furnace stack is the only part standing,
apparently unhurt.
Mr.. Hoffman, the superintendent of the
mills, says he stoppei work about six
o'clock in the evening and went to supper,
leaving several employees who had not
quite closed their days business. At the
time everything was in good shape. The
employees completed their work and left
some time after. Mr.. Hoffman
values the mill at $4,000, and says it
could not be replaced for less. 1t was in
excellent condition, the boilers and bolt
ing apparatus being new, with ten or
twelve elevators and everything necessary
in a first-class Touring mill. The super
intendent, who is a miller Of long years
Of experience, declares there was no better
mill in America. He was very proud OF
the structure, and for six weeks past has
beenidoing excellent work, turning out a
thousand barrels of -four per week.
The mill began operations some eight
months ago, and for the first three months
was used for grinding meal only. After
that it was arranged for flour and wa;
since been exclusively used for this SER
vice. The stock of wheat on hand in the
mill was between one and two carloads,
about 800 bushels, and the stock of -four
between 600 and 700 bbls. The insurance
on the wheat and -four was laid in tn,
Phoenix, of this city, and amounted I,
5000. The mills belonged to Messrs. L
B. Sims, J.. w. Caldwell, w. l.. Vance
George Gillian and r. w. Carroll, thu
| lulcc hiob haihSu bSAhH thS mann wv AoAn
Mr.. Caldwell has been absent in Georgii
for some time past, and returned to tn,
city this morning. The expression thiI
morning was that the mills will be rebuilt
at an early day, though this is not We
definitely agreed upon. Mr.. Sims, tht
chiefmanager, has devoted his best ener
gies to this enterprise for the past twelyI
months, laboring day and night to maxi
it successful, and for some weeks past tn,
mill had been working to his entir,
satisfaction, turning out an excellen
quality ofAour for which there was a ready
demand. 1t was the only Touring mill 0
any importance in the city and a genera
feeling of regret has been expressed re
garding the mishap among all classes
while much sympathy has been extended
to Mr.. Sims. The following is the in
sursnce policies held by the mill owners
which it is needless to say does not cove