Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-06-07
I.rnized Account Of DOings in City and
Country.
,yOTHER INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTION.
# Goes up in Smoke With the WOOlen
Mill, and Chair Factory.

works building on Trade and High
s+rnets. a mass of flames. The fire
ORIGINATED in the engine and boiler
room mt the west end of the build
inc. and was discovered by the night
workman employed at the electric
rght machines, a short time after,
Int too late too do any good
with buckets. James Rennie, who
lives near, heard the alarm raised by
the night man, and, as he had just
come home from his work at the
mills. he was yet dressed and no
time was lost in responding. These
two then coupled some hose at the
agricultural works to hydrant, but
the pressure received from the water
works would not throw water four
feet from the nozzle, and Tigers
hose team, which soon after had
line of hose from the hydrant at the
\. w. corner of Trade and High
streets, experienced the same trou-
ble The water company allows the
pressure to run down at 8 o'clock
every night, at the pump house, and
only puts the pressure on after the
fire bell rings, or are notified of a fire,
and thereby hangs the tale. Had
there been any pressure even after
the hose boys had their line out, the
building could have been saved, but
as it was, no water was thrown on
to the fire until the engines arrived,
which was too late, the fire having
been communicated to the main
building, and havinggotten a heavy
start there.
The main building was occupied
by the electric light plant of the
Oregon Electric Light Company in
the basement; by Churchill and
Cooke as a planning mill and sash
and door factory on the main floor
by Thomas Holman's tanning mill
factory, ETC., in the rest Of the
building. OF course, as soon as the
fire got into the factory of Churchill
and Cooke, filled as it was with dry
shavings, chips, lumber, ETC., the
saving of the building became
hopeless impossibility. The fire
burned brightly for overthree hours,
when it was gotten under control
there being nothing left to burR
The firemen worked hard, and did
the best that could have been done
by anybody, but there was no use.
They had hard work to save the
cottage Of A. Avert at 173 High
street, which was badly scOrched.
Had the weather been dry, with the
wind which was blowing, there is
no telling what might have been
the result. Burning shingles, and
huge sparks were carried clear across
the city.
EThe total losses of the fire will eX-
ceed S75, 1000, and on this there is not
more than $4,000 insurance. ThOs.
Holman owned the building, the
electric light plant, machinery, etc.
His losses are on the building S25,-
goo, machinery and material be
longing to his tanning mill and
grain cleaner factory, $4,000, stock
5000, and the electric light plant is
worth $4,000. fthis, Mr.. Holman
thinks the incandescent dynamo
can probably be repaired at light eX-
pense; but the other two will
probably have to be returned to
Boston to have the coils rewOund.
Churchill and Cooke lose about
$4,000, with no insurance.
Mr.. Holman intends to rebuild
the building at once, makingit only
two stories instead of three. He
viii get his electric light plant
working as soon as possible.
several persons who have resi-
lences in process Reconstruction will
leel keenly the loss of the sash and
door factory, as it will retard work
on their buildings. The specifica-
ions for the fancy work of o. f.
hnusse's new cottage were in the
me; of r. $. Wallace's new residence
loo, very Ii kelly.
The building was erected by
Aonham Meyers about 1870, on
borrowed money. etc, $4,000 of
which was borrowed from the state
ahen Grover was governor. The
ellldlng cost Meyers, OF rather his
Hends, $4,000, and swamped the
eltlre crowd. The building and
ellaeent property has gone through
many vicissitudes of law, and law
ourts, and has seen numerous
veners. Meyers first idea was TO
.e.aolish mandatory of agricul-
ienl implements and machinery.
y has been an institution of this
NY and valuable property.
Nothing was saved from the fire
all The safes have not been
ANIHnnM - Nnunnnrru