New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-19
PRICE THREE CENTS.


number of instruments in the operating room, and
of the immense switchboard, which was the larg-
est in the world This was put in only few
years ago, but the cost could not be ascertained
exactly yesterday. IL believed TO be in tho
neighborhood Of $40, 900. The instruments were
worth probably about as much more, and the loss
Of batteries, wires and cables with the damage to
the building by both fire and water will make
the total loss aoout 81 10000.
There was no insurance on any Of the property.
The greater loss in the sudden interruption of the
business of the company cannot be calculated.
That the officers realized the absolute necessity Of
checking il evident from the energetic efforts
that were put forth. The seasonable duness Of
business made the interruption less important
| than 1t might have been, but there is no dOubt
| that it turned a vast amount of traffic to the
| Postal Company, which was crowded to the full
capacity of its wires, and that a certain amount
was trusted to the mails which ordinarily would
have been sent by telegraph. The notice sub
ect to delay is extremely discouragng to brokers
and business men, who are not in the habit of de-
pending uncertainties in their correspondence.
The Intervention of a half-holiday and of Sunday
is favorable to the company and in the two days
great progress toward full resumption of busi-
ness will be made Work will he prosecuted by
day and night, and there is ground for the
hopeful prediction of the executive officers that on
Monday the transmission Of messages will be going
on usual
Mr.. GOULD WOULD NOT TALK.
Jay Gould, who is spending the summer
at his country home at IrvingtOn. was
| informed by telegraph of the fire, and came
down TO the city the train leaving Irvngton
| at l a. m. lie was met at the Grand Central
Station by of the company's officers, with
whom he remained in conference for several hours
He returned to his country home late in the after.
noon.
A Tribune reporter who called at his house In
Irvington last night told that Mr.. Gould was
at home but would not receive any callers.
card was sent in, but Mr.. Gould returned verbal
message to the effect that he not feeling
well could not possibly talk with any one last
NIGHT and that he would be at his office in the
| Western Union Building at 8 80 o'clock this
morning. He declined to answer any questions
| as the policy the company would follow IN re-
constructing the damaged parts of the building
GENERAL ECKERT IN CHARGE.
General Thomas T. Eckert, vice-presdent and
general manager of the company, was the chief
officer in active charge. President Green was at
Saratoga, Jay Gould was at his country residence
at Irvington and George j. Gould was also in the
country. Edwin Gould, the second son, came
down to the Office early in the morning and after
looking at the fire Immediately started for Irving
ton. Even Russell Sage did not visit the build
ing, although he anXiously received reports about
the fire.
General Eckcrt was more interested in getting
the business into good working shape than in
discussing the causes or losses of the fire He
was greatly ANNOYED also. because the Fire De-
partment continued TO pour water into the bNld-
ing apparently after the flames had been COM
pie;ely dTenched.
We should have men at work now" he said
early in the afternoon, if only the engines would
stop pumping, but we can do nothing about il.
have had an estimate of the loss made and think
it will fall below 100000. That is nothing,
however 10 the loss which we may suffer If We
cannot resume connections without unneces-
sary delay We have material enough TO equiv
n temporary operating room and we have Just re-
ceived switchbcards for 800 wires from Phila~
delrha. We have in stock probably three times as
many instruments as we need. and all We want
now is an opportunity TO straighten out our
lines and connections Our dynamos
are uninjured and the cables and wires are all
right the fourth floor. which we shall use
until the repairs TO the upper floors have been
completed There is almost no damage to the
building below the fifth story. and il will nos
take long 10 overcome the interruption. We ara
nails bat the delay in sending by messengers is
vcyatious our general office is distributed in
effect between the branches in Broad-st and at
! Twcnty-thir,l-st and at the old Baltimore and
! Ohio Office at Broadway and Canal-st
! That will hc for the moment our general office
The business to-day las been done better than
VIC had a right to expect, but by Monday morning
you will SEE u, prepaleG to handle Tie Lsuai
| volume of business. -
Russell SAGE did not visit the building. lie
remarked: q" guess | know all about II, If
| haven't been mp there. couldn't do any good
ond probably should only be IN The way. No.
the loss has not been unuereatimated al less thah
! 500 900 think it will fall short Of that sum,
hut some persons probably wish 1t was good
deal more. 1t IS bad enough but the act@l JOSS
'I"'a g. Moore who had been showing Air Sage
m, nev office in the Union Trust BDildlng sad tnat
I L, had not personally examined the scene Of tne
IRE. bat thai he doubted If the actual loss would
I go much above $1,000. know somcthlhX
a6oa, ,Ic cost Of telegraph plant he suggested
/ ulcaSlntN. and tell YOU that S'o,O9o VIII ohy
/ vest amount Of material
80 CHANCE TOR \ BEAR ATTACK.
Fortunately the interruption of telegraph SER
vice came AZ a time when dulress had been ruling
the various exchanges for days. At the Stock
T,clarsc the dealings had been steadily dwlnd.ing,
and tine ahscrre OF most OF the leading operators
ON their vacation had given comparative rest To
the wires that connect Wall Street with the out
side world. There was crowd OF SeNeral dozen
brokers' around the post that dcsignatcs western
/ mon stock on tnc floor OF the Stock tAchahAe
/ when business was opened AZ 10 o'clock. DeaS
/ ,tt,rx MAS expected l'y some of the attendants
hut il required only few trlnsactlons To demon
| str,te that the extent of the damage was Known
sufficiently well 10 prevent lis Animation tor an
] iu,nedi3tc raid on values In a short space OK
! time the crowd scattered, satisfied that any spee9-
I latiyc opportunity was lost Ihere was coIistu-
cIabc Interference, however, with the use of thS
/ tclroraph that is never neglected, even IN duI
times Some brokerage houses possessed prNate
wires of the BELL Telephone Company. running
! through the Lihcrty-s;. Office oi the Sonl-
pnny and these were offered by the cssees 70 thoSe
| friends who cared 10 utilize them Inc ioss VI
/ Inc ticker service Of kernan " Co: Woud haN9
been felt more keenly if the news OF the daS h%ad nag
been expected to bc stirring. The current iocn. .
sossip and news WAS supplied by the issue oil me
7 usual sheets. The Postal leegraPh "Fet III Viz
ilcd ot ia obtain the DISPATCHES that are steadliy
SUPPLIED 10 wall Street from Chicago and Boston.
At the Consolidated Stock and Petroleum I:S LS-