The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-10-05

The destruction OF tho Bellaire Lam
tern Globe Works by fire early yester-
day morning was the subject Of COM
ment there all day yesterday, as the ex-
perience OF that city in that line is a
doleiul story. Three glass factories
have been totally destroyed within ten
months, and twice that many, when the
old Bellaire stamping works fire is con-
sidered, have succumbed to flames with
in two years, and there followed in the
train OF these even more disastrous re-
suits. 1t was through the fire that de-
stroyed part OF the stamping works that
the bonus fiends got started in hot pur-
suit after that company and finally took
it AWAY. In other instances the de.
struction OF the factory was the deciding
pointwith companies that were delibera-
ting howto proceed and not lose money,
and when the factory burned they de:
cided to wind up business. Some OF
these results might come at best, but
fire and its consequences have done more
TO take away industries from the Glass
CITY than all the other causes combined,
until now there is but one factory left
in active operation, and it is operating
the works deserted by the old Etna
Glass Company, the Bellaire Bottle
Company having leased the plant
Rodeier Bros. are building magniti-
cent plant to take the place OF the one
burned for them last winter, and WILDE
in operation this fall. But this one and
the new stamping works that is to take
the place OF the old Belmont glass
works arc the only new ones.
1t is cheerful, in view OF the foreso-
ing facts, to notice the faith OF Bellaire
people in the future prosperity oil the
city. They organized with their own
capital tho new stamping company, and
lent substantial encouragement to Rod
efer Bros, and are still ready to give
legitimate encouragement to other new
industries.
The lantern globe works fire started
in the packing room in the basement OF
the brick portion Of the works. How,
nobody knows, but the flames spread
along the floor in the basement in such
a wav that it did not seem like much OF
a fire until full view Of it could be
had, and when it burst through the
lower floor it was work of very few
minutes until the entire factory was in
ruins. The fire department. was power
less to do more than save adjoining
buildings and other property, rs the
heat was intense. The books and pa.
pers in the safe wore all saved, and
most Of the office furniture. The total
loss is from $4,000 to $4,000, on which
there was $4,000 insurance, S2l 800
with the Husbands & Inskeep agency,
5000 with Cowen & Co., and $1,000
with Roeder & Son. The factory en-
ployed about 100 hands and was run
full ten months every year. The aver
age pay roll per month was close to
5000
The firm will endeavor to get hold Of
the factory at Washington, Pa, ii it
can be operated fairly we'll to keep
their trade supplied with globes, as
their business was Just at IFS height and
very pressing when the disaster came.
Whether the plant will be rebuilt or
not can not now BIO definitely told. Mr..
Bergundthal, who with ex-Sherif
FOulke, are practically the owners OF
the plant, is president Of the board OF
trade and has been interested and in
strumental in keeping up the courage
OF Belaire people, may be induced to
rebuild, but that matter will be deter
mined later.