Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-04-01
A DISASTROUS FIRE.
One Of Ulah'S Industries DSYOufed by
Flames.
GRANITE PAPER MILL DESTROYED.


"rhe paper mill lie burned" was the
telephone message which startled
Manager George G.. Lambert OF the
Granite Paper company at an early
hour this morning. The news con.
vcyed by such an announcement at
this time was almost appalling In its
nature.
The mill ia located at the mouth OF
Big Cottonwood canyon, thirteen
miles southeast Of this city. Mr..
Lambert has been there Tor most OF the
time the past month, and only left tho
mill FOR the city Mt O'Clock last even
ing. Al that hour everything seemed
in most satisfactory condition. The
mill had just completed tho most sue
cessful run 1t has ever made. a lner
quality OF No. manila than has
heretofore been made there hal been
successfully run out at lower pro.
portionato cost than has been attained
in the past. Today being Asbor Day,
the employees had expressed IA wish TO
enjoy a holiday, anu Mr.. Lambert
shut the mill down at o u. IN. yester-
day to crafty that desire. WORK was
to have been resumed again on Mon
day.
At O'Clock this morning the night.
Waterman, MIR. Ayers, discovered that
tue rag room, located ON the second
story OF this building was on firo. Al
reaUy the flames had gaiuui consider.
able hold. A number Of the mill
hands reside In the vicinity Of tue
building, and these were quickly
aroused. The mill was well Supplied
with water, and there were plenty Of
| pipes anu hose on every floor. These
were brought into operation, but the
ilre had gained too much headway 10
be checked. The small force OF men
engaged iu an effort 10 subduethe
flames had to retire, and by tive O'Clock
the building was completely Quilted.
| Where two nouns before hnu stood
mill that hal been erected at cost of
more than 500, 900, there " ere only the
oharred anu cracked granite walls.
About four times the usual stock
stored ut the mill was there when tho
disaster occurred, The bad roads have
prevented hauling the paper TO tho
city, 80 many tons Of II were stored up
untl the weather would permit OF iis
removal. Out OF the entire lot not
more than three or four tons OF paper
was saved. The stock burned was worth
from ST., 900 10 $4,000.
The mill was erected In 1sS2.3 by
the Deseret News company, aud oper-
ated by that corporation until last
summer, when the Granite Paper
company was organized, aud pur-
chased the property from the original
owners. From thirty TO forty hands
were employed, and considerable
means WAS expended 10 get the mill
business Into prosperous working con-
dItion. This point Just seemed to be
reached when tn. calamity occurred.
Said W. IL. Rove, president OF tho
company today.
at does seem too bad. The sun was
beginning to shine ON us. We have
been working under great difficulties,
and had Just got Into shape for push.
ing ahead. Last night we completed
tho best run ever made Mt the mill,
aud now almost the whole plant Is
swept away"
"Will you start up again?"
~ cannot say. 1 do not know what
we shall do. We will look over
the ground anu then decide Us to
the future"
The entire mill property was worth
about 100000; this Included the land,
water way, etc. Ga the building there
was an insurance OF $4,000, while on
the stock the amount was $4,000. This
was divided among various companies
represented by IL. j. Grant & Go. M
follows:
Liverpool, London and Globe, $1,000;
Home anu Pumnix, $4,000: American
OF Philadelphia, $4,000; Pennsylvania Of
Philadelphia, $1,000; Home OF Utah,
$1,000; Westchester OF New York,
$1,000; Niagara OF New York, $1,000;
German American, $1,000.
George q. Lambert, ]. w. Summer
hays, Rnd others directly intereste d
went out to the mill today, and will re-
turn this evening. The cause OF the fire
has not been definitely asoartained,
and possibly never, may DO. The
idea OF inCendiarlsm Ia not considered
by the owners, who state that they
cannot conceive Of anyone who has
motive 10 commit suon deed. As
the fire started in the rag sorting room,
IL may be that spontaneous cOmbus-
tiGn among the rags WAS the source OF
the trouble, though how this could be
Is not understooJ, as everything had
been turned md sorted, and there was
no known chance Tor such an Occar-
renee. The safeguards against fire on
the premises were regarded ~ unusual
ly complete.