Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-21
ALL AT WORK.
Business of Comfort Concern
Uninterrupted.
Not One. of Its Many Employees Loses
a Single Hours Pay.
New Storage Building and Brick Boiler House
To Be Erected Once.


dustry, has been evidenced by the crowds
Of people who have visited the ruins of
che Comfort building since the fire of
Wednesday morning. The charred ruins,
WIN Their heaps of debris present a scene
OF activity. A large number of men and
boys, being actively engaged in clearing
away the blackened ruins, and carefully
sitting out of the charred papers every
thing that may be CT use in the further
progress Of the business. OF course, by
far the larger part of the valuable letters
and correspondence that were in the
burned building were irretrievably lost
The fierce heat of this confagration Is
shown by the fact that although scarcely
breath of wind was stirring, partially
burned envelopes and letters from the de-
stroyed building have since been discov-
cred on the hills to the eastward more
than mile away. A gentleman who
watched the fire from a window on the
opposite side Of the river, says that these
papers as they hoatcd away in the light
of the blazing building, like stream of
mammoth sparks, presented weird and
beautiful spectacle.
The value of iron doors and window
shutters on brick building that adjoins
wooden one, was forcibly demonstrated
by this fire. The north side of the brick
Comfort building is provided with such
doors and shutters, which are carefully
closed every night. AS a result the fierce
blaze of the wooden building was unable
to get any hold upon the brick structure,
Notwithstanding its nearness to it. The
wooden cornlce Of the latter building was
in fact the only available foothoId for the
flames, and this was projected both by
its elevation above the wooden building,
ana by the prccaution of the iircmcn in
keeping it thoroughly wet down. Not
outstanding the powerful streams Of
water that were directed against the
north wall of the brick building, SO COM
plete was the protection afforded by its
iron doors and shutters, and so tightly do
they fit, that no damage whatever was
done by them, and no water found its
way into any of the rooms.
A singular thing in connection with
this fire was the fact that although the
composing room was located in the south
cast crner Of the wooden building Its
entire contents was saved. The tiremen
were requested to use the greatest possible
care in directing streams of water upon
this part of the building, and so success
full were they in doing 50, that, notwith
standing the fact that type was scattered
about the apartment in all shapes-in the
forms, in the chascs, and on the gallcys,
not Il letter of it was pied. The partitions
In this portion of the building are
numerous, and sustained the upper floor
ing so that none OF tho debris of the roof
came through upon the first floor.
The saving of the composing room was
of great advantage to the CONCERN, as it
enabled work upon the papers to proceed
without interruption.
A Journal man visited the Comfort
building, yesterday, and found every one
hard at work.
ayes. we are running our full crew, to-
day," said Mr. Gannett in response to the
reporter inquiry, land In fact we had
NEST of them at work, yesterday. A few
Of the girls had day off while we were
fitting up quarters and providing chairs
and tables for them in the brick building
Everytbing was in readiness for them,
Yesterday noon; but there was scarcely
time to notify them Of the fact In season
for them to work that afternoon. Their
nav, however, has gone on just the same
| From this out, all will be steadily en-
pIoyed.
Can you form any estimate of your
loss?"
.Tbat is difficult thing to do, from
the fact that much of 1t was upon things
nccnliar to our business, and upon which,
| in the nature Ol tulIiE7f "HN'~
insurance. For instance, pointing to
cbarred heap of burned papers, There
was a lot of something over a l5o,oo
letters we recently purchased and
of which we had made no use
We ,ot them for the names which we pur
nosed to use in sending out our winter
circulars. That lot of letters alone cos'
ne $500. There were probably from
600 900 to 1900, 600 of such letters
in this building. A portion o.
them will be dug out of the debris ou'
+ha work of arranging and classifying
them in their present condition will b
almost more than they are worth lhu. u
- wi,, take Ms q long time to fully reailz'
tho extent of our loss Many of thes'
,otters were used so constantly I'D GU
,,s,ness that we shall be continually IL
need of them for reference for months q
oor,e do not think 500, 600 woui'
mora than make us whole.
: ..1t is remarkable that you shouiu y