The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-10-08
TIE WASHINGTON FIRE.

4 Loss ~ Three Quarters 81 - Mhii"n ''"'-
Imr.-Traction Company's Central Power
Plant Gone Horse Cars Again VAIN"
Into Reputation Pending the RESTORATION
az til. Electric service Vii Rebniiu ~
Once.
WASHINGTON. Oct. l Fire broke
out in the Central power station OF the
Capital Traction Co., n few minutes be-
fore III o'clock Wednesday night. and ~
was soon seen hat the magnificent six
I story structure was oomcd The
building covered the entire block fronl
Pennsylvania avenue 10 { street. and
from Thirteen-and-a-H Hall street to
Fourteenth street. The blaze started
on the south west corner, and despite
the efforts of the entire fire depart
ment, swept like wind through the
enormous building. The heat was SO
intense that the tiremen were driven
from the al joining streets.
When it became evident that no ei-
forts could save the power station, u
department turned its attention to the
adjoining property, but the names
leaped across Fourteenth street ON inc
west to II big livery stable, and then
across Thirteen-and-a-lialf street on
the east and attacked a row of three
story brick houses.
SC fearful was the neat that the fire.
men could not get within reach OF the
burning buildings. They were driven
back loot by foot until the streams
from the hose pipes could not reach The
Dire.
The power-house was six stories in
height and, besides containing the
power plant of the Pennsylvania ave-
nue lines OF the Capital Traction Co,
was occupied by dozens OF Offices. n
walls began to fall by midnight, and
with the decreasing heat men were en-
abled TO get 10 work on adjoining prop
erty. Several houses, however, were
Quilted.
Firemen were still playing on the
ruins at 10 ~. IN. Nothing remains OF
the massive six-story structure save a
part OF two walls. The fire was one
Of the largest ever known in Washing
ton. and nothing approaching from a
spectacular point OF view even has
been seen in his city, where large hres
are rare occurrences.
The amount of loss has not been
computed with approximate accuracy,
but it is roughly estimated that IT Will
exceed three quarters Of a million o
lars. and that the loss of the Capital
Traction Co will be $500. 900 or more,
Of which $50 900 was caused by the de
struction Of the building, and the re
maindcr by loss Of machinery
The company carried in the neigh
borhood OF $5ll. 010 insurance. Tn,
/, Liverpool, London and Globe, the Fire
| mems, of Newark. y. j.. and the lom'
, Fire Insurance Co. OF New York, car
| .ied IA large line OF the Insurance. |
? is the purpose OF the traction compau
to begin at oacc the erection OF anoth
/. err power-hou,r building. ana as 500
as possible will reopen its rapid transi
: system.
Horse cars have been pnt in servlc
i, again. aud the department CLERKS an
business men .iong the company's lin,
: are carried hehind mules ana horses
The los, to the firms having quarter
!, in the powcr-hou~e building will al
gregatc upwards to $50 600. The fir
will throw 80 81 the employees Of tn
Lanstoa Monotrpe Go. out Of employ
A ment. That collpany loses $4,000 {
more. principa,i machinery and tool
The Southern Railway Co had sc
. crai Offices ia the building, but its lo'
=. ..n.lI