The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-28
MERCHANDISE SALVAGE.
HOW GOODS DAMAGED BY FIRE
ARE MADE sALABLE.
the Business Are Employed to
d Restore Goods to Their Original
Condttion-The Salvage Company.


large stock OF merchandise was destroyed.
has caused inquiry as 20 what becomes OF
such firesweot stocks not entirely
ruined How are the goods recovered and
who does IT.
Insurance companies and ad5usiers OF
fire losses have no difficulty in answering
these questions. and refer those people who
make inquiries on the subject 10 the sal
wage, or wrecking. companies which exist
in New York. Chicago. Boston and Kansas
City. There are salvage concerns in other
cities also. but only few undertake large
contracts. and they are prepared to handle
almost any class O: merchandise. n any
condition. from Slightly damaged by
water TO severely burned" The salvage
company follows cicsesy on the heels on
the insurance people. and As soon as the
IRE has been put out It's inspector Is sent
10 the scene OF s..e confia grafton. where
an examination is made 30 see how much
OF the stock may he rescued from the
ruins Sometimes the salvage concern
works for the insurance people and some
times for the owners of the goods. That
depends on the terms of settlement between
the owners and the insurance companies.
In some instances where by the terms OF
the settlement the goods. or what Is left
OF them. become ire property OF the inSur-
ance companies. they are turned over 10
the salvage company. which wrecks the
goods and sells them for the account OF the
Insurance companies that had paid the
former owners for a total loss. the usual
process being TO take out. restore. house
and sell the goods for certain percentage
Of the amount realized.
The Company begins Work.
The operation Of making goods which
have gone through fire salab,e involves
quick. sk.}lful handling, and must be super
vised by men who are thoroughly convefs-
ant with the line OF goods which has been
damaged II the fire was large one the
stock will be found in the water-soaked
cellar, covered with heaps OF plaster. stones
charred beams and all sorts Of rubbish
The salvage company finds the goods. no
matter what condition they may be IN,
carts them away to stores or warehouses
rented for that purpose. and there under
takes the operations by which they may
be Restored as nearly as possible TO what
they were before the fire. SO that they may
be converted into money. Fer dry goods.
clothing and merchs ndise OF that Class
quick drying plants must he provided. and
as soon as the bolts. rolls and pieces of
goods are dry they are put into the hands
of the cleaners and renovators. New la
bells. bands. boxes and ornamental wras-
pers are provided. and in some Instances
goods which looked too badly damaged To
pay for carting them away are sent 10 the
auction room looking as good new.
When silks cloths or dress goods have been
so damaged that they become useless be-
cause no long pieces can be saved, the
goods are trimmed and cut into short pieces
for the use of manufacturers Of covered
buttons, neckwear. CATERS cloth slippers.
caps and many other lines of goods where
short pieces are useful
One of the most difficult stocks 20 ham
die is clothing.and the man who takAs
charge of the work for 4 salvage company
must know the business in every detail
The garments after being dried. must be
gone over by experienced taiiars. who work
diligently 10 obliterate the signs of damage
by fire and water. Garments are changed
In style and size 10 destroy the fire marks.
and in order TO sell two garments third
one must frequently be made.
A whole stock of coats may nave occu-
pied such place in the fire that a sleeve
from each coat would he burned away. hu.
that would not make the coats a total lcs5
to the salvage men. The coats wouti De
doctored in some way so that they would
bring price at the fires sale which ends
the service of the salvage company. At
from the scene OF the fire are often run
in for the purpose of averaging the
stock, and 10 make them look like wrecked
goods they are sometimes treated TO bath
Just before the sale.
The Buttons Were In 1t, Anyway.
Al one of these auctions. which took rlece
recently. a buyer examined a lot OF coats.
and said that they looked remarkably clean
and new IN have been through a fire.
Yes" said the man for whose benefit tie
sale was going on. you sac. they found the
buttons in the ruins and made the coats TO
put them on"
Hardware and cutlery are difficult arii-
cles 10 handle. because rust makes the
goods unstable. Finely polished steal.
less and worthy Of the scrap heap when
they thrown from a burned-out store
into packing eases and carted to the rooms
where the salvage company takes them in
hand. There. by means Of polishing bufis.
grinisiones. acid baths and furnishing
tools the metal is made TO look fresh and
new. old handles are destroyed. and new
horn. ivory. rubber and ceiiulosd handles
ara pat on the various articles. Then me
small stun Is fastened on cards AMI pack
al In new boxes The stock which IA ruined
beyond repair is punched and sold 10
junk dealers.
Perishahle Goods.
Perishable goods like groceries. are east
~ ruined by fire and water, bur still the
salvage companies know how to handle
such stocks and have men In their employ
who will not allow a coffee bean 20 escape
4 large stock of groceries is now being SAL
raged in a Western city. vacant build
ing was hired for the purpose, and the
upper floors thousands of dollars worth IL
coffeeS, teas ana spices have been spread
r $3.50
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