The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-09-22
WHEAT ABLAZE.
Concluded from First Page.

time for them TO discriminate.
Inspection Of t e pressure gauge
the water works reveals that during the
fire the pressure was a shade over 50
pounds, which furnished excellent
service. With more hose and men TO
handle it still better work could have
been done.
Mr.. Graham, of Portland, manager Of
the o. G. r. boats, saw the fire, and
speaking Of it simply said the fire depart
ment did all it could, but that ther as
not enough oi it.
The Salem FIGURING Mill Co. is a cor.
poration with a paid up capital Of $780,
600. Theo. b. Wilcox, Of Portland, has
a controlling interest in it, and the re.
naming stock holders are Breyman
Bros, Ladd & Bush, of Salem, Chas
Ladd, Corbett q Macleay, of Portland,
and several persons in Scotland.
The loss TO the company is estimated
at about $4,000, with $4,000 insur-
ance, which would make net loss Of
Ss5, 900. There were about $50, 900
bushels Of wheat in the mill and ware
house which was nearly all owned by
farmers and wheat buyers. Koontz d
Co., Of Ilalsey, have about 20, coo bushels,
May q Sender, Harrisburg, 5000 BUSH
els, and Baber d Co., Of Junction City'
about 1900. These lots are in
sured, but none Of the balance is, except
what farmers have money bor-
rowed on, and, as Manager Holland
says, "its pity they haven't all got
money borrowed"
Taking out what Koontz q Co., Baber
d Co. and May &Co. own, there is
about round 100000 bushels of wheat
in the wreck. OF this there is possibly
20, 900 lost by falling into the race and
by fire. Fortunately the bins on the
side next 10 the race were not so full as
the others. This leaves about 80 per
cent Of the farmers wheat on the
ground, which will no doubt be appor.
toned pro rata to the proper owners. II
will be worth over 30 cents per bushel
for feed, and several carloads have al
ready been spoken for.
Mr.. Wilcox is expected in the city to-
when the insurance adjusters
will begin work. The insurance is
nearly all in local agencies.
Speaking Of the nre department, |
Manager Holland says "Chief and men
worked heroically, They stood in the
blistering heat and did more than
their duty. We are ten thousand times
obliged to them all. "
Casper Meyer and VIM. Clagget each
have three years crop Of wheat in the
Mrs. Ellen Savage loses
1870 bushels. II will be impossible to
learn who all the owners Of wheat on
store are for several days, as the COM
pany's books and office are in state
li chaos ~ yet.
II is suggested that much Of the wheat
which is damaged by water only might
De- saved by drying out in the idle fruit
lryers OF the vicinity. Thos. Jory, OF
south Salem, saved about 1900 bushels
N that way, which was damaged by the
ain and it is said to be apmctical prop.
.sition.
Asa spectacle the fire was the grandest
ycr seen in Salem. The blaze rose a
undred above the roof Of the warehouse
n waving mass Of solid flame, lcaping
MI throwing Of great bodies OF fiery in
nndencer which rose high above before
hey vanished.
A great crowd of towns people collected
4 the vicinity, hut kept respectful
distance, as the intense heat forbade
ear approach The upper windows Of
he Hotel Willemctte were filled
n couple of hours with the
ices of interested spectators.
Farmers must not forget that they
M still store or sell their wheat % Sa- !
m, with the firms Of A, NJ, Humphrey
Co., and Tillson, Bartlett n Co.
From eighteen Ia twenty-five men /,
icre employed in and about the mill :,
al many of them will be- thrown out of !;
ork, though some will be employed in
caring away the wreck.
The fire boys ask THE Journal To ex-
'css their gratitu dc to the Salem ladies Il
ho brought them a breakfast at the
enc OF the blaze after the worst was ,
'er. They all had good appetites and n
'preciate the thouohtiulness of those :,
ho so generously thought of them. ri