The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-25
MONEY ~ FIRE DAMAGED GOODS.
How Apparently Ruined Articles Are Now
Made Salable.

How Apparently Ruined Articles Are Now
Made salable.
"One OF the greatest boons to insurance
companies and merchants whose wares have
been partially destroyed by fire Is the salvage
or wrecking company which steps in imme-
dately after CONFEDERATION and begins the
work OF rescuing damaged stock from the
ruins" said the veteran insurance agent
such concerns exist only In New York and
three or four other large cities. but the de-
mand for their service is growing so that in
time every community Of importance will have
q salvage company Of its own. no doubt.
Sometimes the salvage concern is employed
By the insurance companies and sometimes by
the firms which have sustained a severe loss
by lre 1t depends usually on the terms OF set
tlement between the insurance men and the
owners OF the goods Where the goods. or
that portion OF them. pass into the possession
OF the insurance companies by the terms OF
settlements made with insurers they are
handed over to the salvage company. which
wrecks them. as the process OF restoring to
something like pristine condition Is termed
and the goods are sold for the account OF the
Insurance companies which had paid tho for
NOR owners for total loss. The salvage people
receive certain percentage Of the amount re-
allied for their compensation.
Making goods which have passed through
a fire salable necessitates quick action and
very skilful handling. The operation must be
In charge OF men who are entirely conversant
with the line OF articles damaged. Most often.
in the instance OF large fire. the stock will DO
found In the cellar water soaked and inhums cd
in heaps Of stones, plaster. fallen beams and
all manner Of inciden tai rubbish. But no mat
ter In what condition tho goods may be the
salvage company noses them out. carries
them away to warehouses or stores rented for
the purpose. and there are endeavors to restore
them as far as practicable to something like
their original ~. eondis!on 80 that they may
similar merchapdise. When tho goods are
ers and renoya,ors Fresh tags, Bands. new
labels. boxes or ornamental Wrappers, accord;
very often goods, which AZ nrst glance. ap-
Feared dama1ed dbeyo5nd all Possb. re ct r
savage sil sompany looking as fresh ana good as
new. When cloths, silks Or fancy dress Goods
5ee y Apd osE
can he saved. they are trimmed and sliced Into
small pieces for the use OF makers OF covered
buttons, CATERS. slippers. neckwear and caps,
| and others who consume short pieces OF goods.
Such perishable goods as groceries are
savage eU o9neerns ehcsruy eontract to repair
| such atocks. and there are men In their employ
MAIN eF tfns s' consdered ssyass
| people in handling stock Of fire damaged
TsSt II S a. Repe
carefully repqeked. for almost as much a, a. I
where where the salvage Industry Is cond ucted Tor
the benefit Of the insurance companies which
aa ae p Sen Very Very often receive back sum Of
money which considerably liGhtens the burden
One stock which is quite capable of appal
ing even the most experienced salvage man Is
nrecdamTaged el9thinG and The ieIIoT %ho
savage S"S c6Spany 0 must know The
from to iz1erd: After the garments have sNS
Who diiirsntiy. strive to o6litorate all evidence
81 T are freaSently oSans.d In size and
style. Perhaps an entire stock OF eoati
tSat su Sleeve q o' sseh Was Hrss
away, That. however. would rot make
GSi to the ssydrfs
bring a satisfactory price at the i9rthcopipG
'hrr saIo. which terminates the offlces OF the
sales goods which were miles and miles away
from tho, scene Of the IRE are mingled With the
damaged stock for The %oG Of tttE9S an
earMsqis they are drencho1, before The sale;
is sio0f Il ins 6SA fs
ware and cutlery are invariably difficult to han
de because rnst makes hem unstable When
ont establishment, highly polished steel; rlfes
ey2yrf pSeEs. sn Nn rsSGr
pear to be utterly useless and only az TO grace
the refuge heap. But shortly after they have
been carted OF by the salvage company. &c
ton these articles take on vastly different
aspect, BY means Of grtndstonss. p9ishinc
machines. furnishing tools and Acid bath nT
handles are replaced with new ones made Q
rubber. horn ivory. cellulod or other suitable
materials, and all OF the email! articles common
to the hardware and cut ery trade are fusteneC
on fresh cards or packed in new boxes. stool
| which is ruined beyond recovery Is disposed 0
| to the Junk dealers"