The age-herald., 1899-06-22
$6O,OOO BLAZE AT
 EAST BIRMINGHAM Plant Birmingham Machine Co.
 Was Destroyed. ORIGINATED IN CORE: ROOM And Spread Rapidly Until Other In- dustries in Neighborhood Were
 Threatened-None of the Off
 cials Gould Be Seen.
ORIGINATED IN CORE ROOM

 suburb of East Birmingham at an early hvp- this morning, and almost totally de- stroyed the splendid plant of the Birming- ham Machinery and Foundry company, lo- cated at the crossing of the Louisville and Nashville railroad and the Gate City elec- trio line of the Birmingham Traction com- pany.
 The machine shop, old foundry, black smith shop and office building were en- tirely consummed, with much valuable ma- chinery and patterns, and while no accur- ate figures could be obtained, it is estimat- ed that the loss will run up to almost $5O,- GOO.
 Originated in Core Room
 The fire originated in the core room and was discovered by the night watchman at 12:07 o'clock, who immediately telephoned the fire department. One engine, a hose reel and a chemical apparatus responded and reached the scene at 1920, making the run of almost three miles in thirteen min utes.
 The fire spread rapidly, and when the department arrived the entire plant with the exception of the new foundry building, a brick structure, was a mass of flames.
 Many employees of the company and of other plants in the vicinity were attracted to the scene and did valuable service In saving the adjoining property until the de- partment arrived.
 oil Mill Threatened
 The engine was attached to plug near the Pratt-Munger Gin works several blocks away and several streams were soon play ing upon the adjoining buildings in an eff fort osave them The Jefferson County Cotton Oil mill, which is located just across the street. was in great danger of destruc- tion, as was also the plant of the East Bir- mngham Iron Roofing and Corrugating company, and several stores located near by.
 The round house of the Birmingham Trac- ton comany, opposite the lower end of the plant, was threatened at one time and so grave became the apprehension, that the motor cars which are kept there were all run out on to the main track.
 The Traction company's line directly op- posite the fire was burned down as were also the telephone and telegraph lines run ming near the building.
 The office furniture and number of valuable drawings were saved, but every thing else in the buildings burned or was destroyed. After burning for about one hour, the entire structure collapsed and was consumed.
 Sugar Machinery
 The plant of the Birmingham Machine and Foundry company was one of the best equipped plants in the south and made speciality of sugar machinery, doing a large business with the Louisiana planters. The company was organized with capi- tai stock of $l00 000 and had recently made many improvements. The plant had orders sufficient to run at full time for ten months and employed about one hundred and fifty men, who are thrown out of employment Neither Dr. R. w. Bolan, the president of the company, nor any other officer of the company, could be seeen this morning, but it is supposed that the loss is nearly cov- cred by insurance.
 It is more than probable that the plant will be rebuilt at once.