The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-10-04
BURNED OUT.
Iowa Manufacturing Company
Suffers Loss by Fire.

The plant Of the Iowa Manufacture
ing Company was almost wholly de-
stroyed by fire between 8 and 4 o.
clock Sunday morning. The flames
had great Roadway when discovered
and great damage had been done be-
fore the fire could be controlled.
The fire was discovered by a young
lady who resides west of the foundry
building. The light of the flames
shining in her window awakened her.
She ecreamed and awakened A. j.
Swanson who has his residence yer
the South End grocery and cross
the street south Of the burning build
ing. He lost little time in getting to
the telephone and calling out the de-
partment. About this time the Iowa
Central engines assisted in the gem
eral alarm.
The fire seemed to have started
about in the center of the building
near the engine room or it is possible
that 1t originated in the vicinity of
the iron cupola. The fire burned
back into the foundry building and
completely Quilted the machine shops
and the pattern rooms.
The greatest loss to the company
occurred in the pattern department.
They had several Thousand dollars
worth of valuable patterns and models
that money nor labor can replace.
Almost all of the patterns were de-
stroyed by the fire and the loss in
this department alone will be in the
neighborhood Of $1,000.
The Fire Company did ex cellent
work in fighting the fire viii CHI had
secured a great Roadway and it was
not long before the flames were con-
trolled but not before the building
was practically a wreck.
The company was almost ready to
remove to their new factory and plant
southeast of the city and would have
been out of the building in a short
time. They will now niece ssarily be
delayed in their business for a great
length of time.
The company has its plant and
stock insured to the amount of 5000.
The total loss to the building and the
stock and patterns of the Manu-
featuring Company will be in the
neighborhood of $500.
Mr.. Baker and Mr.. Hamilton were
on the ground early Monday morn
ing with a gang of laborers getting
what salvage there was to be had
from the ruins. This they are re-
moving to their new plant across the
Rock Island tracks, and Mr.. Baker
states that they will be at work again
with their orders for castings in the
curse of ten day or less.
The origin of the fire is uncertain
but it is known to have started in the
vicinity of the boiler room. There
was no fire in the cupola Saturday
and the fires in the boiler house were
pulled at 5 O'Clock on Saturday after
noon. James DeBoard coming to the
city from outside of town about 2 o.
clock Sunday morning passed the
foundry and he saw what was prob
ably the start of the fire. There was
a small blaze in the vicinity of the
cupola but he gave the matter no
thought as it is a frequent occurrence
for the foundry people to work late
and to have fire about the place. He
thought it vas the remnants of the
labors of the previous day.
There were two large tanks of oil
in the building and a. small can of
alcohol and shellac. The cans were
melted so that the oil was permitted
to escape but the water was effective
just about this time and no damage
resulted. The oil ran out but did not
catch fire.