The Butte inter mountain., 1902-08-23


Reduction Works and the supplying
mines are oper Ated, visited the smelter
this afternoon and sized up the situa-
ton. An order for the suspension OF
work in the mines was then issued.
II is estimated that it will take 80
days to repair the damage done by the
fire. During that period the mines and
the part OF the smeter not damaged by
the blaze will remain idle.
1t is believed that the destruction o, the
reverberatory or matte furnace depart
ment OF the Butte Reduction works by
fire yesterday afternoon will interfere with
the operation OF that part OF the plant
lett standing and also necessitatc a sus-
pension Of work in the mines from which
the plant received its supply OF ore. While
the fire was burning, il was given out
that the smelter would continue to run
provided il did not go up in smoke but
after the blaze had been subdued it was
discovered that the damage had been much
greater than n casual glance indicated. II
there is any interference with the opera
ton Of the mines and remainder of the
smelter it will be only emporary-during
the time the burned portion OF the latter
is being rebuilt.
But if Senator Clark, who owns both
the plant and the mines, decides to close
down during the rebuilding process, it
will throw about 400 men out of employ
ment, as there are about 200 employed in
the smelter and 200 in the mines.
The loss by the fire is about $40, 900,
but there is an insurance of $4,000.
Furnace Caved In.
The fire was caused by the cavng Of
the top OF one of the three furnaces and
had it not been for the good work done
by the city fire department and also the
departments of the Colorado company,
Centennial brewery and the blaze fighters
oil the Reduction works, the calcine de-
partment and concentrator would have
gone up in smoke. The matte furnace
department was practically separate from
the calcine section, there being one or
two railroad tracks between them Over
head, however, they were connected by
two tramways used in the operation Of
car service between the two build
ings. Shortly after the fire broke out
the matte department was a mass of
flames and it was a foregone conclusion
that 1t would be totally destroyed To
save the calcine department and eoncen-
traitor was the object of Foreman Doull
and the fire fighters. Two streams OF
water, all that could be had at that time
were directed on the overhead tramways
and against the side of the cacne build
ing next to the fire, and by constan
play and disregard of the hrcmen 70,
the intense heat which beat down upor
them, the fire was prevented from cross
ing the tracks.
Entire Plant Threatened.
Had it ever entered the calcine build
ing, nothing would have stopped il fror
consuming the entire plant. The waite
pressure was not strong; otherwise til
hremen might have done more effectiy
work.
The Reduction works are outside of ii
city limits, but Notwithstanding this ia,
when an alarm was turned in from box N
80, the city FIRE department responded an
laid 1000 feet of hose before it could @
stream on the blaze.
During the first three-quarters of a
hour, the fire was battled with two wea
streams, the best the market in that pa
OF the district contained, but later
the fight, after the manpulators of II
two nozzles had headed off the fire ar