The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-21
LOSS MAY REACH sso.ooo
Mill is to be Rebuilt on the
 Same Spot.
Morning conhagration in North Montgomery Results in De- struetion of Important In-
 dustry-Partly Insured.

3Ak0 SOnuptctcty 0ootIOyb0 tnG uH6 IuIu- Der plant of the Conecuh Lumber and Manufacturing Company in North Mont gomery, near Riverside Park, early yes terday morning. The loss is estimated al $so. 900. and it is partially covered by in
 Officers of the company declared tha, the plant would be rebuilt on the same spot as speedily as possible.
 Fire was discovered in the main planl shortly after o'clock. Thomas W. Tebb Vice. President and Superintendent of ths company had just reached his office from his home. at 12 Noble Avenue. As soon as the alarm was sounded MT. Tebb took personal charge of the force of men which began fighting the flames. The sawdust and shavings about the plant and yards made fuel for the fire, and il was soon beyond control of the worixmen.
 The plant is outside the city limits. but Fire Chief John F. Browder, with a hose wagon and firemen, responded to a telephone call. The fire hose was used by workmen at the factory. The iron safe in the office containing valuable re- cords. was saved, and the workmen suc- ceeded in saving from the fury of the flames some of the yard stock and one of the stock sheds.
 Several negro cabins in the vicinity of the lumber plant were damaged. They were owned by Zirkle & Moore
 At one time it seemed that the fiercely burning flames would destroy everything in the neighborhood, but by o'clock the danger had passed, the fire had spent it. self and the great mill was mass of smoulderinE ruins.
 The office, the main plant, the dry kiln. the wholesale stock shed and the glazing room were completely destroyed.
 The company manufactured dressed lumber. sash. doors. blinds and all sorts of woodwork supplies, Included in the material destroyed were three car loads of glass and 5000 brand new doors. + The machinery of the company was valued at s25.o00 and the most of it was of the latest design, having been recent ly purchased. All of 1t was destroyed.
 About seventy-five men are thrown out of employment as a result of the fire. The company employed about an equal number of white men and negroes. Some of the employees are skilled workmen and were paid good salaries. The weekly pay roll of the Conecuh Company was esti- mated at $70O.
 The capital stock of the company is $25,OOO. but $100.000 was invested in the business, which was one of the most successful in Montgomery. R. M. Chest mutt of Nashville, Tenn, is President of the company, and Thomas W. Tebb, of Montgomery, is Vice-President and Su- perintendent
 MT. Tebb. who is the active manager of the concern, said the insurance poli- cies of the company were kept at the Nashville office. and he was not advised of the exact amount of protection held against fire. It is understood that the in- surance Is about $40,000.
 "Of course have not had time to ex- anime the stock boolxs,' said MT. Tebb., but I would say the loss, in round fig- ures, is between $75,0OO and &S0,0O0. the latter figure, perhaps being nearer cor rect"
 MT. Tebb said several theories had been advanced as to the origin of the fire. One of the dry kilns. he said, was run all night and fire may have worked its way through the shaving vault into the main factory, where the first outbreak evident ly occurred. A watchman was at the plant throughout the night, although MT. Tebb said since the fire he had heard that person who passed the plant as early as o'clock yesterday morning. said he felt sure he saw smouldering flames inside the building.
 It has been MT. Tebb's custom to reach his office at o'clock each morn ing and the fire was discovered a few minutes after he reached there yester- day.
 Asked if the company would rebuild, MT. Tebb said he felt sure it would, al- though he could not speak definitely un- til he had conferred with his associates. Later in the day President Chestnut of Nashville. wired that the plant would be rebuilt as early as possible, and on the same spot.
 Mir. Tebb said the destruction of the Montgomery plant might delay the build ing of large lumber mill at Wetumpka, upon which his company had practically decided.
 one of the new industries of Montgom- cry, and one in which local business men felt a great pride.
 Said an officer of the Commercial and Industrial Association yesterday:
 "The Conecuh Lumber and Manufactur- ing Company is an institution of which Is justly proud Ever since the company was established several years ago and Mir. Tebb took charge, year to year, until 1t has now become one of the most valued of our manufac- turing enterprises
 The company purchased the plant of the old Smith Sash, Door and Blind Fac tory, remodeling and enlarging 1t ten- fold. They ship about fifteen or twenty car loads of sash. doors and blinds per week. NnelT lIOu North as Pennsylvania and New York, and West as far as Michigan and Wis cOnsin
 They employ about seventy-five hands and their weekly pay roll runs from $600 to $500, every cent of which goes into Montgomery retail trade. The city is deeply interested in the success of it's factories and the Association is partic- ularly concerned fin the growth of those already here"
 The following telegraphic correspond ence took place yesterday between the Association and President Chestnut at Nashville, and is self-explanatory:
 Montgomery, Aug. 20. "R. N. Chestnut, President. Nashville.
 Tenn:
 I've sincerely regret your loss Advise If we can assist you in any wayA Commercial and Industrial Association"
 Nashville. Tenn, Aug. 20. Commercial and Industrial Association.
 Montgomery, Ala:
 Accept thanks for the sympathy and assistance you generously tender. Our