The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-04
GOES up IN SMOKE
H. d. Lee Wholesale House at
Salina Destroyed.
Largest Establishment of the
Kind in Kansas.
LOSS is VERY LARGE.
Estimated That 1t Will Be
Over 100000.
Buildings Were Over a Block in
Length.
CITY WAS HELPLESS
Volunteer Fire Department I'm
able to Cope With Flames.
Citizens Work HeroicalIy to
Prevent Spread of Fire.

Salina, Kan, Dec. 4.-The H. D. Lee
Mercantile company building, four
stories high and block long, the larg-
est wholesale establishment in Kan
sas, took fire at noon today, and at this
hour, $780, is enveloped in flames from
top to bottom. The fire will without
much doubt spread to the building of
the H. D. Lee Wholesale Hardware
company. which is less than 20 feet dis
tant. The loss will probably exceed
100000 but the insurance is heavy.
Salinas volunteer fire department is
utterly unable to combat the flames
with any success.
At this time the origin of the fire
is unknown. The whole town is watch
ing the fire. 1t is not believed that the
confiagration will spread outside of the
Lee buildings, as they are somewhat
isolated. There is a strong wind, and
people are at work trying to protect the
roofs of buildings from flying fire
brands.
The H. D. Lee Mercantile company
deals exclusively in groceries. 1t is cap
italized for S450,000 Last year the hard
ware department was organized with
100000 capital 1t is estimated that
the stock carried by the two establish
ments was worth at least $500. 600. The
O4AAAAA'5S WClC pIOOdOly WOi III 91oO,OVu
more.
The big buildings are situated at the
corner of Santa Fe avenue and Elm
streets. The grocery department. was
in a building a block long, and built
up solid from the street back to the al
ley. The hardware department was
three stories high, and half as long as
the grocery department. -s
H. D. Lee came to Salina in 1884, and
was given small building by the city as
fr,--1 1.a f,,c- rrr-,f
with him some able grocery managers,
and the hrm prospered from the start
The building was repeatedly enlarged,
and it now has a trade larger than any
similar establishment in the state, it is
claimed. Mr.. Lee owns a large majori-
ty of the stock of the concern, and is
himself in active control of the busi-
ness, though he spends conSidera ble
time in New York. He is president of
the Farmers National bank, of SaIina,
president of the Lee-Warren Milling
company, and is interested in many
other big enterprises For some time
he was chairman of the executive COM
mittee of the National Wholesale Gro
GERS association. Three years ago he
was president of the Salina Cold Stor-
age company, which was entirely con-
sumed by fire.
The fact that the big wholesale gro
Gerry and hardware establishments
were protected by insurance will insure
the reconstruction of the business,
probably on a larger scale than before
NEARLY UNDER CONTROL.
Salina, Kan, Dec AT 2:15 this
afternoon, it is believed that the fire is
under control. The hardware depart
ment Of the store will probably be
saved, but the fire department is still
fighting hard at this point. The gro
cery department is entirely gone
The fire started on the second floor of
the building in the paper bag depart
ment. The way in which it originated is
still a mystery.
Insurance on the establishment was
SS50,C00- The loss may not exceed $780,
600. About 100 emnloyes at the store
will be thrown out of employment.
1t is announced that the store will
be at once rebuilt.
Several barns in the vicinity of the
store are in flames, and there is danger
that the fire may spread to other
email buildings near by. No dwellings
have caught so far
All the telegraph wires from the east
which passed the building, are down
and the city is cut off from telegraphic
communication with Topeka. This
message is being sent out by telephone
which Is the only means of communi-
cation loft
ABILENE HELPS.
Abilene, kas., Dec 4.-The Abilene
fire department has been sent to Sa-
lima by special train to help fight the
fire which Is destroying the H d. Lee
Mercantile company buildings and
threatening the destruction of the rest
of the CITY. Salina is % miles from
this place