Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-02-27
BURNED DISTRICT TO
 BE BUILT AT ONCE.
Buildings and Other Institutions Will Be Built on an Elaborate scae-Traf6c Stopped, Illinois Central Railroad Heavy Sufferer, Will Not Be Delayed by Fire.

fire that destroyed it's immense ex port terminals still burning, though beyond the power to do further dam age, the Illinois Central railroad an- neunces that as soon as the ruins cool forces will be put to work to clear away the debris and Stuyvesant docks and elevators will be promptly rebuilt, on a more elaborate and substantial scale than before Meantime the off cials of the road are to-day engaged in the formulation of plans that will en- able them to handle the traffic now on Its way here from the west and to avoid any material diversion of freight from the city.
 Conservative estimates figure the immediate loss by the fire at $5,OOO, GOO. divided as follows:
 Two elevators, warehouses, sheds, $2,500,O00; 23,0OO bales of cotton. S92O,- GOO; 100000 bushels of grain, $3S5, 5,OOO; lo,OOO barrels of sugar, $300,000; cot ton seed cake, 130 carloads, $97,5OO; lumber, Sl6,625; cement, $56,250; meal, 20 cars, $10.OO0; sundries, $15O,OOO; 300 freight cars, $375,000; ships damaged, S5c,OOO; city fire department. two en- zines and six horses, $15,O0O; private property and other damage, $216,OOO. The railroad company carried it's own insurance and the contents of the various elevators and sheds were in Sured in local and foreign agencies 1 The wharves covered 4,75O feet, over distance of ten blocks. Of this wharfage $500 feet and what it con- talned was destroyed, the remainder at the upper end of the terminals being saved through the fact that the wind blew strongly in the opposite direc- tion.
 | The destroyed wharf cost S5OO,OO0; elevator D." leased to Harris, Scott X Co of Chicago, cost S3OO,O0O when built, and elevator "E," which was operated by the Illinois Central, cost $4OO,OOO
 Apparently no lives were lost in the fire, though there were many narrow escapes of those who were engaged in fighting the flames, owing to their rapid spread, and lives were constantly en- dangered by debris of all kinds that was hurled through the air. Two fire engines were cut off and their crews had to run for their lives, Driver Charles Richardson of No 6 being painfully hurt. The fire started in the cohveyors to elevator D. It spread with remarkable rapidity, sparks drop- ping into oil barrels on the wharf and extending the flames in every direction. TeD ships were lying at the docks wher, the fire started and all except two escaped without damage. The Indian Of the Leland line had her rails, cabin house, masts, etc, wiped clean off, and the Cycle was burned about the prov and sides. All the tugs in the harbor that had steam up hurried to the scene when the fire started and by heroic efforts succeeded in pulling the steam ] CTS into the river out of reach of the | flames.
 Superintendent o. M. Dunn directed the forces of the railroad company for several hours. and when the fire was under control went to the office of the company where he spent the night in wire communication with officials east and west. and in setting the lines for clearing the wreckage away. He said that it was probable that the piers. elevators and sheds could be restored within year and that they would be made more extensive and substantial than those destroyed. MT Dunn said in his opinion the fire originated from spontaneous combustion.
 ! ha ,,;. I. many messages passed betwee., the local officials and the head officers of the company in New York and Chicago and arrangements were set on foot to take care of the traffic now en route here and to provide for handling the export and import trade of the com pany until the docks are rebuilt. The l Texas & Pacific has an immense eleva- tor at Westwego and there is also an elevator at Chalmette the property of the Frisco. General Manager Preston of the latter road rendered the use of the Chalmette property to the Illinois Central and it Is probable that traffic will be hasdled to that point
 1 In addition to the railroad property the fire destroyed the Crescent Ice company plant. many small stores and a large number of small residences. and many pathetic scenes were wit messed as the poor occupants of them ! struggled to save their belongings at ! the risk of their lives. The fire will temporarily throw out of work a large number of employees. but this loss will be compensated by the very much larger number which will be employed fin the course of a few days in clearing away the debris and reconstructing