The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-27
$5,000,000 FIRE.
IN NEW ORLEANS
Flames Sweep Water Front for.
Blocks, Destroying Export
Terminals.
Huge Elevators, Grain, Cotton and
Wharves Burned - Illinois
r - Central to Rebuild.

New Orleans, Feb. 27-With the
fire that destroyed it's immense export
terminals still burning, tho beyond the
power to do further damage, the Illinois
Central railroad company announces to-
day that as soon as the ruins cool,
forces will be put to work to clear away
the debris, and the Stuyvesant docks
on a more elaborate and substantial
scale than before. Meantime the Off
Gals of the road are today engaged
in the formulation of plans that will
enable them to handle the traffic now
on it's way here from the west and to
avoid any material diversion Of freight
from this city. .-
Conservative estimates figure the i'm
mediate loss by the fire at $5,O00,0O0,
divided as foloWs I'VE 9oo eeyato ona
bales of cotton, $500 1000; 7oo,6oo bush
els grain, $685., 900; $4,000 barrels sugar,
$3OO,00O; cottonseed cake, 100 carloads,
$97 800; lumber, $685.; cement, $780,
250; meal, 20 cars, 100000; sundries,
$150,000; 500 freight cars, $375,O00;
ships damaged, $5O,0O0; city fire de-
partment, two engines and six horses,
$4,000; private property and other
damage, $4,000.
The railroad company carried It's own
insurance, and the contents of the vari-
GUS elevators and sheds were insured in
local and foreign agencies.
Ten Blocks Of Wharves. :
The wharves covered 1850 feet-over
distance of ten blocks. Of this wharf
age, $500 feet and what it contained
was destroyed, the remainder at the
upper end of the terminals being saved
thru the fact that the wind blew
strongly in the opposite direction: The
tor d, leased TO Harris, Scott & Go.
Of Chicago, cost 100000 when built,
the Illinois Central, cost 100000.
Apparently no lives were lost in the
fire, tho there were many narrow es-
capes of those who were engaged in
fighting the flames owing to it's rapid
spread, and lives were constantly en-
dangered by debris that whirled thru
the air Two fire engines were cut off
and their crews had to run for their
lives.
Traffic Arrangements.
Turnout the night and today many
messages passed between the local Of
fcials and the head officers of tho com.
pany 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 company until
til the docks are rebuilt. The Texas
& Pacific has sxan immense elevator al
Westwego, and there is also an : ele
vator at Chalmette, the property o1
the Frisco. General Manager Preston
of the latter road Immediately rendered
the use of the Chalmette property t
the Illinois Central, and it is probabl.
that the traffic will be handled to thai
point.
Many Pathetic Scenes.
In addition to the railroad property
the fire destroyed the Crescent Ice com
pany plant, many small stores and
large number of small residences, ani
many pathetic scenes were witnessed a.
the poor occupants of them struggled
to save their small belongings at tn
risk Of their lives. The fire will tenn
porarily throw out of work larg'
number of employees, but this loss vii
be compensated by the very much larg
er number that will be employed in tn
course Of few days in clearing ava,
the debris and reconstructing the ter
minals.