The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-29
One of Birmingham Districts 8
 Most Important Plants
15O MEN IRE AFFECTED
Origin of the Fire a Mystery-Fire- men Did Good Work In Saving Other Departments of the
 SchuIer Plant.

The nall mill in the extensive plant of the Southern Steel company, formerly Alabama Steel and Wire company at Ensley was totally destroyed by fire last night. The loss is probably s10o,Ooo
 The origin of the fire is unknown It was discovered about 7:2O o'clock by a few employees who were in the nail mill at the time making some repairs.
 The mill. as usual on Sunday night, was not in operation and only about half a dozen men were on the grounds when the l blaze was seen eating it's way up the west wall on the inside of the building. The flames travelled rapidly and in d few minutes had reached the roof, caus- Ing quick collapse.
 Mill Fire Department.
 The mill fire department responded promptly but 1t was impossible to check the flames iH the nail department though { the men succeeded in saying the adjoin- ing buildings. Once or twice. however, the flames broke through the walls and into the wire mill and the warehouse de- pertinent. The barbed wire mill was also in jeopardy and the men had hard work 1 in keeping the flames from the structure, which was closely connected with the doomed building.
 lao fp ha mi modern design and much of it was new and expensive. It is thought that all this machinery was entirely destroyed by the fire and the falling roof with it's network of heavy shaftlngs and iron pulleys.
 The Ensley fire department responded to the alarm of fire but was unable to approach the building with it's apparatus on account of the railway tracks and cars The men themselves, however, rendered and it Is partly due them that the ad- joining buildings were saved.
 General Superintendent Statement.
 In speaking of the fire last night, Gen. eral Superintendent Abele said Tt Is im- 1 possible to discover the origin or cause of the fire. We cannot even locate the exact spot where the fire started. It is mystery that possibly will never be made known.
 T cannot estimate the loss or the amount of insurance. Neither of the two Schulers is in the district and no one knows the amount of damage but those gentlemen. In fact, it is impossible yet to know what the damage is, though 1 am of the opinion that the nail mill is total loss. We may oe able to re- commission some of the machinery, but it Is doubtful.
 '"Shortly after the fire started 1t reached minutes, bringing down great weight of shafting and heavy timbers. The ma chinery is very delicate and is no doubt seriously damaged by the heat of the flames.
 Tn spite of the faithful work of our men, supplemented by the Ensley fire de- partment, the flames made inroads on the wire mill and the warehouse and came near breaking through the walls of the warehouse We have been successful, however. in saving these departments.
 1.-TWO of the walls of the nail mill have fallen and a third is crumbling. The walls are of brick, while the roof and most of the interior structure is of wood and as the wood was dry the flames easily spread.
 Number of Employees.
 About 150 men were employed in the nail department. Provided that We can secure new machinery at once 1t will take. at least two months to put the mill back in operation, but I doubt if the ma chinery can be installed in that time.'
 E. T. Sehuler Is president and George Fl. Schuler Is treasurer of the Southern Steel company The latter lives in Bir- mingham and the former in Gadsden. Both are in the east and up to a late hour last night had not been reached by wire It is believed that the nail mill was fairly well insured.