The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-25
DISCUSS PLANS
FOR REBU' lD|NG
Little Time to BE Lost in Re-
storing Structures Destroyed
in Big Blaze.
MUCH PRAISE FOR FIREMEN
All Firms Burned Out Have Is
tablished Temporary Head
quarters for Business.

Tho fitps Of Wednesday morning by
which two large buildings on Cary street,
eacl, occupieu by several firms were de-
sttoycu, ire now r matter OF history.
though tirdr1ent were still pouring water
into the rMHss OF the williams building
yesterday evening. All tho firms burned
out have secured temporary quarters, and
IN several cases business has already been
resumed on some scale.
1t is already settled that the Snyder
building recently occupied by tho John
son Company and the Southern Paper
Company. Will be rebuilt without delay.
Tie substantial old struturc Is far from
being total loss. Indeed the loss on the
building itself Will hardly exceed fifty
per cent. 1t was unroofed and the floors
and interior woodwork were destroyed
with the bulk OF the contents. The walls.
however, are intact the first floor is not
greatly damaged and the window facings
arc generally good. 1t will require but
snort time to make the property habit
able. No definite statement has been
made as to the plans of the owners OF
tho Williams building relative to rebuild
ing, but 1t is anticipated that the burned
structure Will be replaced by a more
substantial and modern one.
Dangerous Fire
haps tho more dangerous of the two. in
tho opinion of experts. Firemen and In
suruice experts regard the block
bounded by Cary, Tenth, Main and Eley-
enth Streets as the most dangerous in the
city for serious fire. On all four streets
1t Is built up with four-story brick and
iron structures. On Cary Street Ia tho
new four-story building of the 1nterna-
tional Harvester Company; the building Of
the Southern Bargain House. the Cary
Street Annex OF the q. B. Taylor Com
pany and the burned building. Beginning
at Tenth and Main nre the eight-story
building OF the American National
Bank. fireproof tho four-story build
ing occupied 2by Burk & Co., anoth-
or by the Gans-Rady Company; another
by insurance Offices, dental rooms and
other firms; tho great importing glass.
china, crockery and silverware firm of
10. Il. Taylor Company occupy the next,
which by means OF a bridge runs directly
through the block. Beyond that is the
Virginia Fire and Marine and various
Offices and the big clothing house OF o. II.
Berry. For two-thirds OF the Main Street
front the buildings are iron-front and
glass construction, which are regarded
by firemen as the most dangerous OF all
buildings not alone by reason OF the la |
bil!ty OF the fronts TO collapse from heat, |
but likewise from the danger OF commit
ncating flames to all neghboring proper
ty. The heat IL unconhned in such build |
ings and sweeps across streets. Further
more, It is almost impossible to approach |
closely enough to such burning buildings |
to fight the flames effectively.
When the fire in this block was dis. |
covered, the firemen were exhausted by a |
long, hard fight with flames under most !
conditions. Part OF the APP
paratus was necessary at the first fire, and
so the full force Of the equipment and
men could not be directed against this
dangerous outbreak.
Firemen Praised.
Seldom is opinion more unanimous in
commencing the work OF Grcmen in this
city. Besides the checks already men, (
toned, the G. & A Bargamin Arm. adj
Joining the corner OF Ninth and Cary
Streets. testified their appreciation OF the
by transmitting to Secretary
check for $50. and the fol-
lowing letter of commentator of the
arcmens services:
Richmond, Va. January "a, 1907
Mr.. L. S. Jones, Secretary Fire Depart
ment. City:
Dear Strive take great pleasure in
herewith our check for $50 for
he Firemen's Relief Association, as
slight token of our appreciation of the
valuable services rendered by tho Rich
nond Fire Department in protecting the
building occupied by our firm during the
disastrous connagration which visited our
city yesterday. The work done by the
men under adverse conditions Is beyond
,raise, and we take this means OF thank
ns the entire fire department Of the city