The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-03-22
DESTRUCTION OF
FINEST CITY
PROPERTY
Occurred This Morning at
Early Hour-The Police
Are Working.
ONLY $12,40O INSURANCE
Carried on Light Plant, City
Hall and Fire Hall, Which
Were Destroyed.
ONLY s12,4oo INSURANCE

Fire. OF an incidendiary origin. de-
stroyed the East Grand Forks city
hall, the fire hall and the electric light
plant this morning. The total loss en-
tailed is about $4,000, with an insur-
ance of $l2,400.o on the entire structure.
Scarcity of water, and the burning
of the hose of the East Grand Forks
fire department allowed the blaze to
get start OF over half hour. When
water was finally turned on the fire
from the engine OF the Grand Forks
fire department. the blaze had a fine
start. In a half hour the fire was al
most under control, when the water
supply ran out. From that time on it
was a battle against the fire with the
odds in favor of the latter.
The fire started in the hay loft of
the fire department headquarters, at
$3.50 o'clock. Street Commissioner
Nick ketter is the last man that was
in the loft, he having been there at
about 6 o'clock last night. There is
no wiring in the loft, and that the
blaze was started by some person is
certain. The l,olice are investigating.
From the loft, the fire quickly
spread to the sleeping quarters and
the tower of the department building.
Three thousand feet of hose were
hanging up to dry, and the fire got to
this before it was possible to take it
out. 1t was useless to attempt to do
anything in the way of putting the
fire out until the West Side department
arrived. so the attention of the fire.
men was directed in getting out what
ever could be moved.
Chief Paddy Sullivan and Aee;e+oo<
Chief Jack Fitzgerald of the West
Side department had charge of the fire
fighters. Mr.. Sullivan stated this
morning, that if there had been
enough water on hand, the damage
would have been comparatively small.
The loss on the buildings is almost
total. The walls of the city hall
and fire hall are standing, with the ex-
ception of portion of the Fourth
street wall. The damage in the. elec-
trio light plant is large also. though
there will be considerable salvage on
the machinery, engines and boilers.
The Jail was in a portion of the city
nall. and three men were confined in
the cells. They were removed after
the room had become filled with
smoke, and two of the men were rather
SSoiSo' AAC Olucl WdS IOO lutOXkuLeQ
to realize what was doing, and per-
sisted in returning to the cage. The
men were released from custody.
In the city hall building there was
the city recorders Office. All of the
records kept here were saved. There
was also the city Jail. and the council
chambers. The building was con-
structed in 1889, and was valued at
about $4,000.
The fire department building was
erected in 1889, and was a fine struc-
ture. 1t adjoined the city hall build
ing on the rear. and was connected
by door ways. 1t was in this building
that the fire started.
Adjoining the fire department build
ing was the electric light plant. erect
ed in 1901. With machinery, dyna-
mos and all. the cost was about $780,
0O0
A larger part of the insurance was
carried on the electric light plant, on
which there will be salvage of about
SO per cent. The insurance carried,