Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-07
PETERS MILL Is BURNED
Alfalfa Food Plant in South Omaha
Totally Destroyed.
LOSS IS PLACED AT $si, 900
Heavy Insurance Was Carricd-M. c.
Peters VIII Demand Better Fire
Protection Before Rebuild
ing His Will.

Nine OF the eleven buildings of the Nj.
c. Peters Alfalfa Food Product company
were totally destroyed by fire between 6
and S O'Clock Thursday morning.
The firm carried ISL, coo insurance and Mir.
Peters said he was sure that would cover
his entire loss. which will be adjusted at
once, without any loss TO the company.
The mills are situated at Twenty-ninth
and b streets, South Omaha. The origin of
the fire is unexplained.
The fire was first noticed about 6 O'Clock.
Under the high north wind the inflsmmable
buildings and the more ~inflammable
stock within ten minutes created an un.
controllsble furnace Of fire. Flames
streamd up 100 feet in the air and the
northern section of South Omaha was
showered with blazing cinders. -Four sec
ondary fires were started In the nearer
buildings from this cause. The residents
were alert. however, and none proved
serious.
Three Omaha companies and the South
Omaha departments were soon at hand,
but owing to the wind and the nature of
the buildings and stock were powerless.
wind Fans the Flames.
Under the high north wind prevailing
the fire ragged from the moment of its
discovery.
The fire had an unexplained origin in the
extreme northwest corner of the plant and
on gaining Roadway it had all the big plant
before it. Through the length of this 1t
swept with Incredible rapldity. All the
buildings were of frame construction pro-
tected by a covering of corrugated iron.
Three of the nine were filled with hay.
Two freight cars on the unloading track
were also consumed.
Low pressure in the water mains. no fire
engine nearer than Omaha. and the wide
radius of the reaching flames made fire
fighting impossible. The attention OF the
companies was directed to the protection of
the smaller buildings partly out OF range of
the fire.
NJ. c. Peters was notified early and ar
rived in his automobile from his Omaha
home when the fire was at its height.
His first question was: Are the men all
out Of the mil?' He was relieved to be
assured they were.
The thing which seemed to agltate him
most was at seeing the men standing as
close TO the fire as human endurance would
permit trying to throw the stream on the
buildings, while the pressure was so weak
that the stream fell short of any effect.
Wants Fire Protection.
well. before I rebuild here / will have
to be assured a better protection than we
have had since locating in South Omaha"
said Mr.. Peters.
The stock is held entirely by Omaha
men and although the company has re-
ceived many flattering offers, / think there
Is no doubt the plant will be rebuilt on
the old site. The plans for rebuilding will
have to be held up until several matters
are considered. The grain elevators have
offered to handle any part OF the business
they could foS us and some of the job
bers have extended every, courtesy they
could provide" ID
The most hopeful .Yis~, OF the fire was
expressed by one of the workmen, who
said:
Now the plant can be built in accord
with the development OF the company
The company began in a small way over
three years ago, and the first buildings
erected were soon outgrown. Since that
time two or three buildings a year have
been added. This kind of construction
sacrificed considerable of the convenience
of a commodious structure and spread the
plant over a wide space.
The company had been on the point Of
beginning new improvements. A large new
boiler for the plant was received and lay
on the car waiting for unloading. The fires
of the boilers, as evidenced by the smo, e.
stack. burned steadily throughout the con-
flagration and some fear was expressed
lest they should explode. The fear was
that the safety valves would be INSTRUCTED
by falling debris.
Before building the present plant MI.
Peters was manager of the Bemis Bag
company and it is rumored that plans were
under way to start the manufacture OF
bags in connection with the plant, It is
thought these plans will be carried out in
the new structure.
Mr.. Peters said he had rush orders for
fully 100 cars Of his product which he
could not fiji. 1t will require fully three
months to adjust the losses and erect the