The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-21
HOT FIRE STARTS.
Plant of Pioneer Waste Paper COM
pany Is Destroyed.

| Starting from some unknown cause
and eating its way throughout the
building before discovered, fire at $50
last night completely destroyed the
building, machinery and contents of
the Pioneer Waste Paper company at
III North Quincy street. (South side }
The Pioneer Waste Paper company is
| owned by L. F. Seller. who has built
up a big business in the city in the last
few years selling his baled paper to
| firms over the country
| The fire was a bad one to fight re-
CARELESS of the fact that there was NOT
breath of wind and it was raining
hard. The building was a three story
frame affair and was filed with waste
paper of all kinds. This paper is col
lected by contract from business houses
ana newspaper offices all over the city
and 1t is separated into different batch
eS according to its texture. At the time
OF the fire there were three carloads in
the building all ready to ship and any
amount of loose waste paper in the
bins. The material was the most COM
bustible of all combustibles and when
discovered the inside of the building
was regular furnace.
The firemen were unable to save the
building and contents. They were too
far gone at the outset of the fire and
with three streams playing upon the
burning building and the other streams
upon the surrounding property they
contented themselves in combining the
fire to its starting point.
1t, was almost impossible to extinguiSh
the fire and three streams of water
were playing upon it all night long.
The paper was ready to break into
flames if allowed to remain unsoaked a
minute and it was necessary for con-
slant flood to be turned in upon the
ruins. Nothing but a shell of the build
ing is left standing this morning
The origin of the fire is unknown.
There was no fire of any kind in the
building and it is not thought that it
could have been of a malicious incen-
diary cause. 1t is. not known where
the fire started-when discovered it was
a mass of flames and beyond all hopes
Of saving.
The situation of the building made
it a very dangerous place for fire of
any kind. The Mutual Ice company's
plant is nearby and buildings of all
kinds and description are built thickly
in this district. A warm windy night
would have caused an immense loss in
this section of the city. AS it was the
few hundred spectators who braved the
binding rain storm expected to see the
fire spread into surrounding buildings
but the great work of the firemen
confined the confiagration. The alfalfa
mill adjoining was damaged but not
seriously.
The loss to Mr.. Seller will amount to
about $4,000. The property was noG as
valuable as the contents of the build
ing and the amount of business lost at
this time of the year. The loss is only
partly covered by insurance. Since the
recent big fires Mr.. Seller has resolved
to place a heavier insurance on his pro-
perty but he neglected to do SO. /.
Mr.. Seller stated to State Journal
reporter this morning that he intended
to rebuild at once and carry on the
business he has built up. His new
building will be larger and more mod
ern. He expects to build it for the
purpose of his business only and in this
case it will be fire proof and of larger
proportions. The land is owned by Mr..
Seller. In the plant were employed
three men and two women. When the
new building is completed larger pay
roll will be instituted.