The copper era., 1909-01-14
$5O,OOO BLAZE.
A. (. Company Ore Bins Destroyed By Fire-Quick Work of EmpIOyeS
 Save Heavier Damage.

ing the slag train of the Arizona
 Copper company broke loose from
 the locomotive about a mile and a
 half ulh the Coronado railroad, above | the shelter. The run-away was caused by the breaking of the heavy coupling link and as the grade is a steep one the slag train, consisting of five heavy pots, three of which were loaded, soon gained lightning momentum. As precaution against such accidents the switch from the main line is always set for what is known as the high line, which is up grade all the way to the ore bins, and the runaway cars took that course. The momentum was so great that the cars made the run up the high it was realized what had happened the entire u ain broke over the bulk head and piled up in the frame works of the ore conveying plant and the old No. concentra tor. Slag slushed from the pots as they made the run, setting fire to the company lumber yard above the works and also the ore bins, but the big blaze took place where the cars piled up. A general fire alarm was turned in and the fire companies soon had streams of water playing on the massive flames. Good work was done at the beginning, but the hot matte made such d uncon- trollable blaze that the woodworks under the pipe lines soon caved in, playing hevoc with the water press ure. Connections were hastily made with the pumps leading to the boil CTS, after which the water pressure and supply were even greater than before.
 By this time the fire had gained such headway that it seemed as though the entire works were doom- ed, but the consistent and untiring efforts of the fire companies and em- pioyes of the company were such that after d battle ot more than five hours, the victory was declared in favor of the employees. About ) o'clock the fire was under control, and while the damage was great, the higher officials of the company were pleased d-~ith the good work that was done in keeping the fire from the concentra;Ors; teacher and gas plants.
 The woodwork of the ore bins and trestle works were d total loss, and considerable damage was done to the ore conveying belt and plant. The old No. cOncentrator was badly dam- | h H.,r a1 fn the ends of No. and 1, wi;h prac- tically no damage. On the other end the fire was checked just before it reached the acid plant, which is a 1 large frame structure. The spread nf the flames either way would have meant loss of thousands of dollars to the company.
 It is estimated that the loss, in- cluding delayed output, will range in the neighborhood of S50,000 or $60, O0O. The wreckage was immediately cleared away Friday morning and as fast as the coke and other burning material could be eXtinguished, the ground was put in readiness for re- | building. Carpenters were put to work and bins constructed, and on Sunday morning two of the furnaces were ill operation again. The tres tie works for the railroad are being built as rapidly as possible and the ore bins are being put in shape at the same time. It will only be a mat ter of a short time until the concen- trators and teaching plant will be m operation again. In the meantime the shelter is being operated to as full capacity as is possible under the circumstances.
 Again the employees of the com pany, many of whom came from their homes, should be given the credit for having assisted in prevent ing what might have been the most disastrous fire in the history of the Clifton Morenci district.
 There was no insurance carried on the property, as the company carries ] fund in its own treasury for rhat purpose.