Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-29
AMERICAN OLIVE
CO. .'SPLANT BURNS;
LOSS IS S450,00O
Early Morning Fire Sweeps Big
gest Institution of Its
Kind in World
ORIGIN OF FLAMES UNKNOWN
Hundred Thousand Gallons of Oil
Stored in Tanks Prob
ably Was Burned

The plant of the American Olive COM
pany at Twenty-fifth street and Long
Beach avenue-the largest concern of
it's kind in the world-was totally des-
troyed by fire shortly after midnight
this morning, entailing loss Of $780,
900. The plant had been shut down
for several months; there was no fire
in the boilers, and the origin Of the
flames is a mystery. =.
The building comprising the plant
covered an area Of more than two
blocks square. There were several
separate structures, all of which were
built of steel, lath and concrete. The
fire is thought to have started in the
main building, where 100000 gallons OF
olive oil is stored in concrete tanks,
and spread to the adjoining buildings.
The plant was constructed seven
years ago. The building cost $4,000
and the machinery was valued at $1oO'-
600, C, H. Sessions Is president OF
the corporation and w. o. Johnson Is
manager. The directors and Stock
holders are prominent cltlzens Oh
Southern California.
There were 100000 gallons OF olive
oil, valued at So a gallon, and $25,0OO
worth of olives in the buildings at the
time of the fire. The olives were de-
stroyed when the buildings collapsed.
The olive oil is stored in concrete tanks
sunk in the ground and some or II
may be saved.
The company was considered the
largest packer and manufacturer OF
olive oil and by-products in the world.
The concern prepared the Oil from
olives grown in California and nanoleu
the entire output of the coast
According, to Manager Johnson IN
surance in the sum of $125,000 was car
ried on the plant.
PAssERBY GIVES ALARM
The fire had gained great headWav
before 1t was discovered snortly pc
fore 12 o'clock. The first indication
was when a sheet of fame burst
through the roof. A passerby tele-
phoned the alarm to the fire depart
ment, and apparatus from all statlons
were hurried to the scene. Because oA
the distance from the main fire sta
tions. the fire had spread to the build
ings adjoining the main structure, ana
the entire plant was ablaze When tne
firemen arrived.
The engine house and the office were
the ldSI IWO " O0Ah'
BILE nature of the wooden crates,
soaked with oil, made quick work Ior
the flames, and streams of liquid nre
hindered the work Of the firemen.
The plant Is closed during the sum
mer months. the workmen reporting
for duty when the olive season opens
early in October. Manager johnson
stated that he was having the place
cleaned up and placed in condition
for the coming season. He declared
that there has not been any tre In
the furnaces since the place was
closed more than two months ago.
The beach lines of the Pacific Elec-
trio railroad which pass over the olive
plant were tied up for almost three
hours as a result of the fire. The
high power wires are strung nearby
and as a matter of precaution the cur
rent was turned off.
Manager Johnson stated last night
that the stock is an entire loss.
1--WE had 100000 gallons of olive
oil stored in the concrete vats," said
said Johnson. "This oil is worth 81
a gallon and probably will be valueless
even If some of it is saved, as the In
tense heat will render it unfit for any
purpose. There was $4,000 worth OF
olives stored in crates in various parts
of the plant.
''I am unable to even guess as to the
origin of the fire. l will see that
thorough investigation is made"