Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-11-02
FIREMEN HELPLESS
ASFACTORY BURNS,
WITH WATER NEAR
kearny and Newark Depart
ments Were Not Told of
HydFant Near Scene.

Members of three companies of the
Newark fire department and two COM
panies from Kearny who watched a
fire practically wipe out the plant of
the American Reduction Works. on
the Plank road, Kearny, about mid
night, entailing a loss of probably
$4,000, little knew that at their hand
was a fire plug. The firemen were
sure there was no water to be had.
and not stream of water was turned
on the blaze.
A reporter who visited the scene OF
the fire this morning discovered the
plug, which is located about fifty feet
from the boiler-house, which was
Quilted. The Waterman at the plant
declared water was 20 be had if the
plug were opened.
The alarm for the fire was sounded
about 1880 o'clock last night. The
three companies from this city We're
the first to arrive. Word was sent
TO the Kearny police station, and
Police Sergeant Philip Bell relayed
the message to Fire Chief Charles
Greenfield who called out Central
and No. 2 hose companies. The DIS
lance covered in the trip, according
TO Chief Greenfield, was over seven
miles
When the Kearny firemen finally
reached lnc IRE l0cy lOullu tiS 4NCo
srkers there. The river at the time
was at low tide and it was impossible
TO drop a suction pipe to the stream
A small bridge leads from the road
way across a narrow stream OF
water. to the plant. The firemen
crossed this bridge and time and
time again passed the fire hydrant.
which was directly behind large
pile of refuse.
Why the Waterman, Henry Posslel,
did not explain the presence of this
plug cannot be understood, as the
hvdrant is located almost in front OF
the Office With two streams OF wa
ter. the firemen could have done con-
siderable work and probably saved
some property. A map on file at the
Kearny Town Hall shows the loca-|
ton of the fire plug.
The blaze was a spectacular affair;
the country for miles around was
lighted up 1t could be plainly seen
in the West Hudson towns, this city,
Jersey City, New York and Hoboken.
Spontaneous combustion is believed
to have caused the blaze. The watch
man discovered the flames in the
tankage room.
-Four frame structures, additions to
the brick building in which the boiler
room is located, we're burned to the
ground and the brick building was
quilted. In the buildings which were
totally DESTROYED were costly COM
pressors, conveyors and digesters.
This machinery looks like so much
junk today.
II. NJ. Kennedy, president Of the
concern, when seen at noon, declared
the damage to the plant will be about
$4,000. eve could not reproduce
what has been destroyed. however,
for less than $4,000" said Mr.. Ken
nedy The plant was built num-
Der of years ago for the Myers ScaV-
enger Company, of this city.
Complaints regarding odors and
smoke that come from the plant have
been made time and again and, as
matter of fact, there was some delay
about granting a new license to the
concern this year. Members of the
Kearny Town Council were studying
plans looking to a remedying OF con-
ditions.. Great volumes of smoke are
rising today from the ruins and
sweeping over the Plank road.
Mr.. Kennedy said this afternoon
his concern will continue to do bust
ness, a temporary arrangement for
handling the garbage having been
made. Mr. Kennedy could not say
whether or not the company will re-
build at the present site. I'VE will
rebuild said Mr.. Kennedy, "but Just
where l am unable to say now. We
will continue to handle the garbage
from Newark and Orange, he said.
Fire Chief Greenfield, this after
noon, sent members and the appara-
tus of Hose Company No. 2 to the
works, word having been received at
the police station that the docks were
again afire. The chief was also APP
prised of the fact that there is n.y.
drant on the grounds.