Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-10

Hardly anything could have happened that would
have. attracted widespread interest than the
disastrous fire which swept Edisons great plant in
West Orange night. and which is still smolder-
ing but under complete control. The loss extends
INTO the millions. but Fortunately the valuable pat
terms and designs on which the famous inventor has
been devoting time, thought research and labor for
years for the welfare of science and civilizations ad-
taneement, escaped the devastating flames.
News of the fire and its possible consequences was
received by the people of the country with feelings of
sympathy for Thomas A. Edison the wonderful man
who has accomplished SO much, and for the thou
sands who are thrown out of employment by the
destruction of the buildings For the destruction
or part destruction of the Edison plant, one of the
largest in the country and of the most
widely known, is veritable calamity. 1t may
almost be termed national one, for the repu-
tation the Edison plant national and 1t has been
The Mecca of tinguished from all parts of the
world. Mr. Edson's undaunted courage and even
dheerfulness under such appalling circumstances
showed the quality of the His purpose to at
begin rebuilding is characteristic.
II was the genius of Edison that created the vast
industry which bears his name famous in the world
and mankind is heavily indebted TO him for the
wonders he has wrought and may be even more
greatly in his debt for wonders yet TO be wrought
The disaster of last night will insure for Mr. Edison
the warm sympathy OF every man and woman, 10 ali
OF whom his name is household word
West Orange is served by a private water COM
pany and there lack of pressure for the en-
gines. Had the supply from Newarks mains
there would have been an abundance of water.
smaller communities having large industrial plants
will probably heed this costly lesson.
And herein in great rests the story and
1.-THE reasons why the fire loss attained such proper
tions-an inadequate and inefficient water supply
with a gravity pressure almost yaueless, and GER
Eiainly of little in emergency like that which
Eronfronted the West Orange fire department last
night
. !. There can be no fault found with the West Or
ange fire department its capable chief and it's sturdy
'nen. They worked hard and valantly, as did the
dremen who responded to the appeal for help.
< Like many other communities likely to be SINH
fairly visited, West Orange is not, it, equipped
10 successfully combat fire such as that in the
3gdison works 1t has but a single pumping
CINE, And it is only when disaster comes that
sthe people OF afflicted communities realize the
anpotency of their frefghting resources, West Or
ange people brought to realize it through the
costly lesson of last night
= The Edison buildings were immense structures
of concrete we'll guarded against FIRE by surround
ings apparently yet they succumbed to the erocity
of fame
That the community, largely populated by of
Nealth and noted in the business world, and that
Dir Edison himself had not foreseen the incalcu1abe
value of abundant water supply for frefghtng
purpose, and made ample provisions for it, will be
marveled at by the thoughtful But the cold cruel
fact confronts the people that this precauton not
taken.
No better illustration of the truth of the above
statements be produced than by comparison be-
tween the effectiveness of the work of the Newark fire.
men with their pumping paraphernslia and that of
5ther iremen not similarly equipped The Newark
engines could pull water from mains, the flow of