Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-17
HOWE SCALE CO. s
FOUNDRY BURNED
loss $4,000
Disastrous Blaze in City of Rut.
land-Chief Loss Is to Pat
terms Which Are Impos-
sible to Duplicate.

started in dust near the roof and which
spread with astonishing rapidity through
the klln-dried timbers of the wooden
structure totally destroyed the foundry
of the Howe Scale company plant in this
city this morning before daylight The
loss will reach $4,000 besides the incon-
venience the conflagration causes the con-
Germ in duplication of materials destroyed
and delay in filing orders There were
lie men employed yesterday in the burned
structure, which was a one-story building
with monitor roof. AS the help Of a large
number is required to clear away the de-
brls and put other buildings into condi-
ton for handling the work of the foundry
tempora rily there will be little loss OF
employment for the men. 1t Is expected
that the company will be in position to do
it's own molding by next Monday. Mean
while the foundry of the F. r, Patch
Manufacturing company will be used
through the courtesy OF Fred r. Patch.
The fire was discovered by Louis Pro-
three o'clock. He Immediately sent in
an alarm from the Howe Scale company's
private box and In addition footed the
whistle at the plant for some minutes,
the summons calling out scores of en-
ployes of the concern in addition to the
entire fire department When the two
hose companies reached the scene the en-
tire roof of the big building seemed to be
ablaze and flames were shooting % feet
into the air, according to Fire Chief ]. C.
Dunn. The plant is well supplied with
hydrants and II streams We're soon play
Ing onto the fire which ate It's way fierce
ly through the woodwork which was as
dry as finder because of long exposure to
heat in the foundry. The department bent
its efforts to saving a number of other
wooden buildings, of which the foundry
was the center, with excellent results
Although all that remains of the foun-
dry is charred timbers, mass Of twisted
irons and cracked foundation walls not
one of the adjoining buildings was dam
aged to any extent. on the south, sep
arated from the ruined building by only
four feet. is a long covered shed contain
ing 300 tons of coke Here the liremen had
a hard fight Several times fire started in
the infamma bic coke but every lime it was
checked before serious damage was done.
On the opposite side, and in close proxim-
ity to the foundry, are coal sheds These
too We're saved Ex-Gov John ~ Mead,
.
spoke in high terms to-day of the work of
the iiremen
The flames worked their way north
before they could be stopped into the
upper parts of the brass foundry, core
and engine rooms. which are mainly en-
closed with brick walls. The walls were
left intact but all the woodwork Of the
upper story was eutted Tho air com
pressor and other valuable machinery
situated here We're not seriously dam
aged. Snguarly the wooden office build
ing which adjointd the main foundry ut
one OF the hottest points Of the fir,
was saved and no records We're lost
AS 1t is customary to return patterns
to the fire proof pattern building as
soon as used about 10 0No forms, or the
greater part Of those used by the con
Germ. safely reposed within nreproot
walls last night a few Of those which
went through the fire will he available
for use. All of Yesterdays melt" OF
iron, over Is tons, lies buried in the
ashes.
Almost as soon as the "out b Il" sound
ed at $50 o'clock this morning bis
gang of the Scale companY's men wer,
put to work to clean mp at tho scene
Of the fire in order to get as much o
the charred material as possible out o
the ruins before freezing weather set
In Some Of the wooden framework o
the main foundry remained standing, nj
though II was too much burned to b.
OF any service, but the roof and side
were entirely gone and the foundation
which was cement in some parts ant
brick In others, is considerably seame'
by the heat.
The area burned over by the FIRE /
more than an acre, The principal build
ing. which was 175 by 10 feet, was bull
in 1876. additions having ben made to
since
The Howe Scale company is particular
ly fortunate in having buildings who
can be turned into temporary ioundrles
that the delay In getting out orders wit
the opportunity to use the Patch pan
will be slight Ex-Governor Mead state
thi. afternoon that the three story cast
|, ing and cleaning building, 90 by 40 feet !
dimensions. will be utilized for foundr
purposes and the old snag room, 1o4 by
feet. will be put to the same use, ID
, Mend expects that by next Monday tn
debris will be cleared away sufficient
taken from the ruins and that the ten
porary foundries will he In operation.
He said that the Scale company woul
build a modern fireproof building on IN
site Of the burned structure but that
is probable that nothing Will be dor
until spring because he considers wor
on cement unsatisfactory In cold weathe
When asked for statement as TO II
probable cause OF the fire L. q. Bagle
T general agent said cot course. that
hard to tell. There We're electric wires
Z the building carrying current Of hie
T power. There is always lots of dust in
foundry and every thing Is very dry b
cause of the great heat to which It is su
jected all the time. II Is possible that
spark from the heated metal might ha'
lodged In the dust and smouldered amor
= the TASKS until 1t burst into flame
Both DR. Mead and Mr.. Bagley thong
> that there was no chance that the II
20 was started by spontaneous comoustl'
!, because the dust was not enclosed n
VI subjected to pressure.
C. The report made by the night watc
II man TO Mr.. Bagey IL indication OF he
~ rapidly the fire must have gained hea
way. once It started. The watchm'
u makes hourly rounds, having % static
81 TO punch" on each trip. Three of The
1t stations were In the foundry, At ?
J. o'clock the man was in the center Of t
81 foundry and saw nothing wrong. At ?
). he was in a location where he could ha
seen the Are had 1t spread TO any exteI
n At three o'clock, when he began his ne