The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-12-10
BIG EDISON SHOPS
WERE DESTROYED
Total Loss at West Orange, N. j., Last
Night is Estimated at S7,ooo,o0o,
Only Lightly Insured, as Build
ings We're Concrete

i West Orange, n. j., Dec. l0.-When
the fire which swept the ten-acre manu-
featuring plant of the Thomas A. Edi-
son company was extinguished to-day,
q hurried inventory of the damages re-
vealed that II of the Is buildings were
destroyed and other damaged and that
the loss approximates $7,000,000. Seven
thousand men were employed at the
plant and half of these are estimated to
be out of work temporarily. The entire
force OF employees was put TO work to-
day removing debris and immediate steps
TO rebuild have been taken.
| At least one man perished in the
flames His chRrred body was found in
the ruins of the film house, the house
where the explosion occurred which start
ed the blaze. Two other workmen are
reported missing.
The flames were beaten back from the
laboratory and workshop of Mr.. Edison,
where were stored innumerable records
and materials. The result of more than
30 years of the inventors efforts. At
the height of the fire. force OF men re-
moved most of the valuable records TO
the Edison home nearby.
Four fremen were injured but are not
thought to be seriously hurt.
Although | em more than g. years
OF age, I'll start all over again to-mor-
row." said Mr. Edison last night 81
am pretty we'll burned out tonight, but
tomorrow there will be a mobilization
her and the debris will be cleared away
II il is cooled sufficiently and | will 20
right tc work 10 reconstruct the plant"
The inventor watched the flames lick |
mp building after building OF his NAM /
moth electrical plant. The fire started, /
It is thought probable. by an explosion /
in the inspection building, one of the 4
smaller frame structures.
Tho spread 10 other structures near i
by was rapid. Quantities Of chemicals /
made the work OF fighting extremely diff
Gcut as the iiremen were constantly in
danger. Explosions occurred frequently. /
Employees az work in the various depart
ments all escaped safely. the fire drill /
being well sounded and men and women
out in virtually perfect order
In all. eleven buildings in the main
plant were destroyed. including those
occupied BY the New Diamond Disc com
nany. the one occupied by the Kineto.
phone company and the building which (
housed the Rates numbering machines.
together with the Primary Edison bat.
cry building. the talking machine build
ng and the administering building K
The fire departments from Orange. East
md south Orange. Bloomfield. Montclair !
md some companies from Newark. re-
ponded. but the fircmen were badly
l. i
.ure. Additional water later vas 49,
ured BY connection with the Fast
)range mains. but BY this time the whole ,
lock vas doomed b destruction. The
lectric light vires Of the town went
ut Of commission when the power house
{ the Edison plant Was destroyed {
.lunginr the place into darkness.
Mr. Edison Was not at the plant when 3
b. firs broke out. bat soon appeared and }
ssumed personal charge He vas - 3
cciaily anxious regarding the lstora
my building and wheu hs found that i q
robahiv uouid D. impossible a. save =
he greater part 81 the rest ~ the rlant 1
e hnd the efforts ~ fia fre frifara +
Entered upon the inbuptorv rs tha i
ieautirne such W the 80 luahle srisrf - &
rTsrntua. drR vinrs models emH afhrf &.
.saaured possessions NJ the frstrtnt = d
lasa huiif'urs 30 could - ramHalt - e
1rpd we're rarriFd fo Flaee ~ safety
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30 tIf fana- nuar f-or