Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-11-11
$1,000, ,0OO FIRE
IN ROEBLING' S
WIRE FACTORY
Big Cable Mil at Tren-
ton Plant Goes Up
in Flames.
WAR CONTRACTS LEAD
TO INCENDIARY RUMOR
Officials, Finding Nothing to
Snbstantiate It, Voice
Doubts.
WAR CONTRACTS LEAD
TO INCENDIARY RuMOR
From : star oorresponden,.

from a star CorrespOndent
TRENTON, Nov. -Approxirnate-
" one million dollars damage was
done by fire which early today de-
stroyed one of the wire rope shops
Of the John A. Roebling sons Com
1any plant in this city. Due to the
fact that the company has orders for
war material for European countries.
rumors were in circulation that the
IRE was Of incendiary origin. but
nothing has been found to suostan-
tiate such reports.
Tire building destroyed was Of brick
construction and was four stories in
height The first floor was of con-
crete,-an the other three floors were
built of wood and were thoroughly
soaked with oil from machinery. The
shop was nsed for tfs manufacture
Of rope In sizes from one-sixteenth
Of an inch to an inch in diameter,
and according to officials of the con-
eern, was exclusively for the domestic
trade. The building in which the
company is planning to make gun
barrels for European belIigerents is
some distance from the burned struc-
lures.
statement by Company.
The company gave out the following
statement:
We cannot explain the cause Of
the fire. The building burned was
used for the production Of small rope
and our factory for heavy rope was
not affected About 1000 men are
thrown out of employment and the
loss is approximately 21.oO0,0oo.
I'VE will use new buildings, about
completed. for the manufacturc Of
this small rope and expect to be IN
operation within TWO months. The
wire producing part OF our plant IS
intact and also our steel works. sand ]
other manufacturers viii help US IN
putting our wire rope in marketable
shape
The Trenton fire department is in
vestigating to learn the cause Of the
fire. but as yet has made no progress.
During the progress of the fire a
row of frame buildings on Clark
street, and running hack to the
burned structure, caught fire num-
bers of times and was in danger OF
destruction. The occupants of these
houses were compelled to move out,
many of them wearing only their
night clothing. Strenuous efforts were
made by the fire department to save
these dwellings, fearing the flames
would spread to the built-up section
adjoining.
The rope mill, which has frontage
on Elmer street of about 100 feet,
ran back distance of 700 feet par
allel with Clark street. The fire orig
mated in the Elmer street end of the
building and because of its infiam-
mable construction the entire place
was soon in flames. The interior OF
the mill was open from one end to-
the other, and the upper floors were
of wood and were saturated with oil
from machinery. Wire rope varying
from one sixteenth of an inch to one
inch in diameter, and said to be used
almost exclusively for domestic pur-
poses, was being manufactured in
this shop.
Incendiary Rumor Secuted.
There were rumors that the fire was
Of incendiary origin due to the belief
that the company was engaged in
making material for war purposes
officials of the concern, however, do
not believe this, stating that because
the plant is working night and day
there would have been little oppor-
tunity for setting the place on fire.
When the blaze was first discovered
some of the employees attempted to
extinguish it, but were not success
full. There we're about $50 men en-
ployed in the shop. Other branches
Of the plant necessarily will be af-
fected by the closing down of this
department. Rebuilding of the de-
stroyed shop is expected to be started
Immediately
During the early progress of the
fire appeals were made BY the local
fire department for outside aid and
Bristol, Pa. Lambertville and Prince
ION responded by sending a fire COM
pany, but shortly before their arrival
the flames were gotten under control
and their services were not needed.
Many Former Losses.
IN recent years the Roebling Com
pany has sustained heavy fire losses
the largest of which occurred last
January. when their Buckthorn plant
was completely destroyed with loss
Of 81, 100000
The building in which it was re-
ported the Roeblings are planning to
make gun barrels for war purposes is
located three or four blocks from the
scene of today's fire. 1t was at first
reported that this structure had been
partly destroyed, but this proved to
bo untrue.