The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-11-18
Gainesville Electric Plant Destroyed.

Last Friday morning fire broke
out in the boiler room of the Grand
River Coal Company and the boiler
house and the building In which the
electric light plant was housed, to-
gether with the contents of each were
entirely consumed entailing loss es-
timated at not less than 100000.
according to night fireman b. Il.
Williams, who was alone at the time
the fire originated at the draft fan
which was located on top Of the south
boiler at the base of the smoke stack.
The fire started with a flash and in
an instant had leaped up to the roof
and spread over the entire ceiling.
He called Supt. Smith who arrived in
about 20 to 80 minutes but the fire
in that short space of time was be-
yond control.
From the boiler house the fire
spread to the electric light plant ad-
joining and in a very short time both
were in ashes. The buildings were OF
iron such as is commonly used In the
construction of iron buildings with
only enough wood such as studd1ng,
etc, to support the iron work. 1t
does not seem possible that the build
ings could have been burned so
quickly, but the ceilings and walls
were covered with coal dust which
when dry is almost as inflammable
as powder.
The boiler room contained boil
ers with steam capacity of $50
horse power each, and the company
blacksmith shop and tools, the latter
of which were all destroyed. The
damage to the boilers themselves is
supposed to be slight, but the steam
pipes are badly warped and swisted
and the joints are nearly all loosen
ed up and will have to be refitted.
About $3.50 worth of betting and a
large quantity of-0ils were destroyed.
The heaviest damage is to the light
plant in which were a ESQ direct cur
rent generator, 1900 alternating cur
rent generator, two ITO direct cur
rent generators, l constant current
transformer, switch panels, new
Corliss engine, Buckeye engine,
direct current Erie engine, l Sullivan
air compressor, and other things OF
lesser value. We are Informed there
was no insurance as the company
considered the buildings as being
practically fire proof.
This is a very heavy loss and may
have the effect of discouraging the
company which has owned the plant
since the sale last August. The COM
pany has made no statements as to
their intentions in regard to rebuild
ing and resuming business, SO far as
we have. been able to ascertain. Of
ficials of the company who reside in
the east are expected to arrive this
week and will probably be here by
the time the News reaches it's read
sers. Until they arrive and 60 over
the situation nothing definite will be
known as to the future of the enter
prise.
The town is also a severe sufferer
as the result of the fire, as some
thing like 200 men are thrown out of
employment and must leave the city
If the company does not resume OPP
erations. This will means q tremen-
dous loss in trade for our merchants.
Many Of the men have departed for
the various coal fields and many
others are preparing to go, owing to
the uncertainty of the company re-
Stunning work. The greatest inc0nven-
fence to the citizens of the city, is
perhaps, in the loss Of the light plant
which deprives the people Of light