Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-17
PLANT TOTALLY DE-
srRoYED, RESULTING IN BIG
FINANCIAL LOSS.
BUILDINGS, EQUIPMENT
AND GOODS TOTAL LOSS
Flames Spread With Rapidly lndieat-
ina Fire Started in Several Place.
Concern Had Orders From Govern
ment to Hold 1s Per Cent Of Output
For Federal Use.

Muscatine, Aug. 17-Fire yesterday
did damage to the plant Of the ziegler
Canning Company, estimated at $780,
900.
The company operated one of the
largest plants in the state. The Amer
lean government had contracted for
about one-fourth of this years prod
uct.
Officials Of the concern and the po-
lice suspect the fire was caused by in
cendiaries, who hoped thus to interfere
with the provisioning of the American
army. No arrests have been made.
Plans for the rebuilding of the Zieg-
Ter canning plant, destroyed by a fire
believed to be Of incendiary origin,
were discussed at meeting Of the di-
rectors of the concern. Those inan-
cially interested in the company after
an inspection Of the ruined establish
ment proceeded to the Commercial
Club rooms where plans for the future
We're discussed.
Announcement is made that thru
the operation Of a branch plant
at Columbus Junction the company
will be able to preserve all products
contracted for.
The reconstruction of the local fac
tory will be planned at once.
The origin Of the rlrc still remains
a matter of mystery with the arson
theory gaining ground. That thor
ough investigation will be made in the
1rf nf the
disastrous fire was the declaration Of
officers.
Not only the buildings and equip
ment but all goods held for future de-
livery, a large quantity Of newly pre-
pared kraut and a carload Of paper
boxes which had just been received
We're consumed in the blaze, which, for
a time, threatened the destruction OF
all adjoining property. The flames
widened so rapidly that in less than
ten minutes after the fire was first
discovered in the lower end Of the can
ming apartment on Green street, all
hopes of saving the office structure,
the $4,000 annex constructed two
years ago and the buildings N the rear
end Of the plant were abandoned. For
hours, the huge illumination was wit
messed at points fifteen miles distant
from the city and hundreds of local
residents hurried to the scene of the
spectacular conhagration.
Incendiarism Indicated.
While tine direct cause Of the blaze
has not yet been ascertained, the con-
census Of opinion among fremen and
others who appeared at the plant soon
after the alarm was sounded is that
the damage was the result Of incen-
diarisn. Never. in the history OF the
city and, perhaps, in the state, have
flames, under such conditions, been
seen to spread as fast as those which
wiped ont the large South End plant,
it is said. Altho all members Of the
fire department responded promptly to
the alarm, practically the entire can
ming plant on the northwest side Of
the structure was Quilted before the
first stream was applied and twelve
streams or more later failed to pro-
duce the desired results.
Opinions expressed by the city fire
men and other witnesses furnish
foundation for a general theory that
the loss was the result Of arson and
the fact that the Ziegler concern had
orders from the government to hold
IS per cent of their products this year
further serves to support the contcn-
ton that the disaster was the work OF
persons maliciously inclined