Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-13

Foundry company at Kingsland, N. J., yesterday, was possibly if not prob ably of incendiary origin, was ls- sued here today by the officials Of the company The total loss. it was said was S16, ,000, 600.
 Of this total s1o.ooo, 900 consists o1 shells and explosives owned by the Russian government. The rest was Tn destroyed property of the Canadian Car and Foundry company, or Wnlch half was covered by insurance. Until investigation is completed no further statement will be made as to what evidences of incendiarism have been found it was said by an officer of the company.
 Danger Reduced to . Minimum. It was explained that the danger of fire or of explosions from purely acci- mum by the fact that no completed ordnance was on hand at the plant The officer said the propelling charges for the shells were not attached until they reached the battlefield and that the same was.true asato the detonatlng eaps by which the trinitrotoluol In the sheH bodieSsiS-ezpae<aet1s- The explosions heard 5durfng the fire, he said were caused by the melt ing and expansion from the heat of the trinitrotoluol blowing off the tenn poraFy caps screwed in the place for ]! the detonating caps.
 The statement follows: 1 5000, 1000 Rounds of Trench Annuni- ton.
 Tn March, 1915, the Canadian Car and Foundry company. Ltd., of Mon ] treal, entered into contracts with the Russian government to supply 5000 | 900 rounds of trench ammunition, half shrapnel and half, high explosive | shells.
 These contracts were partly com pleted by March, 1916. and on March s, 1916, they were assigned to a New York corporation, agency of Canadian Car and Foundry company, Ltd. which took over the two main Russian con- tracts and all subsidiary contracts and supplies and undertook to complete and deliver the full quantity of 5,000,- 900 rounds.
 No Shells Manufactured on Premises.
 Agency of Canadian Car and Foun- dry company, Ltd, had a large plant near Kingsland, N. J., for the purpose of aSsem bling, packing and preparin g these shells for shipment. No shells were manufactured on the premises There were employed from time ot time at Kingsland from 5000 to 4,000 men. Large quantities of these shells have been shipped to Russia.
 "The two contracts were practically completed, a large quantity of shells had been delivered in storage at KingSland to the representatives of
 
 ance of the shells were being assem- bled and packed yesterday when a fire took place in one of the large build tngs used for cleaning shells.
 What Made Up Losses.
 The buildings destroyed were val ued at $750,000. The value of the con- tents of the buildings destroyed of which $6,000,000 belonged to the company. The company was protected to the amount of about $3,00O,000 in insurance on the buildings and con- tents-the rest is a total loss.
 No One Killed.
 "So far as we have been able to ascertain, no one was killed or seri- and subsequent explosions which took place.
 "An examination into the circum- stances attending the origin of the fire in building No. 30 has created the inn pression that it is possible if not probable. that the fire was of incen- diary origin. The officers of the com pany do not wish to make any further definite statement with regard to this until the investigations are completed.
 Plant Was Carefully Guarded.
 Tt Is quite possible that the build ings will not be reconstructed. The entire plant was most carefully guard ed and every safeguard known to sci- ence had been installed and every pos sible provision made to safeguard the adjoining premises against injuries re- sulting from explosion.
 The company had secured insurance in favor of the inhabitants of Kings land which we understood will more than cover any loss or damage to buildings in that town. The reports with regard to the fire are somewhat exaggerated and sensational"