The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-08-18
CAUSE OF FIRE
HAS NOT BEEN
DETERMINED
The Quarrying Operations
Will Be Resumed As
Soon AS Company Can
Connect With Power of
Associated Companies
Insurance Was $4,000

The large power plant of the Wet
more & Morse Granite Co., located be-
tween Granitevlle and Websterville,
was destroyed by fire, together with
all its valuable machinery, last night.
The loss is estimated to be at least
$4,000 and may run as high as $780,
600, the equipment being quite COM
f'plete and of modern type. The fire me-
cessitated the temporary suspension of
quarrying operations ON that quarry
and affected III employees although
many of them were at work to-day
clearing away the debris.
The fire was probably the most dis
astrous ever experienced in the Barre
quarry district as far as monetary loss
is concerned; but, fortunately, the
firm is so situated that it can link up
with the power plants of some of its
associated quarries so that operations
on the Wetmore & Morse quarry will
probably be resumed within few
days. Already the preliminary steps
have been taken TO make those connec-
tions with the L. l.. Smith & Co.
and the Barre Granite & Quarry Co.
plants; and the word went out to-day
from the Wetmore & Morse office
business as usual" Pres. +. NJ Cory
and Supt. William Cory of the firm
were on the spot to-day managing tho
necessary changes.
The fire was discovered shortly be-
fore O'Clock last evening and the
alarm was given by G. Y. Cassavant,
who lives in Webstervile not far from
the quarry. Telephone messages were
sent to members of the firm in Mont
pelier and volunteers in large numbers
turned out to do what they could. A
bucket brigade was organized but the
company's own fire protection could
not be utilized as the pumping appa-
ratus was soon put out of commission
by the flames The company had a
pump capable of pumping $50 gallons
per minute from a quarry hole near
by and several lines of hose about the
building If this pump could have beea
used, it is probable that some part of
the power house and equipment would
have been saved
Barre Firemen Saved Office.
When the efforts of the volunteers
we're found to be of little avail, word
was sent to the Barre fire station. and
Chief Heney responded with a chemi-
al truck When the Barre firemen ar
rived the roof of the Office and store
house located near the power plant
was ablaze: and the Barre iremen
we're instrumental in saving that prop
,rty almost intact. doing good service
With their chemical hose Stables, gar
lges and hosting plant were also
endangered for a time but were not
damaged In fact. only one derrick
vas put out of commission, that being
me operated from hoist in the rear
# the power plant.
The main power plant burned rap
div and the height of the scene of
he first caused the reflection to be
cen for many miles. The building was
bout 200 feet long and contained q
reat deal Of valuable machinery. Not
timber was left standing and every
hing except possibly three air tanks
ras ruined.
The Machinery Lost
Comprised in the equipment were
We compressors. the smallest with
apacity OF $50 cubic feet and the lsrg-
-. installed last fall, of 1900 cubic
aet capacity: ten electric motors with
combined horse -pwoer of 1000; an
fter-cooler with two electric pumps;
40 double drum hoists; a l25-horse-
over boiler. together with a quantity
smaller machinery and tools. The
,mpsny had Just put in 200 tons of
,ft eel coma ~ m thiah ,-al brvpnd
well as 500 gallons OF oil The
ant covered about hall an acre of
nd. II was recently piPed and wired
l-sg
The fire was burning chiefly in the
uthern end Of the plant when II was
In that end was located
e boiler. along with other equipment.
he boiler fire was left in good condi-
IN when the quarry suspended opera
]ns for night. The smoke stack vas
tside Of the building. as was most
: the coal The building was. Of
8rse. extensively wired for electric
trent. but the switches were thrown
from the motors. although not
IN the building itself. The roof Of
e building vas covered with FIRE
oof material. so-called. - that il -
{ considered likely that the FIRE
,rted from any sparks alighting or
r building
The power plant was Iocated near
2 edge of the extensive quarries Of
Wctmorp & Morse Granite Co. and
neuhaf removed from the main road
.veen Granitsxiile and Wehsterville
fContf~u--a On eighth uass1