White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-16
CONCENTRATING MILL AT M'G|Ll
TOTALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE

The big mill OF the Nevada Consol-
idated Copper Company at McGill,
which originally cost $3,500,000 to
construct, was totally destroyed by
fire, which was first discovered few
minutes after 6 O'Clock, last Sunday
night,
The fire Is known TO have origi-
mated In the fine orebins at the
southeasterly corner OF the mill, but
a searching investigation has failed
to reveal the cause.
When the fire was first discovered
men rushed to the scene from all di-
rections. Engine whistles were
called into play and sounded the
alarm, which quickly attracted all
residents of McGill Soon the smoke
and flames could be plainly seen ar
a great distance and as the news
rapidly spread that the big mill was
burning there was string OF auto
mobiles headed toward McGill, which
looked as though all the motor car
manufacturers were out on exhibit
ton. The entire road from Ruth to
McGill, distance Of twenty miles,
was lined with cars filled with people
anxious to get closeup view or the
conflagration and render any possi-
BILE assistance in checking the spread
of the flames.
Many residents of McGill who were
visiting in Ely and East Ely hurried
TO their homes in order to protect
their valuables In case the fire should
get beyond control and wipe out the
entire smelter city, which for a time
seemed probable.
During the course OF the eonfla-
grafton flying embers ignited the dry
brush and timber on the hillside cast
of the big plant and the narrow
gulches served as excellent flues, ny
which the flames were quickly drawn
through the timber to the mountain
top, several hundred feet In height,
which made the fire spectacular In
degree which could only be appre-
ciated by those who actually witness
ed II.
The mill was constructed about
fifteen years ago and had capacity
of $4,000 tons of ore per day. IL
was remodeled just prior to and our
ing the time OF the recent shutdown
and since operations were resumed a
short time ago the different sections
were set in operation as fast as con-
ditions would permit and at the time
of the conflagration 1000 tons OF
ore were daily passing through 1t.
The most conservative estimate
obtainable places the loss at 5 $1,000
:ca0 In excess of the insurance,
A new I'LL. which In dimensions
will be close to the one destroyed by
fire and similar in design to the re-
modelled sections of the old mill, will
be built on the same site and the task
will be completed with all possible
speed.
, The structure which burned to the
ground was little less than 500 feet
In length and approximately 800 feet
in width. The ground space allotted
TO the millsite covered twelve acres.
The foundations were not injured TO
the extent that was first anticipated.
In the program OF -econstructing
the mill about the same number Of
men will be employed as were en-
gagged In the milling operations at
the time OF the fire.
Approximately goo men are now
engaged In the work of cleaning up
and getting ready to reyamp the
mill. In this work acetylene torches
are being used, by which the huge
steel beams, glrders and the like.
which buckled and fell into one great
mass of junk as the flames swept rap
idly along their road OF destruction,
are being cut and as fast as the space
Is cleared tracks are being laid right
into the wreck so that the ruined
material may be loaded onto flatcars
and moved out OF the road for the
new mill without moment OF un-
necessary delay.
The immense moss of debris Is
now being attacked at four separate
and distinct points, where the men
are working like beavers. and rs fast
as the structural steel and other ru-
ined material can be cut and excavat-
ed II Is being carried away.
AS soon as the work has reached
a stage sufficient to enable the work
Of reconstruction to commence n
small army Of men will be employed,
which will include craftsmen such
as structural steel and iron workers
as well as the mechanics necessary