The Daily Alaska empire., 1939-04-11
STATEMENT ON REGENT BLAZE
 GIVEN BY MOE
Insurance Adjuster Gives Views, 6oIdsfein
 Bldg. Fire

w. J. Moe, insurance adJuSter re- gently in Juneau has issued the following elf-explanatory state ment regarding the Goldstein Building fire;
 Tn connection with the Gold stein Building fire loss, there were fifty-six claims involving insur- ance in the amount of s302,740, on which the aggregate loss to all in- surance companies was Sl59.55l .53. No doubt all' of these claims have been paid by this time.
 With reference to the origin and cause of the fire, that has not been definitely. determined. The first theory advanced, as is well known, was that mattress in one of the apartments on the third floor had caught fire. which was discovered around 2 am, Febru- ary 8; that after such discovery the mattress was water soaked and then taken to the laundry room in the basement of the Goldstein Building. The fire broke out in the basement at 5:30 am.
 Open Question
 Whether or not this particular mattress took fire again and was the cause of the conflagration will always remain an open question. After digging the debris out of the basement a mattress was found which is claimed to be the mat tress which had been brought down. It is quite evident that the seat of the fire was not at the point where the mattress was. There were other things near the mattress, such as books, chairs, and settees. which were merely scorched and not at all totally destroyed or obliterated This situation has tendency to discount the theory that the mat tress might have been the point of origin of the fire.
 There are many other causes which are probable and possible, such as spontaneous combustion in furs; the possibility of defective wiring; the careless disposition of lighted cigarettes, whether thrown down an elevator shaft or about the premises in the basement where there was a considerable accumula- tion of all sorts of items. There fore, we have definitely reported to all interested companies that the cause of the fire is undetermined.
 Compliments Department
 Again we want to compliment the Fire Department for the most efficient work which was done. Con- sidering the highly inflammable frame construction surrounding the Goldstein Building it is miraculous that the fire was not more wide spread
 We are also greatly appreciative of the cooperation which we re- ceiyed from all agents and all claimants. Their friendly attitude assisted materially in having all claims properly and efficiently dis posed ofsS7 A sI
 "As matter of general obscrva- tion. regardless of how well the Fire Department may be equipped, we feel that there is serious men, ! ace due to the parking of automo- ciles and trucks on main business streets, especially during the night. Highly motorized equipment is en- titled to the full width of the street, any hindrances, and if this swift moving equipment has to dodge in and out to prevent collis- on with vehicles which are parked, here is chance for a very seri- ous situation, not only in delay n9 the equipment to the point of Iire but in causing injury and pos Sible death to firemen who operate this equipment and also damage to the equipment.
 Another general observation is