Glass Factory Fires

$1,000,000 IN SMOKE.

Over That Amount of Glass House

Property Destroyed.

FIRES FOR THE YEAR 1891 - 92.

Last Year's By Far the More Destructive

Than the Previous One.

Fires proved a more prolific source of loss to the glass houses of America during the season of 1891-92 than at any other time in the trade's history. It is to be presumed, of course, that since the industry has attained greater proportions than at any other time in the history of the country that the losses from fire should be larger than at any previous period. But it is probable that the proportion of losses for last season are far greater than ever before. The season of 1890-91 was indeed a destructive one, and the figures complied and published in these columns a year ago showed the loss to have been $478,000; the past season, however, makes those figures fade into insignificance.

During the season of 1890-91 there were 18 fires, and during the season just past (1891-1892) the number attained 28, an increase of 55 per cent. During 1891-1892 the flint houses suffered the most, having 8 fires, and window glass houses came next with 4 fires, green bottle houses next with 3, and plate glass houses had 2 fires. The fire demon seems to have had a particular predilection during the past season for flint houses. Since 1891-92 he has affected them with a leading number of destructions, but he has also evened matters up by having also visited the window glass equally as often as the flint factories. This year both flint and window glass factories had 10 fires each. The green bottle houses were visited by fire in six instances and plate glass houses had but one blaze. Findlay, O., led the list a year ago with four fires, but she was singularly exempt during the season now closed, not having a single blaze to disturb her peace of mind, or her pocket. Pittsburg was the most unfortunate of all, as seven big houses was the experience during the season and these were of the most destructive kind. Pittsburg's loss alone by fire is $144,000, and after Pittsburg comes Muncie, Ind., with three fires and a loss of $270,000, the greatest of any. Bridgeton, N. J., also had three fires, and lost $23,500; Bellaire, O., had two fires with a loss of $90,000.

The causes of the fires were various. Four occurring from defective surroundings and gas producers, three to leaking natural gas, three to improperly stored and piped oil fuel, three from locomotive sparks igniting exposed straw sheds, one from a defective lehr and the others were of unknown or doubtful origin.

Two of the factories burned were supposed to have been fire-proof, because they were built of brick and iron, but the experience of the season teaches that factory builders have failed to sufficiently allow for the radiation of heat from furnaces in the building or plants. A noticeable instance of this occurred at Fostoria, O. The Fostoria Calcined Window Glass Co., of that place, after having its plant destroyed by fire on March 14, 1891, rebuilt their structure, as they thought, fire-proof. They were ready to blow again on September 14, 1891, when the buckstayes of the tank burst and set the plank floor on fire. The intense heat melted the iron roof and sides like butter, and all that remained was a mass of glass and iron. The plant has since been rebuilt with pot furnaces and has had a successful run.

The dates and details of the fires are as follows: On September 14, the Fostoria Calcined Window Glass Co., of Fostoria, O., had its plant rebuilt after its disastrous fire of March 14, and was ready to make its first blowing when it was again destroyed as referred to above. The loss was $25,000, and the insurance nothing. For two months the company was undecided as to whether it should rebuild again, but at the end of that time it concluded to abandon the tank system and erect two 10-pot furnaces. A start was made in the first of these on March 28, last and on April 5, the second pot furnace was put into operation. The firm from that time till the end of the season had an unusually good run, and is prepared to re-enter the season of 1892-93 with the brightest prospects.

D. C. Cunningham, of this city, was the next to suffer by fire. On September 9 the roof of the factory caught fire, damaging the plant to the slight extent of $800, and no time was lost on account of it.

Next the Ihmsen Glass Co., Ltd., suffered a small loss of $300 on October 20. The roof of this plant also caught on fire from sparks, but it caused very little inconvenience. However, the same concern suffered again on December 26, to the extent of $3,500 by the producers setting fire to the sheds covering them. In both instances the losses were fully covered by insurance.

The Phillips Glass Co. was particularly unfortunate on October 18, by a fire which destroyed their office and warerooms, entailing a loss of $17,500. This firm had just completed its large tank after its destructive fire of a year previous and would have been ready to blow within a week of the time the second fire occurred. The flames were caused in this instance by the carelessness of one of the workmen who left a producer door open too long and a down draft drove the flames out, igniting the sheds and destroying the buildings in question. This fire delayed the start of the tank for several weeks. The loss was covered by insurance.

The magnificent glass plant of Ball Bros. Glass Manufacturing Co., Muncie, Ind., suffered in its stamping department on Oct. 25. Escaping natural gas ignited and caused an explosion, destroying $60,000 worth of property. The glass working department was uninjured and the part destroyed was re-erected on a much larger and handsomer scale. The loss was covered by $41,000 of insurance.

A whole month intervened before another blaze took place, but it came with a vengeance and wiped out the plant of the Union Window Glass Works, Bellaire, O. This fire occurred on November 30, and was caused by escaping natural gas. Everything about the plant was destroyed and George Stewart lost his life in the flames. The loss was $60,000, with a nominal insurance of $31,500.

The insurance was adjusted on March 1, by the company receiving $29,750 for their losses. This fire was probably the means of precipitating a wind-up of the glass company's affairs, for on March 10, a meeting of stockholders voted to get out of the business, and they received $65 to $75 on each $100 invested. The site is now owned by the Bellaire Nail and Steel Co.

The Long Island Flint Glass Works, of Brooklyn, N. Y., were destroyed on November 26, at a loss of $30,000, and an insurance of $11,000. The plant was rebuilt and is now in operation.

The Cumberland Glass Manufacturing Co., of Bridgeton, N. J., lost $2,500 on December 14, by an explosion of one of its oil fuel tanks. Edward H. Paxes, the watchman, whose intern is said to have been the cause of the fire, was severely burned.

The Allison-Obear Glass Co., of East St. Louis, Mo., was built and put into operation for the first time on October 14. It was having a very successful run when on January 4, 1892, the office stove set fire to the building and burned out at once the telephone wires, shutting off all communications with the city, and the plant was destroyed before any aid of the fire department could come to hand. This plant had been in operation only four months and was destroyed at a loss of $50,000. The insurance was, however, $40,000 and the work of rebuilding was begun at once. The plant resumed in April but with a change of firm, Mr. Allison having withdrawn. The style is now the Obear Glass Works.

On January 5, 1892, the Atlanta Glass Co's. Works at Atlanta, Ga., were destroyed by a pot bursting and the glass running into the cave. The loss was $40,000, partly insured. This and the death of President Rankin, of the concern shortly afterwards, seemed to have a very discouraging effect and the affairs of the concern have since been in the hands of a receiver.

The More-Jonas Glass Co., of Bridgeton, N. J., suffered on January 22, with a loss of $16,000, partly insured. They rebuilt and were in operations again within a month. One of the furnace buildings were destroyed.

On January 30, W. H. Hamilton & Co., of this city, experienced their first serious accident in the 30 years of their existence, when one of their furnace buildings were destroyed. The fire was caused by a natural gas leak, and their loss was $7,000, fully insured. They rebuilt at once.

On February 3, the Phoenix Glass Co., of Phillipsburg, Pa., suffered to the extent of $10,000 by the total destruction of their upper factory, locally known as the "Kitty." The origin of the fire is unknown, but it started in the packing straw under the factory. The plant was employed entirely on incandescent bulbs, a large stock of which were destroyed. The loss was covered by insurance and the plant is now being rebuilt.

On February 6, the oil storage tank of the Rodefer Bro's. glass works at Bellaire, caused a fire that entailed a loss of $30,000. there was a total insurance of $21,500, but when matters were adjusted only $10,240 of this were found to be available. For several months the firm was undecided whether to rebuild, remove, or go out of business, but on May 19, the work of rebuilding was begun and the plant will be in operation again next season.

The plant of the United Glass Co., at Wellsboro, Pa., was destroyed on February 28. The fire started from a defective lehr, and communicated with the cutting and packing rooms. The warehouse, containing $40,000 worth of stock, was fortunately saved. The loss was $15,000, upon which there was only a nominal insurance. The plant has not yet been rebuilt.

March 9, witnessed the destruction of the finely equipped factory D, of the United States Glass Co., of this city. A leak from a small gas producer, put in for use whenever gas should be short, started the blaze. The work of destruction was complete, and the loss amounted to $100,000, which was fully insured. The site has been sold since by the United States Glass Co., and of course, the plant will never be rebuilt.

The Scranton Glass Co., on March 17, had a small blaze caused by the bursting of an oil pipe. The loss was $2,500, fully insured. On June 1, the same firm had a small blaze which damaged the warehouse slightly.

On March 25, the Braddock Glass Co., of Rankin, Pa., lost its valuable plant by a spark from a passing locomotive becoming too familiar with their store shed. Everything was destroyed, a large part of the loss being upon stock. Just $50,000 went up in smoke, with only $11,000 insurance to mitigate it. For a while the firm was undecided as to what it should do. A little effort was made by the citizens to subscribe an amount sufficient to rebuild the plant and keep the company with them, but Elwood, Ind., made the company a good offer and they are now building a plant at that place, which will go into operation in September.

Pittsburg suffered again on April 5, 1892, by the destruction of the packing house and warehouse of Cunningham's & Co., Ltd. The gas producers ignited the sheds in this instance, and the resulting loss was $15,000, fully insured. The greatest loss was on stock. The plant had to shut down until the producers could be repaired.

The next plant in order was that of the Pittsburg Glass Co., at Beaver Falls, Pa. The origin of the fire is unknown, and nothing was left standing but the stack and decorating kilns. The loss was $40,000, covered by $14,000 insurance. The company has disbanded and the plant will not be rebuilt.

C. Dorflinger & Sons, of White Mills, Pa., lost $200,000 by a fire of May 24. The origin of the blaze was unknown. The insurance was $30,000. The plant has been rebuilt.

The Winslow Glass Works of Bridgeton, N. J., one of the oldest in the country, were wiped out on May 30. The loss was $25,000, fully insured. The plant will not be rebuilt.

June was a prolific month for fires. On June 2, the Pittsburg Plate Glass Co's. plant at Creighton, Pa., suffered to the extent of $25,000, on which there was $19,000 insurance.

On June 17, the plant of Getsinger & Son, of Bridgeton, N. J., was damaged to the extent of $5,000, fully insured. The blaze was caused by a locomotive spark igniting the straw shed.

June 18 wound up the season for fires and it did so with a vengeance. The plants of C. H. Over and the Hemingray Glass Co. were destroyed, both entailing a loss of $215,000, on which there was an insurance of $85,000. These fires were started by a locomotive spark falling into the straw sheds, but the fire might have been extinguished before it did much damage had there been any water at hand.

The loss for 1891-1892 is $1,075,100, or an excess of the losses of the previous year to the amount of $588,100.