THE VENEER PLANT IN ASHES BURNED TUESDAY MORNING
A Spark on the Roof Starts the Maze and Inside of an Hour All is Burned to the Ground

One of Marshfield's best manufacturing industries is lying in ashes. The veneer factory was burned to the ground on Tuesday morning and besides the great loss to members of the company, some 100 hands are thrown out of employment, at least temporarily.

The alarm of fire was turned in from the factory at about 4 o'clock in the morning, fire department and citizens generally responding promptly. It was impossible however to make any headway against the flames as the fire had quickly spread over the entire factory and the dry condition of everything made all like cinder before the fiery element. In the short space of a few minutes all was one roaring sweltering maze of fire which nothing could stain it its devouring program. The morning was a quiet one hardly a breeze perceptible and then fortunately made it possible to save the block of logs, the office and several warehouses. The factory itself was totally destroyed. Inside of an hour it all burned to the ground. Considerable stock was in the building but nothing could be saved. The only salvage will be in the boiler and engine room, which was a solid brick structure, but the loss will be heavy as the fire came into the openings and did considerable damage to the large engines and ruined the structure itself.

The origin of the fire is supposed to have been from a spark falling on the roof near the smoke stack. When discovered there was a small blaze on the roof near the stack, but before a stream could be turned on it had spread so quickly that it became at once apparent that the plant was doomed. A night crew of five hands were at work in the factory at the time.

Manager W.H. Roddis was in Chicago at the time of the fire and only reached home yesterday morning. When seen by a News reporter, he said that he was unable as yet to give any price and could not say whether the plant would be rebuilt or not. The factory has been doing a nice business and he was looking forward to a good run of work. An exceptionally large stock of logs had been purchased the past winter and Mr. Roddis had calculated to increase the force upon returning from his business trip.

It is sincerely, hoped by everyone that the plant will be rebuilt. It was one of the best factories in the city, giving employment to a force at times numbering 70 hands. The plant was built in 1891, but it was not until Mr. Roddis became interested and took the management that it developed to the important position it had among our industries. By his personal effort he made a success out of what seemed a lacking undertaking. Not to rebuild the plant would be the lowest blow to the city it has had in years.

Mr. Roddis could not say exactly what the total loss would be, but it will probably be over $20,000.00 Insurance carried on the whole plant was $14,000.00. It will probably be some days before the loss can be adjusted by the insurance companies and until that time definite plans for the future will probably not be adopted. The principal stockholders in the concern are W.H. Roddis, Ernest Schmidt and R.K. Hatteberg.