Reprint of this story from the August 8, 1902 issue of The Grand Encampment Herald brought to you courtesy of Grandma’s Cabin, Encampment, Wyoming. Preserving History - Serving the Community.
FOREST FIRES RAGING
Millions of Feet of Lumber Are Being Destroyed In the Sierra Madre Range
The most disastrous forest fire in the history of the camp has been raging within the past week about twelve miles south of Grand Encampment in the Sierra Madre hills. The fire has swept over an area four miles long and from one-half to three-fourths of a mile wide, destroying an amount of valuable timber which is estimated at nine million feet.
The flames at night were distinctly visible from town, the fire having the appearance of extending for many miles. During the day the immense clouds of smoke attracted much attention among the town people. The fire has somewhat died down, but is still burning, and is by no means near the end. The fire has destroyed thousands of dollars worth of good timber.
Interested parties have taken the trouble to scour the country for miles about the fire and have found that there is not a single prospector at work or camped anywhere. The sheep herders are there, however, with thousands of sheep, and it is believed and almost positively known that a herder is responsible for the fire. Several other fires have been raging in the timber in the Sierra Madre and Medicine Bow ranges, and the most of the fires are credited to the herders.
Tuesday night a fresh fire broke out on the west slope of the Sierra Madre range, just over the Divide from the Transportation Co.’s sawmill, and threatens to cause serious trouble before the week is closed.
EXTEND WATER MAINS
Frambach Water Works Co. Will Lay Five Thousand Feet
of New Pipe
In addition to the building of a new 500,000 gallon reservoir and the enlarging of the present reservoir, the Frambach Water Works Co. will make another needed improvement by extending the pipe lines. Survey was made this week to extend the four-inch pipe from the reservoir down Winchell Avenue to Emerson Boulevard, and to extend the seven-inch pipe from Parkison’s corner east on Sixth street to the Allison Terraces, thence south on Heizer Avenue for two blocks to Eighth street.
These extensions will afford fire protection to those parts of the residence portion of the city which are having the greatest growth, and will also make possible the establishing of private hydrants where they are most needed. Seven additional fire hydrants will be installed, making a total of twelve hydrants on the streets of the city. About 5,000 feet of pipe will be required in the extensions.
The laying of the four-inch pipe down Winchell Avenue will add much to the facilities for fire fighting in the business portion of the city, as streams of water could be secured from both the west and east side of the long row of buildings on the west side of Freeman Avenue, at which particular point a fire would soon get under tremendous headway.
The purchasing of more hose by the common council will be necessitated. The council is alive to the situation and will provide the hose. And thus the improvement of Grand Encampment continues.
TRANSPORTATION
COMPANY
Additions and Improvements Made to Meet the Increase
in Business
Business is lively with the Encampment Lumber and Transportation Co. Manager Grube is making improvements and additions to accommodate the business, which is rapidly increasing. Two car loads of mules arrived at Walcott the first of the week, and will be pressed into freight service at once.
A new building has been erected near the company’s office in the city and will be used for a harness shop for general trade. A planer will be brought from the Company’s sawmill for the shaping and surfacing of lumber, and other machinery will be installed, making the planing mill complete. This will necessitate the erection of another building.
The company is working over 200 head of horses in the hauling of freight, tramway supplies and lumber, and has seventy-five men on the payroll.
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