FIRE DAMAGE AT VERNON $35,000

PLANT OF THE VERNON LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY DESTROYED. BLAZE IN PECK BUILDING.

Special To The News.

Vernon, Tex., Dec. 31.---Fire destroyed the plant of the Vernon Light and Power Company at 2 o'clock this afternoon. The fuel oil tank soon caught and the dense flame and smoke completely enveloped on of the Blanton Gin Company's gins, but by close attention there was little damage done the gin.

The power plant furnished power for two of the Blanton Gin Company's gins as well as the city's lighting system. Loss about $10,000. Insurance $3,500.

Fire was discovered in the Peck building, on North Main street, at 2:30 this morning, but before it could be controlled it had spread to the buildings adjoining, destroying the buildings of A. J. Peck, M. Pickens, J. D. Tyson, Stephens & Hahn and Swartwood & Co. Losses will aggregate $25,000. Insurance $12,000.

Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX 1 Jan 1909
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!