The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1872-10-12
For the Argus.
CAUTION.

NA'- 'fD.'NN Na hit He, thsoNgn the
medium Of your widely circulated Journal.
to direct the attention of the authorities
and all persons interested in the prosperity
and future OF our young city, to the con
sideration OF the following facts; facts
which will suggest themselves forcibly to
every owner OF house wilhin the city
limits And am sure the writer mas but
TO mention one or two OF the more prom
inent of these in order To meet the appro-
baton OF those in authority and the
hearty co operation OF syery good citizen OF
Huntington.
Now, the fact is, we are not in a suitable
condition TO offer successful resistance to
a fire OF any extent beyond that perhaps.
of a single building, and il we unfortunate.
y have to meet the 'dey purig element,
IN any OF our close and compacuy bui,t
squares on Second and Thir,. Avenues. we
are, as far as human ins'umentalities
are concerned, utterly unable 20 prevent
their complete destruction
The trite sayiug IAN ounce OF preyen-
ton is~orth pound OF cure" is a, plica-
BILE in our case.
Many conilasrations 10 lie sure have oc
CURED through an agency over which
man has no control; az by lightning.
spontaneous combustion, &c. These, how
ever, are the exception, Tor it will be found
on careful investigation that where one lire
is produced by these agencies, one hun
drei are directly traceabe to onr improp
erly constructed chimneys or fiues; run
ming stove pipes though an aperture in
the roof or these temporary dwellings
(and by the way is it not time that most
OF those were abaiel as nuisances.) Some
Of them 10 doubt have answered d good
purpose, but like some fossil of the genus
homo have resulted in one OF those agen-
cies
Now for the prevention. We can not
always prevent fires taking place, for the
reasons just mentioned, bat that We can
greatly diminish their frequency il not en-
tirely prevent them, is apparent to The
writer, and that we may contribute how
ever little toward that desired consumma
ton, the following suggestions are sub
mitted
Let the City Council appoint three FIRE
wardens or more If they think them nee
essary. Or, If you like 1t better, fire
engineer. They or he, shall have author
ity of law TO enter every building, make n
thorough examination OF all chimneys,
fines, s,ove-ppes, whether entering chin
1neys or Poked through hole in the
roof Let he or they have power to cause
the owners to have them properly recon
structed. Remove or cause to be re-
moved all comhustible material beyond
the possibility Of sparks rom cbmncys
or the stray butt OF a cigar from the hand
Of the careless smoker.
The agent who may represent insurance
companies should be very careful in the
examination Of all property Offered for in
.surance, aud particularly 50, If the person
making application cyinces desire to in.
sure at or above the re'sl value OF his prop
erty.
Lad as not into temptation are " ords
OF deep meaning spoken TOO, by One who
knew and understood all the wea knesses
OF human nature.
With wise ani prudent aetion % meet
'uch an emergency as indicated. con-
stant surveillance on the part Of the con-
sn'nted authorities n just appreciation by
our citizens, Of the danger to which We
are exposed, and The adoption Of ihe
means proposed, indicate Tie true preyen.
tive measures Tor securing our young anI
hourishing city against the fearful aud
destructive element fire. am sir, your,
J.T.G.