New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-04-16
Ordinary Causes Of Fire.

fires, might be Of considerable service
to mankind If its actual injunctions and
plausible differences were generally OBJ
served. It is said that the real cause
is not discovered in moro than one
third Of the fires that occur. In En-
gland the candle is found to be the
most destructive weapon in the domes-
tic economy, but this will probably not
hold true Of the United States where
gas is more commonly used in private
houses. Perhaps the kerosene lamp
will take the place of the candle in the
American classif cation. Curtains are
credited with the next place on the black
list, but their agency in producing fires
is necessarily dependent on the use of
portable lights. Spark from fire.
place." ..bad fiues.'' Z. gas,'' ..'chil-
dren playing with fire. y I. smoking, .
:. spontaneous combustion and Gin
cendiarism'' are enumerated in the
order given as among the most numer-
Gus causes, and in all but the last the
remedy lies in increased caution,
either private or public. More thor
ough building laws and better inspec-
ton than prevails in most commune
ties would undoubtedly furnish more
protection from fire than any other
practicable precaution, by preventing
the careless construction of hues, lay
ing of pipes for conducting of heat,
and the use of infammable material
in the building of houses, where
it is not necessary, but highly
dangerous. The location of fac
tories and shops where highly
combustible material is used or
M manufactured is undoubtedly fruitful
source of CONGREGATIONS, and should be
subjected tospecial supervision. Thea
tiers combine nearly all ordinary risks,
because their performances from time
to time embrace all phases of life, and
the scene-painter, carpenter and ''prop-
erty-man" are constantly at work upon
and producing infammable material.
On the other hand, the rules of thea
ters in regard to shavings, lights,
smoking, ETC., are so thorough and
strict that the danger is not always so
great as in ordinary business and
residence houses where no special
care is exercised. Shavings and loose
paper are among the most dam
gerous as well as most common
agencies in CONGREGATIONS, and every
shop where the former accumu-
late, and every house where the lat
ter are thrown about, should De sub
jected to frequent and thorough clean
ing. Spontaneous combustion is gen
orally traced to the accumulation of
decomposing vegetable-matter, such as
cotton-waste, hemp, sawdust on which
oil has been spilled, ETC., and especial
care should be taken to avoid such
accumulation. Temperance reform
ers, according to their efficiency, are
useful agents in tie repression of fire
causes, for a drunken man is very
6re-brand where there is any opportu-
nifty for him; it would be blessing if
the same class of reformers could reach
sober but stupid servants. Some use
full precautions suggested by these re-
Elections may he found in the following
extract from the article to which we
have referred:
.'Let some member of the family
visit every portion of the house before
it is shut up for the night. (While he
is seeing to the safety Of the fires and
lights, he can also give an eye to bolts
and bars, and thus fulfill another most
necessary precaution.) See that there
is no glimmering of light beneath the
bedroom doors for any unreasonable
time after the inmates have retired TO
rest. Insist on ascertaining the cause
of any smell of burning. It may be
only piece of rag safely smoldering in
a CRATE, but satisfy yourself on the
point without delay. Do not rake out
q fire at night, but allow it to burn it.
self out in the CRATE. Do not allow an
unused fireplace to be closed up with
a screen unless it is first ascertained
that there is no collection of
SCOT in the chimney, and no commune
cation with any other fue from which
spark may come. Caution servants
not to throw hot ashes into the dust
bin. Let the slightest escape of gas be
remedied as soon as possible, and re-
member that the common form CT tele-
scope gasalier requires water at GER
tain intervals, or it will become
source of danger. Finally, forbid all
kinds of petroleum and benzoline
lamps to be trimmed except by day
light. ca lamp was the initial cause
of the great Chicago fire. )"--CHicago
Tribune.