The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-01-06
SECURITY AGAINST FIRE.


1
A Good and Cheap Insurance.
Forest, Forge and FARM
| The question now arises: What remedies
ars to be applie1. and how may country
houses be rendsred more secure against lire,
without entirely reconstructing them.
The simplicity of the directions are very
lisely to lead to their neglect. Old
chimnsys should be pointed up from
top to bottom; that is, the joints in the
bricks should bs filed with fresh mortar
When the flues are large they should be
plastered inside as well as out. Sometimes
round tiles can be put in so as to make con-
tinuous flues These are safe and give an
excellent draught The essential point is to
make the chimney tight and keep it SO; this
is imperative. if safety is to be secured.
Woodwork must not be allowed to come
against flues and caimneys in such way as
to cause Ii to feel hot or warm to the touch.
Six inches clear space between a stove-pipe
and bsam or partition is none too great
A sheet of zinc Is not protection unless it
has an air space in addition. Dig into
beams, etc, that have been long exposed to
heat and see what condition the timber is
in If charriny has he gun it is high tins to
reform the construction
Take up ashes only in metal vessels, and
if a metal barrel or its equivalent can not be
had carry the ashes at once to a store house,
which should be Of brick or stone, or made
freproof by some method of construction.
A barrel plastered inside is better than one
with no protection. In thess days when
spices and many other things of the kind
arc put 10 in tin boxe' or cans no excuse
III,
packages When in tin boxes they are out
of the way OF mice. To leave them scattered
upon mantles or tables is a criminal ect,
which too frequently brings its own plnjSG-
ment. Spontaneous combustion does not
often occur in country hou es. but harms are
frequently de troye b. heatin5 OF wet h,v.
Of are struck by lightning on account Of
tha column of steam AM vapor which II g
fran their damp AMI heating coa:ea ;.
Whan hay goes into the barn in damp
condition the farmer runs great risks VII ca
he can not well afforl to take.
Tie lightning-rol should have a large
AMI helvy metallic connection with dana
eartl, and this shou d b. inspacts fire.
qlently to make sure that rust has not de-
| stroyei the rod and converted it into
source Of danger Livery house SHOULD lie
PROVIDED with some kind of a portabl
force-pump, capable Of thr wing stream
of water twenty-five or thirty foet. The
pumps which can be attached to pail an
used for watering gardens answer the pur-
pose perfectly, except that hose eighteen
or twenty feet in length should be pro-
viiei With such cheap and simple ap-
paratus water can be thrown in between
beams, behind chimneys, and into all
the hooks and cranniss that can not he
reached with pail or dipper In such
places fires start, and though their position
is often seen, the householder stands help
less for want of some means of throwing a
few cupfuls Of water upon the smolderng
places
1t too frequently happens in winter that
a single pail of water in the kitchen sink is
the only supply at hand il fire should b
d scoverei. In mills, pals are set in stated
places and kept always filled The sugges
ton is good one for farmers A few ex-
ira pals of water at night or in the day
time form a very good and cheap insurance
In conclusion, it is safe to say that careless
ness is the great incendiary, and that watch
fulne 5 is as good as an Insurance policy.