Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-04-29
Losses u Life and Property BY Fire.

| We have received communication from
Mr.. Albert A. Pope OF Boston calling att n
ton to the great losses Of life and properly
caused by FIRE. throughout the United States
and suggesting remedies which, m his iudg-
ment. il rightly applied will tend TO largely
decrease these losses. We quote from Mr..
| Pope's letter ~ follows:
The Hon. Edward Atkinson recently
stated that the fire losses of the present
year are likely To reach $50 900 900. The
cost OF sustaining insurance companies VIII
| not be iess than $50 900 900. The cost of
| Are departments cannot be less than go
| 900 900 ! am mot aware OF any statistics
that give the number of lives lost BY fire, but
| I think that Thousands of lives are probably
lost annually In this manner.
Il suggest that in one or more OF the
large citiss there be established college OF
instruction having for its object the teaching
of the mott scientific methods for
the prevention and ertinguishment Of fires
ain such a college a course Of instruction
should be devoted to that which relates 10
the prevention Of fires and the best method
and materials of construction of hreproof
buildings. Particular attention should 10"
given to the study of fire escapes and
methods and appliances for removing per
sons from burning buildings. Then the
| student should be informed As To the best
| apparatus TO be placed IN buildings and
nseh before the engines arrive students
| should be taught the chemistry vi fires and
how to scientifically fight con'lagratious.
| Instruction should also be given 10 CsPla.
s,ves and in the proper methods of biow ing
np buildings and ~ every way students
Taught 50 that they may be competent 10
serve a. heads of fire departments, aud in
struct subordinates.
such "A college should be conducted On
der discipline similar to West Point, AMI
all FIRE departments should be scum military
| in their character. | am of the opinion
| that FRI men should be enlisted in the ser
vice for term of years in "A similar manner
as men are enlisted in the army, and in
event of disability or death the uity should
pro, ide pensions IN like manner as pen
-ions are nov granted hy To" government,
| for military s"ryIces.
Perhaps no eitv is better adapted for
the locaiion Of such a college than the city
of Boston furnishing ~ il does sn many
| large fires as object lessons but perhaps
until such n college ia established and Is
prepared to furnish graduates, tn" aru.t
would supply the hest chiefs of fire depart
| ments.
| There arc also men IN civil life who
during the war hal similar experiences T.,
! that of officers in the regular army and have
commanded large bodies OF men in action
and it is precisely those qualities whi
make the Ell lent soldier that make III,
successful fireman. Ia times of great cnn
tiagration, courage, GOODNESS and discipline
ar. essential, as well ~ the habit of think
| ing and acting quickly. An these things
are common military virtues, AMI they
should be utilized in civil life.
perhaps the tunet striking example Of
the value of army .l.Ining IN civil affairs Is
shown by the appointment of officers of tli,
Regular Army to take charge of the build
ings and grounds Of the World Columbian
Exposition. These army officers know
nothing nor care nothing of the politics III
"pnll" of applicants who desire 10 serve II
the guard. 1t is simply a question of :
mans abilities and efficiency, and the mcf
appointed are taught, as regular soldier
are taught, obedience and fidelity to duty
1t may he pertinent to say in this con
ncction that foreign exhibitors were unwil
ling to send their costly products until they
received the assurance that the guard woul,
be- efficient and would be commanded h,
officers of the army.
at would be advantageous if the Scnat,
were TO pass n resolution empowering ths
secretary of war TO detail to any of tn,
large cities of the Inited States, an army
officer qualified to take charge of the fir.
departments, on the same principle tina
army officers are now detailed as instruc
tors in colleges.
Hon. Edward Atkinson At a recent
hearing before the Boston city council com
mittee stated that the total fire tax upon the
people annually was. approximately, $3.50,
zoe. 900 This is the estimated amour
lost by farmers annually by bad roads.
WAS impressed by the iigures, because II
the 18th annual session of the Na'ona
Farmers Congress held at Lincoln, Neb.
November 22-24, 1872, the Hon. John NJ
Stahi in a paper on Highway Transportation
It ,teh that economical road improvement
you'd save S2jo, 900 600 per year in th,
transportation of farm products alone.
e" In conclusion let me add that two o
the greatest economic questions now bcfor'
the people of the United States, are high
way bettermcnt and the prevention of de
/ structive CONGREGATIONS.