San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-08-27
A YEARS FIRES.
What They Burned and What Started


From the New York Sun.
In 1895 there were 22,7l1 fires in
dwelling houses; next in number
were the fires in stores and offices.
which amounted to 1888; livery
stables, barns and tobacco barns, "a
rather strange combinstion) came
third, with S,142 fires. Three hun
dred and two colleges, school
houses and contents were burned,
SOB theaters and public and prl-
vate halls, and $40 churches. Man
ufacturing Establishments to the
number OF 1921, and hotels, clubs,
and restaurants to that of 1882,
were injured more or less seriously
by fire. OF the 53,961 pieces OF
property injured, Is, 95S caught fire
from exposure to fires originating
elsewhere, and the loss caused by
these $1,000 fires amounted to near
ly $3S, 100000, equal to more than
26 per cent of the total loss.
A "Chronicle table OF especial
interest is that showing the fires
caused by electric wires or lights.
Naturally, the question of cleo
tricity as cause Of fire did not
come up very long ago; in fact, 1t
is only for the ten years, 1856
1895, that figures on the matter
are to be had. In 1895 there were
249 fires caused by electricity, as
against 2l7 in 1894, but the fires
caused by exposure to those started
by electricity numbered only
eighty-nine, instead of 169 in the
former year. So the total number
of fires caused by electricity was
1888 in 1885, and 1856 in 1894, very
marked falling off. 1t is evident
that greater care insulating wires
and in other matters connected
with electrical plants Is taken.
A table of the losses by their
causes occupies considerable part
of the "Chronicle's" book and af-
fords much of interest and instruc.
ton. Accidents caused 29S fires,
80 of them in the District of Co.
lumbia and ~ in New York state.
Hot ashes and Goals started 3lS
fires, and bonfires only 40, while
burg lars caused 65. Candles set
24S fires, and carelessness only 203,
while children playing with fire
were responsible for II. Fires to
the number OF $50 were due to CT
CARS, cigarette and tobacco pipes,
while 1907 were caused by defec-
tive lues. OF these, 35S were in
Illinois and 33l in this state.
Drunken men set 16 fires in Is
states. Explosions caused 3,051
fires; of these 6 were dust explo-
sions, occurring in Illinois, Iowa
and Wisconsin. Fireworks and
firecrackers caused 3l9 fires; incen-
diarism, 1921; lightning, $50, and
matches, LII. Mischievous chill
dren started 81 fires and natural
gas 81, two of which were in New
York state. The much maligned
plumber caused only 81 fires with
his furnace, while locomotive
sparks set 457. Spontaneous COM
bustion is held responsible for 52l
fires, stoves for 1,546, and tramps
for 26S. OF unknown and unas-
signable origin were 1881 fires,
while 1851 were not reported as in.
surance losses. A study of the
cause tables enables the "Chroni-
Gle" to say the inherent and COM
mon causes show each an increased
percentage, while the indirect (of
criminal and mischievous origin)
and the unknown and unreported
show each decreased percentage,
Fifty-seven grand stands have
gone up in smokes; 73 artificial ice
factories, 2,I50 ice houses and 81
refrigerator factories have sue
cumbed in 81 years, and so have
94l theatres and opera houses. In
four years is tin.plate factories
have been burned. On tho other
hand. the busine SIS failures and the
fires do not maintain an even ratio,
in spite of the humorists of the
weekly papers; in 1895 there were
Ii, 0l3 failures and 3S,003 fires, while
in 1894 the figures were 12,724 and
35,549, and in 1898, 15,50S and 3d.
1888 respectively.
In the 81 years covered by the
tables % gymnasiums have been
burned, l3S armories, Is chambers
OF commerce and boards OF trade
and 3,l44 churches. In IA years
$3.50 barns and stables were burn
ed and 170,943 dwellings.
Not ONLY did Octoher 1895 lead