The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-26
INCREASED FIRE LOSSES.

During the past three years there has
been a steady increase in the losses by
fire in the United States. Taking the
month of January for comparisons the
losses for that month in 1898 were approx
imately $9,472,OO0 in 1899 they Were $1O-
$4,000, and in 1900 they Were $11 $500; a
jump of more than 100000 each succeed
ing year The total losses during 1899 are
calculated to be not less than S115, 100000;
an increase over the previous year, ac-
cording to the Insurance Press, of upwards
of $l4466,OOO.
What is the cause of these enormous
losses, and of the great increase in losses
last year2 A consensus of opinion of fire
fighters and insurance men seems to be
that the chief cause is three-fold namely,
improper insulation of electric wires in
buildings, defective fues and lack of pre-
caution. In addition TO these there are
faults of construction, and carelessness,
which are responsible for heavy losses.
Many of the worst fires that have oc-
CURED recently originated from poor in.
sulation of electric wires or faulty wiring.
The burning of hotel a Knoxville, Tenn,
a few days ago is attributed to the cleo
trio wires, as is also the recent burning
of a large tenement in New York The
electrical hazard is regarded by insur-
ance underwriters as one of the most Sc
rious they have to contend with. Chief
Croker of the New York fire department,
discussing the matter in the Journal of
that city, says a very general cause" of
electric wires in buildings, and the en-
ployment of mechanics who are ignorant
of the proper means of handling and pro-
tecting those wires" This opinion is con-
CURED in by a number of insurance pres
idents electrical conditions have been
and are so hazardous in many localities"
says the Insurance Press, that under
writer's, for elf-protection, as well as in
the interest of the public. have been OBJ
liged to formulate and enforce stringent
rules for electrical installations" Much Of
the wiring in buildings was put in when
the requirements for safety were not SO
well understood as they are now. ana
much more of it has been put in by me-
chanics who do not understand the ma
ture of the fluid for which they arrange
the conductors.
More than one-fifth of the fires through
out the country, according to President
Moore of the Continental Company, are
caused by defective fiues; that is to say.
losses approximating 100000 per month
arise from this cause. The defective flue
is the creature of the cheap builder or
the rasJaly contractor. 1t would take an
extra amount of brick or tile to render a
nue absolutely safe; to save the expense
of this extra material, the hue is left
light and Insecure, and a conhagration Is
the outcome.
A novel. but no doubt correct, sugges-
ton to account in part for the increased
fire losses Of last year is advanced by
President Eaton of the Liverpool, London
and Globe. The increased activity in all
lines of business and trade. he says, is
largely responsible. Stores, factories and
warehouses, ordinarily deserted and dark
at night, are now scenes of action tintil
late hours With the greater use of lights.
electric and gas. and the strain on en-
ployes by overwork, it would, indeed be
rather singular If there were no increase
IN the number Of fires
The accumulation OF rubbish I'm base
ments and cellars. under sidewalk gratinrs
and elsewhere. is also fruitful source
of fires A lighted match carolessly drob-
ped into such a rubbish heap may. and
most likely will, start a fire that will de-
stroy the building