New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-18
FIRE DEFENCE.
AMERICANS THE BEST OF ALL FIRE
FIGHTERS-THE MOST RECKLESS
OF ALL FIRE INVITERS.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHODS OF PREVENT
ING AND FIGHTING THE DESTROYING ELEMENT
THE CHEMICAL AFFIRMATION OF FLAMES
FABRICS RENDERED INvULNERABLE-MA-
TERIAL THAT SIMPLY WON'T BURN
MODERN FIRE EoUIPMENT-THE
wArcHMAN THAT NEVER sLEEPs
Americans are proud to boast that in no country
of the world has the science OF fire fighting and fire
detection reached so high degree of perfection as
In this. The comparison. while correct, should be
taken rather as Indicative of the fatuous indiffer
ence of other nations than as an evidence of our
own supreme excellence
True fl is that in cities the fire departments
are marvels of ski,ful, daring achievement, but
fire departments the pound Of cure Where
fall behind older countries Is IN the lack Of
that still essential 'ounce Of prevention. If
low lying. badly drained. unceanly city should
boast that its corps Of physicians expert
specialists in malariai fevers that fact would be
looked upon merely the operation of the law Of
for congratulation only when they had removed
the preoisposing causes to disease.
The precisely similar in regard fires.
Our almost universal use of unireproofed wood
the chief factor in building, the very general de-
pendence upon furnaces for warmth. the constantly
Increasing adoption Of electricity for illumination
OF iniamrnable materials and collections of paper
and rubbish in cellars and closets, make fire breed
ing centres, the constant outbreaks from which
have made American fremen what they are;
" nat Is needed Is rot only Il feIOrn IN me ma
teTiai OF which. and the manner in which, build
ings are constructed, but house to house system
of education. crusade against the almost criminal
negligence Of house owners. factory proprietors
ard hotel keepers.
The press Is the only agent capable Of reaching
all mems ears ia such a way as TO compel atten-
ton and IFS efforts should be seconded by the in
teiigent projectors of fire preventive devices, in
order to~incucate the prime necessity of prepar-
ing to do battle with the fire fend before such
emergency actually arises
Much Of the apparatus conspcuously paraded
in hotels ard pubic buildings would, if tested,
prove useless from age, rust, accident or neglect
A = ding. TO insure the greatest possible X
enption from damage loss of life by fire, should
be. in the first place. constructed nearly fire
proof possible. Often conditions such that
this cannot be even Appropriated. In the second
place, II should be equipped throughout with auto
matte IRE detectors with alarms all over the build
Ing Thirdly. il should contain a sufficient number
of chemical eXtnguishers, and, lastly il should
in all cities have electric communication with the
department.
In this connection may be mentioned a case
brought 10 the writer's attention recently A
certain well known and palatial residence in this
city. just of the builders HANDS fitted with
every appliance that luxury could suggest-its in
terror alone representing outlay of 50 900 600
and crowded besides with works of of far
greater value. was found to be totally devoid OF
any appliances either for detecting overcoming
fire should il occur.