The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-05
IMPORTANT AND MERITORlOUS
MEASURE WHICH FAILED
TO PASS THE LAST LEG
STATURE.

PIE of an old and conservative North
Carolina town. unconsciously makes a
strong argument for a bill that failed
in the last Legislature. 1t says
THE little town of Salem, N c., Of
fers a useful object lesson in the sys-
tenn of protection from dangers of
fire. Mr.. Edward Atkinson, who, when
he is not engaged in anti-imperialistic
foolishness, makes some excellent prac-
tical suggestions, in a letter to the Bos-
tor Transcript calls attention to the re-
markable fire record of Salem. 1t is 1877
years old, and in all that time not only
has had no conflagratiQn but no disastrous
fire. 1t has never in its history had a
fire where the loss was over $3.50. There
was only one dwelling burned in 100
years, dating from 1776, and there never
was but one fire which got beyond the
building in which it originated On that
occasion two buildings were burned. each
worth $3.50. During the first 1877 years
Of the towns history the total loss of
property by fire was less than $4,000 And
Salem is town of between 1000 and
5000 people.
"The explanation of this remarkable
immunity from fire is Salem's fire or
dnance, which provides for inspection
of all buildings in order to remove dan
gerous heating appliances. The inspec-
tors hunt out all defective fues. I'M
safe stoves and furnaces, insecure stove
pipes and chimneys, and unsafe recep-
tacles for ashes. They also give special
attention to the construction of build
ngs. No property owner is allowed to
put up an insecure building. What is
even more to the purpose, the people
l themselves cooperate cheerfully with
the inspectors, and from long experience
have become themselves well acquainted
with all the methods of protection
against fire. Thus they have minimized
the danger with the results already
stated.
ut is the old story, IAN ounce OF pre-
Sention is worth a pound of cure" Fires
cannot be absolutely stopped. but they
can be largely prevented by thorough in
spection. The causes of danger being re-
moved or provided against, there IS lit
tie chance of fire"
During the Legislature Senator God
win, of Harnett, introduced bill to
reduce the fire waste by enforcing stand
ards of construction in building and GER
| tain regulations for the prevention of
fires. Below is a summary of the pur-
poses of the bill:
First, it prescribed that buildings,
chimneys and fiues should not be built
| in a manner which experience has shown
-.
Second, that reasonable care be ex-
ercised in the use and disposal of explo-
sives and other things infammable and
| unsafe.
Third, that the Chief of Fire Depart
ment of each town should enforce the
provisions of the bill and be under the
| supervision of and accountable to the In
srrance Commissioner of the State.
Fourth, that there is not a provision
| in the bill which was not a wholesome
| police regulation that it worked no hard
| ship to any one and would be. blessing
| in and protection to every community
| in which enforced.
Fifth, that the expense to the State of
enforcing the law was to be borne by the
| insurance companies by an additional tax
| imposed upon them for the purpose.
Sixth, that it would have enabled North
Carolina companies to at least maintain
the low rates of insurance prevailing
| in this State which are rs per cent lower
than in any other Southern State and
would have justified still further re-
| duction in rates of insurance.
Seventh, that in reducing the fire
waste, this bill if it had become law
would have tended to foster and build
VI. the States wealth and resources by
preventing the destruction of values to
| the public and to insurance companies
caused by every fire that occurs.
The bill, embracing the above provis-
| ions, had the approval of the State In
surance Commissioner and the North
Carolina insurance companies, was re-
of the Senate Committee on Insurance,
after spending several hours in consid-
| ering it section by section. 1t was de-
| feated in the Senate. Its defeat was
probably due to the fact that its pur-
poses were not fully understood. The
earnest advocates of Senator God
wins bill had no object in view except
| to extend to the cities and towns of the
State those standards of building and
police regulations which the best regula-
ted communities in this country already
| have and which experience has shown
to be necessary in order to check the
| destructive waste by fire. The desire is
to make a general scientific law that will
| do for all the towns what has been done
| locally for Salem. 1t has worked we'll
| there. Properly safeguarded, regulations
as to building and inspection are neces-
/ sary if the State is to maintain and bet
| ter its good record in the matter of fires.
| The history of European countries.
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