The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-05-20
NEGLECT CAUSES
MUCH FIRE LOSS
LACK OF CARE BLAMED FOR DE-
STRUCTION OF MILLIONS IN
THE UNITED STATES.
EUROPE GIVEN AS PROOF.
American Cities Best Protected with
Fighting Apparatus, Yet They Lead
World in CONGREGATIONS.
GUARDS URGED UPON NATION.

NEW YORK, May 11.-Although the
per capita loss by fire in this country
remains from ten to thirty times greater
than in the principal European centers,
President j. Montgomery Hare of the
national board of fire underwriters was
able to report substantial progress in the
campaign for protection against the
flames.
President Hare showed that for the
last five years the average annual loss by
fire in this country has been over a quar-
ter of billion, the total for the period
having been Sl.34G,UO2 .OJ9. which is Il
daily destruction of nearly $4,000.
The heavy average was Largely aug
mented 10y the San Francisco and Balti-
more fires, but taking the last two years
by themselves, President Hare showed
there was n loss of S2lJ,OS4, 100 i'll 1908.
and of SPIT $50, $50 in 1905 indicating
he said, that the annual destruction is
likely to continue above the OOOUO,OoD
mark. He pointed out that for the first
three months of 1909 il has amounted TO
nearly SJ3,~o,ouU, giving no promise of
improvement.
Do Not Include Forest Fires.
These figures do no include" said
President Hare THE loss from the burn
ing of forests nor do they take into ac-
count the indirect cost of fires, such as
the expense to the public of maintaining
fire departments and water works.
1T often has been remarked that the
appliances for the eEtiuguishing of fires
in Europe fall far below the standard
prevailing in the United States and the
same probably Is true Of the water ia
clitics for eXtinguishing fires, mt least
outside Of the large cities and yet, with
all our superiority in these respects, we
lead the world in the destruction of
property by fire.
THE questions of construction explain
part Of the difference and climatic con
dltiOnS may play their part. but when
everything Is considered | believe that
the conclusion will follow that the main
reason is rccklcssucss here rs against
the care, forethought and wise super
vision in Europe"
In support of the belief that it is the
carelcssncss of the American public that
it most to blame for the conditions here,
he pointed out that in list of D., 1l6
fires in the United States during the
last five years, at least one-half could be
properly aScribed TO Carelessncss in one
form or another
Guards Urged Upon Nation.
One Of the most promising of the
movements to restrict the destruction by
ire IS seen IN the work of the national
conservation commission. The undcrwrit-
erS have made the following recon-
mrndations to the commission as the best
means Of cutting down fire losses:
First that the public should be
brought to understand that property de-
stroycd by fire is gone forever and is
not replaced by the distribution of in
surancc, which is a tax collected for the
purpose.
Second, that the states seycrally adopt
and enforce a building code which Shall
require a high type of safe constructions
Third, that the states establish and
maintain an official or officials who shall
be required to investigate the cause and
origin Of all fires.
Fourth, that municipalities adopt or
dInances governing the use aud keep
ing of explosives, especially intammable
commodities and other special hazards,
such as electric wiring, the storing OF
refuse, waste, or packing material.