Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-07-18
THE FIRE BUG IN GLOBE

With the occurrence of several mysterious fires in Globe within the past few weeks very grave suspicion as to their probable origin has arisen in the minds of no small number of citi- zens who are steadfastly on the side of munci pal law and order and desirous of seeing noth- ing come to pass in the city that may perchance diminish her chances of speedily becoming the unrivalled metropolis of the great southwest. It is safe to say that the average aw-abiding resident respectfully and ashamedly admits the possibility of some of Globes conhagrations be- ing of questionable origin, but despite any amount of reluctance that one may have to at tach the responsibility for these fires on any particular person, or group of persons, 1t is in- dubitably certain that the issue can not be lodged because of any qualms of conscience Do what he will the mere human being is unable to exclude from his mind certain ideas that creep into it, although unwecomed And in this case, at least every principle of reason would naturally lead one to confess to the sus- picion that some of the fires that have occurred m Globe in the past few months can not be traced to either purest accident or disastrous circumstance
 Now while this suspicion of malice on the part of someone is rife, as nearly everyone ac- quainted with the details is willing to admit we, among others, are earnest in the hope that we are in serious error. This is one case where to be mistaken would be far more acceptable to everyone concerned than to be unerringv right. But we are forced to add that no external evi- dence thus far brought to light leads us to think that our judgment in this particular matter has transcended the bounds of conservative thought, To paraphrase the old, old adage, ''Where there is so mudh smoke there must be some fire" we may modestly assume that ''where there is so much fire there must be some fire buzz" To evolve some such reflection the wisdom of an Aristotle or the discernment of a Socrates is in no way necessary. It is the kind of thought that iguratively hys up and strikes in the face, and to ward it off or con sign it to limbo is manifestly impossible
 Now in primitive days of wigwam and cave, to destroy ones habitation or place of con ducting business would have been considered foolish but harmless proceeding for inasmuch as the modern institution of fire insurance had not then invaded the primal order of things all motive for such destruction was wholly lacking But i'll this very precocous twentieth century, conditions are quite different For insurance against fire has come to be not only hard fact but has also advanced so far beyond being a commercial luxury that it is positive business necessity, If a man is to sleep of a night un- haunted by the nightmare of awaking bereft of home and business and fortune in the morning through the agency of some sudden conhagra- tion. We hear of cities within the confines of this territory where to insure a building against loss has become so hazardous that the com panies are unwilling to take the risk. A more serious setback to the industry of any town does not often occur. Not only is it great source of loss and annoyance to the men doing business in city, but it is also provocative of very evil impression on the general public. We can scarcely blame man looking for place to es- tablish home and make investment if he in- fers that city where law and order is so little regarded that the aggregate fire insurance in