Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1909-10-22
FIRE LOSS OVER MILLIONS

Wisconsin's Fires Cost just SALTS, $50
Last Year.
Madison, Wis, Oct. A. Holding up
to view the appalling losses by fire
State Fire Marshall T. M. Purteu to-
day was lead to place conditions in
this respect befyre the mayors and
common councils of the state of Wis
consin with suggestions for the regula-
ton of such conditions. In circular
letter sent is the city clerk of every
Wisconsin city, the marshal says:
October /, 1909.
ITO mayors and common councils
I'm the brief space of this bulletin
desire to call the attention of city
governments to the appalling fire
waste of this country, especially in
citses and to urge npon you the passage
and enforcing ordinances and regula-
as in your condition will bring about
| better conditions and reduce fire waste
During the five years prior to 'GS
the fire loss of this country was one
billion two hundred sixty million dol
two million year.
1.-The average fire loss of Chicago is
obout five million dollars each year.
In Berlin, Germany, the fire loss
scarcely ever exceeds one hundred fifty
thousand dollars year.
! The average fire loss per capita in
the United States in 1907 was 50 OF, in
the six most important countries of
Europe about one-tenth of that S. 33.
Europe and the European cities
have reduced fire waste to minimum;
why cannot the United and its cities?
THE total fire loss in Wisconsin in
1908 was $4,173, $4,000. l call your
these fires and the fire loss incident to
the fires.
| CAUSE OF FIRE NO. Loss
Defective chimney, furnace,
| fireplace, fues and pipes
| .31s 1914, $4,000
Defects in electric work
and apparatus. 43. 1872, 400 90
Gasoline explosions and
| AICo. VI. oO;0"o.00
| Bonfires and refuse fires
a.. ~, oI0.oo
Hot ashes against build
| ings. "a. 15,35000
Parlor matches. 49,. 49,. 29,330.00
Proper building codes and strict
| inspection and regulation in cities
could and would have prevented most
of these fires.
''ln the brief space of this bulletin |
can do 10 more than suggest the lines
along which you can legislate and reg
ulote by a, dinance, to-Mit:
l. Establish fre-liInits.
2. Adopt a building code providing
for safer construction of buildings.
8. Proviee for the supervision of
construction and inspection of build
ings.
4. Provide for the inspection of
heating plants, fues, chimneys, cleo
trical wiring, fixtures and apparatus.
5. Regulate the care and storage of
og fiasoline, dynamite, naphta, nytro-
glycerin, powder, gun-cotton and other
infamable and explosive substances
and fluids.
6. Regulate the care and disposition
of refuse, waste boxes, papers, packing
material, ETC., in buildings, alleys and
yards.
Z. Regulate bon fires, waste-papsr
fires aid fireworks.
s. Make sure of an adequate we'll
distributed water supply.
9. Have an efficient, non-political
fire department, and
II am certain that systematic work
along the lines suggested above in the
cities of this state will greatly diminish
the number of firss and the appalling
fire waste.
In all efforts to this end the state fire
marshall's department will heartily
cooperate with you.
Respectfully yours,
L. NJ Purtell, State Fire Marshall.