Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-21
DANGER Turks IN The MATCH
Carelessness with Modern Lucifel
Brings Fire and Death.
WE ARE A wAsTEFUL PEOPLE
Persistent Efforts TO Check the Up
ward Tendency OF Fire Losses
Kitchen stoves on Dam
ger Zones.

The 100000 people in America use as
many matches as the 10000, 900 in the rest
of the world, according to the statistics of
the National Fire Protection association.
This is a startling commentary upon the
American nation and supports the conten-
ton that we are the most wasteful and ex-
travagant people in the world.
If one is in need of a match anywhere in
continental Europe he must seek 1t in its
proper place. Matches are not wasted in
the old world. Centuries of training = in
thrift and economy make the continentals
conscious of the fact that matches cost
money. Where does one find them in
America? They are in almost every room,
in almost every building, public and pri-
vate. The American breathes imprecations
If he cannot at any moment of the day or
night reach out his hand and find a match.
They repose in the pockets or Innings of
every old coat and waistcoat; they are scat
tered about desk and bureau drawers; they
are found in every accumulation of rub
bish wherever 1t may be; they are so care
lessly and recklessly thrown about that
rats and mice have adopted them as a
standard article for nest building, certain
always of an available supply.
A Persistent Fire Bug.
Unfortunately, the burden of this extrav-
agance is not confined to the cost of the
matches themselves. This little article,
unknown until 1882, while perhaps the most
important factor in our civilization, has
been doing its best ever since its creation
to destroy the world It was designed to
serve. The assistance given it as an instru-
ment of destruction by the carelessness of
the American people is a matter OF amaze
ment to continental countries. The aver
age per capita property loss by fire in CEN
trail western and southern Europe is 33
cents; in the United States the average is
1902. The reason for this astonishing diff
ference is obvious the moment conditions
are scrutinized. While this is being writ
ten a continual shower of imperfectly ex-
tinguished matches is falling into waste
baskets, rubbish heaps. upon the rugs Of
clubs, hotels, dwellings and offices, thrown
by careless smokers. Men reputed to be
good fathers have been known to light
cigars in the hallway of their homes, throw
the match in the general direction of a
cuspidor and go out, to return in half an
hour to see firemen rescuing their sleeping
children from second-story windows.
In Massachusetts in 1907 there were 5,7si
fires, 1880 of which, entailing a loss of
$65S,S46, were caused by matches.
A Busy Season.
The fire marshal OF Wisconsin says that
during a period of sixty days twenty five
fires in mis- state, involving a property loss
of sos, 327, were traceable directly to the
"parlor" match. In Ohio, another of the
few states giving attention to needless fire
waste, the fire marshal declares that match
fires constitute a Continuous performance
at a cost Of $500, 900 per year. In one year
of 46 fires from matches in this state, u.
were caused by children; 29S by the care.
lessness of adults, and 20 by rats and mice
also through carelessness of adults.
Thirty-six women and children were
burned to death in Ohio through havins
their clothing fired by matches. OF these
who suffered death in this, its most horrible
form, thirty were children playing with
matches left carelessly within their reach
and six were women whose clothing tool
fire from flying match heads. Among these
are not included five mothers who were
themselves burned to death while trying tc
save the lives of their burning children.
The number of persons burned to deatt
In the United States each year by the par.
Tor match is between 800 and 800, and the
property loss more than 1900, 900. The par.
lor' match is the common variety, whict
can be ignited upon any hard surface, as
distinguished from the safety" match
which cannot ordinarily be ignited except
upon the box in which it is sold. The
original "lucifer' match, which when liz.
nited gives off the choking fumes of sui
phur, is still used extensively, and, is q
safer match where handl carelessly thar
the larger-headed parlor type.
Lessenins the Zeal Of the Torch,
Certain effort has been expended upon the
parlor match to lessen its fire hazard. In
some varieties the stick is chemically
treated, so that a live coal will not remain
when the flame is e~xtinguished. In others,
called "bird'seye' matches, only a small
white point of phosphorus on the head can
be ignited by friction. These improvements
are good as far as they so. but vast guam
titles OF the most hazardous type are found
everywhere in the United States. Denmark
and Switzerland prohibit their use, and
other continental countries impose ~restrtc-
tons. 1t is in America only where CHEAP
wooden buildings abound. and where, there
fore, restrictions are most vitality needed
that the parlor match is free to slay and
burn.
1t costs no more to make the safety match
than 1t does to make the deadly variety,
anu II u olulndrlly sou as cneaply. Mod
ern matchmaking machinery can turn out
from 1900, G0 to 100000 OF either kind In a
day. 1t rests, therefore, with the people
themselves, either to continue the present
careless swapping Of match heads upon bed
covers, curtains, carpets, clothing and other
inflammable materials, for which practice
so frightful a price is paid in property and
life; or to protect the common interests
OF humanity and the life Of their households
by thoughtfully exercising care in ordering
their match supply. 1t is almost wholly a
matter OF education.
Fire Dangers from Stoves.
How many women with the RESPONSE
bilities of the household on their shoulders
are conscious of the danger that turks in
the constant drying of cloths near the fine?
In almost every kitchen. and every nursery
where there is a nursery stove, servants
are allowed to surround the fire with cot
ton cloths which are very inflammable as
soon as they are dry. There are few
housewives who have not some time been
given a start by a wreath OF smoke or a
smell of scorching cloth from cotton or
linen things hung by the stove over chair
backs to dry. Many homes are being con-
stantly destroyed and many lives lost