The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-05-27
STUDY FIRE LOSSES
National Underwriters Associa.
ton Gives Out Information
in Regard to Fires
URGES CARE AMONG PEOPLE

Although the per capita loss by fire
in this country remains from ten to
thirty times greater than in the prin-
cipal 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
quarter of billion, the total for the
period having been $1,346,002, 059,
which is a daily destruction of nearly
$4,000.
The heavy average was largely
augmented by the San Francisco and
Baltimore fires, but taking the last
two years by themselves, President
showed there was loss Of $215,0S4,-
700 in 1908, and of $217, 1885, $50 in
1908, indicating he said, that the annu-
al destruction is likely to continue
above the $20O,0o0,00O mark He
pointed out that for the first three
months of 1909 it has amounted to
nearly $53,0o0,000, giving no promise
of Improvement.
"These figures dc not include,'' said
President Hare, 'fthe loss from the
burning Of forests nor do they take
into account the indirect cost Of fires,
such as the expense to the public of
maintaining fire departments and
water works.
cit often has been remarked that
the appliances for the extinguishing
of fires in Europe fall far below the
standard prevailing in the United
States and the same probably is true
of the water facilities for extinguish-
ing fires, at 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.
sSThe questions of construction ex-
plain part Of the difference and
climatic conditions may play their
part, but when everything is consid-
cred believe that the conclusion will
follow that the main reason is reck-
lessness here as against the care, fore
thought and wise supervision in
Europe sat
In support of the belief that it is
the carelessness of the American pub
lie that is most to blame for the con-
oitions here, he pointed out that in a
list of 522,716 fires in the United
States during the last five years at
least one-half could be properly ascrib-
ed to carelessness in one form or an
other.
One of. the most promising of the
movements to restrict the destruction
by fire is seen in the work of the Ma
tional Conservation Commission. The
underwriters have made the following
recommendations to the Commission
as the best means of cutting down fire
losses:
First, that the public should be
brought to understand that property
destroyed by fire is gone forever and
is not replaced by the distribution of
insurance, which is tax collected for
the purpose.
Second, that the states severally
adopt apd enforce building code
which shall require high type of safe
construction.
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
ordinances governing the use and
keeping of explosives, especially in
fammable commodities and other speci
al hazards, such as electric wiring, the
storing of refuse, waste, or packing
material.