The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-04
DANGER is THERE
Celebration of Christmas a Time
for PrecautiOn.
More Accidents Than on Fourth
of July.
FIREMEN ARE CAREFUL
Always Fear C0nflagratiOn i'm
Holiday Time.
FIREMEN ARECAREFUL
Electric Lights Now Much Used
in Christmas Trees.

The Christmas tree, the Christmas
turkey and the tallow candle are more
angerous to life and property than
he sky rocket, the blank cartridge
snd the giant fire cracker according
to men who know. Despite the hue and
cry. for it is in reality only hue and
cry, against the noisy celebration of
July Fourth-there is much more dan
ger incident to the Christmas celebra-
ton and what goes with it, the Christ
mas shopping, than in "celebrating''
Greater fires occur as a result of
the observance of Christmas than are
cue to the noisy fourths Of July The
danger is extended over more terri
and a larger amount of loss is in
HClved by Christmas and Christmas
shopping than by the Young America
demonstrations in commemoration of
the signing of our national independ-
ence proclamation.
In the business district the danger
OF fire is constant for two or three
weeks before Christmas and it extends
all over the business district. Wiring
for show. windows is device which
l. fraught with danger of a bad blaze.
he use, of cotton as imitation snow
more likely to cause bad fire than
the firing of cannon crackers on paved
and we'll cleaned streets. The dump
Ing OIL S4CSlSlOT OF Tissue paper, SucA
as Christmas goods are packed in near
the buildings. as is often done, is a
practice which causes heavy losses.
The placing of an electric light near
-aper or cloth is dangerous and more
likely to cause fires than the sending
Up of skyrockets at night.
Ffremen Are Careful.
The precautions taken by the local
fire department show that the holiday
season is regarded as more dangerous
than July Fourth. On the last named
occasion no firemen are allowed off,
t, ird to the fifth instant, but that is
about all the precaution taken. Pre-
vious to Christmas, however, stores
and show windows are inspected and
The proprietors are shown the dangers
that arise from carelessness of en-
Lloyes who. worked almost to the
limit by those who do their Christmas
shopping both late and early, postpone
the work which should be done at
tnce. Waste is allowed to accumulate
ir Easements and some of the worst
fires in history have resulted from
this carelessness. Building after build
ing is thus inspected. On July Fourth
The danger of fire in the business dis
t-.ict is confined to the few stores
which handle fireworks.
OF late years the Christmas tree in
the larger cities has been more or less
denatured' by the use of electric
ights In place of tallow candles. But
there is still much danger of fire from
The lights on the Christmas tree given
g. the church. or. for that matter. in
the home. And in places where the
candle Is used one of the most danger
us practices is INDUCED in because it
IS the Christmas season. In the small
towns the candles used on Christmas
trees are still claiming their share of
victims each year.
Work for Doctors.
Topeka physicians report generally
that thev ha re more calls following
hristmas anC THANKSGIVING than they
90 following July Fourth. The turkey
is declared to be responsible for this
Usually there are no serious effects
eyond the misery in which the patient
,les for two or three days but there is
IS much of this as there is in the ma
&c rity of calls which physicians receive
rs the results of burns of Independence
cay. Another feature of the case is
that almost any kind of a burn calls
fer treatment by physician because
@ the danger of blood poison. while
eople who are i'll from eating too
n. UGH turkey and cranberries often ap-
~ home remedies and in many cases
dc not call Z physician.
In an effort to minimize the danger
incident to Christmas the business
men have formed the habit of calling
in the iremen when new wiring is be-
ing done. and of asking for inspec-
lions of their buildings from time to
time. Chief Wilmarth of the fire de-
Eartment declares that it is pleasure
IT, the members of the department to
co this work adding that they would
rather prevent a small blaze than sue
coed in checking big one. The fire
marshal also urges the Christmas
shopper not to smoke while he is in
pecting goods and urges merchants
! cot to allow this 1t will decrease the
chances of fire. he says.
Topeka has never had bad Christ
mas fire Neither has it ever had a
serious Fourth of July accident. But
the dangers. it is declared. are great
Zeal more about Christmas time than
on July Fourth