Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-08-21

good has already been done, and yet
the top of the ladder has not been
reached in that direction. know
how much good it would do in my
home city and state if we had good,
competent building inspectors, cloth
ed with proper authority by the state
laws, and city ordinances, to inspect
and compel builders to so construct
them that they would be easy Of
access in case of copflagration, and
by all means to allow as little in
tlammable material to be used in the
construction of the same as condi
tions might warrant.
Mr. President, we have not come
here as senators and representatives
from our several states to make laws
for the protection of society and COM
mercial interests, but We have come
together to devise ways and means
for the protection Of life and proper
ty against that terrible element, Fire
We are living in an age Of progress
and achievements, and in order to be
successful in our undertaking there
must, first be method, and second, in
terest. The first thing that we as an
organization, should do in regard to
method is to indOrse a fire marshal
law for each and every state; this
law should be passed after the fire
chiefs of the states have been called
upon for their views on the subject,
and, let me add in this connection,
that their views will be forthcOfing
without any hope Of political reward.
After having secured the ideas of the
various fire chiefs then a law should
be placed on the statute books that
would be credit to the state, cloth
ing the fire marshal with full au-
, thority to compel the attendance of
any person to an inquiry as to the
| probable cause of any fire; and, fur.
Their, each city, town and village
should have a competent building in
spector. Care should be taken to so
frame the laws that there would be
no friction between the paid and vol
unteer departments, for in q state
like my own the fire protection comes
in far the larger measure from vol
unteer departments, for in unity
there is strength. So much for meth
cd.
| AL "lllCl Oll Alc lAdltCA .
says: Great CONGREGATIONS appear to
have no historic significance, but by
them and lesser fires, have been
taught lessons for the protection of
concentrated city property. These
lessons may be classed under three
heads, first: Prevention, such as rigid
fire ordinances, proper inspection OF
new structures, wide and straight
streets, convenient and numerous fire
plugs, inside and outside faucets with
affixed and convenient hose. Second
extinction, under which head comes
all of the modern fireman's apparatus,
electric alarms, and up-todate en-
gines. hose that will not burst, train
ed horses, and last, but greatest OF
all-brave, fearless tiremen! The
third may be called limitation, under
which comes all the scientific meth
DDS for combining fires when it is as
certained to be beyond control. Blu
the use Of gun powder, dynamite,
axes and water the fire is kept from
spreading and it's territory limited
and confined
Over ninety per cent of the fires
yOu dlc CdAICO upOA " NOAhOoI OSSuA
in buildings. Is there any argument
against inspection as means Of fire
prevention, responsibility charge
able for so many of your grey hairs,
when compared with the great num-
Der of human souls that inhabit
burnable buildings? Is it not high
time that we awaken to the question
of prevention? The only answer Is,
Yes! Stricter building regulations
are a prime essential in every city,
town and village in the United States
and now the question is: How is
this great loss to be curtailed? One
ay is that every building hereafter
erected shall be under the supervis'
ion of a building Inspector, duly H.
ceased and paid by the owner of the
building. He should take care of the
interests of the owner, but his first
duty should be to the city. The in
spector should be man in whom
the whole community had confidence,
and could trust; then the second sub
ject would be safeguarded, viz: In
terest.
In conclusion, I am afraid that |