Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-12-14
cement men IN THEIR
annual CONVENTION

of Chicago, president OF the organiza'
ton, in an address delivered tonight
before the National Association of Ce-
ment Users at its seventh annual con-
yention in Madison Square Garden.
THE National Fire Protection Assocl'
ation," said Mr.. Merrill, islands for
conservation Of the created resources
of America" He gave figures to snow
1.-The enormous annual fire losses in the
United States and told how the asso-
citation was educating the public to
prevent these losses.
I'VE believe that fire waste is OF
great Importance" he said, "as al
fec,ing the material welfare of the
nation as whole, and is OF direct
obligatory and pecuniary interest to
each one of us having families to pro-
tect and property to preserve for our
families use. Each loss by fire is
drain upon the material resources of
the country, Irecoyerable through
the collection of insurance.
1.-THE average annual loss by fire
lin the United States in the past ten
years has been over two hundred mil
lion dollars, and during the past five
years has averaged over two hun
dred and fifty million dollars. An
average loss for the last five years OF
two hundred and fifty millions means
loss of about thirty thousand dollars
each hour. One thousand two hun
dred and sixty million of dollars In
the products of human toll has been
wiped out of existence in the brief
space of five years. The values repre-
scented by the fire waste would more
than pay the stock dividends Of all
railroads. 1t exceeds the revenue Of
the national postoffice; it is greater
than the production Of gold or silver.
The annual number of fires in
American cities average forty for each
ten thousand of population, as COM
pared to eight of each ten thousand
population in European cities. The
annual per capita loss in Australia,
Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and
Switzerland varies from IL cents in
Italy to 40 cents in Germany, with an
average of 33 cents; in the United
States the average is $2.47. Berlin
has a population of three million. Its !
average annual fire loss is one hun
dred and seventy thousand dollars.
Chicago with it's population of two
million burns up annually nearly five :
million dollars OF values. We destroy !
more property by fire than do any i
four nations in Europe.
The National Fire Protection AS ;
ISOLATION has been steadily engaged in !
an effort to reduce in some measure
This enormous and disproportionate |
waste. Through our active member,
the National Board of Fire UnderWrlt-
ers, a model building code has been |
p epa1ed and freely distributed to Of
ficers Of all municipalities who could :,
be interested. Through the same or
ganization expert fire protection en-
gineers visit all of the principal cities
of the country and make extensive ,
reports on the conhagration condi- |
lions. In our own organization we
have appointed large number of
committees, each one Of which has !
perfected model specifications in va
rious branches of fire protection en-
gineering and in the field covered by |
fire prevention.
Another publication covers spec- I
fications for automatic sprinkler in
stallations, outlining in detail the
methods to be followed in equipping
buildings with the most useful and |
successful extinguishing agent. Pub
LEGATIONS of a similar character which |
have been distributed in editions of |
many thousands and which are freely |
used by property owners, architects, !
insurance boards, and others interest |
ed, include specifications for the con-
struction and installation of fire
doors and fire windows. fire shutters,
electrical signalling systems affecting
the fire hazard valves and hydrants,
hose, suggestions for organizing pri-
vate fire departments, and various
forms of building construction. Speci.
fications for safeguarding hazardous
appliances and systems coming under
the general head of explosives and
combustibles have been issued, in
Guiding films for moving picture ma
chimes, systems for storing fluids
which at ordinary temperatures give
off inflammable vapors, acetylene gas
machines, gasoline vapor gas lighting
machines, lamps and systems, engines
and stoves, rules for waste cans, ash
cans, refuse barrels, fire pals and
safety cans for benzine and gasoline,
storage and use of fuel oil, kerosene
| oil pressure systems, and also sug-
gestion for protection against light
ming.
1--WE are issuing from time to time
circulars and copy for newspapers on
both the common and the periodical
causes of fire, such as the hazards
of Christmas decorations and dis
plays, the menace of the match, the
hazards of defective chimneys and
fues, and also the proper season
warnings as to celebrations of the
national holidays, particularly the
Fourth of JULY
Beautiful Gift Books-at Knappen's.