The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1910-12-29
Fire Mnrshal,s Denartment.

I
in the matter OF fires. While other
places have had many costly ones in
the state as shown by press dis
patches and the state fire marshal's
reports, this city has been fortu-
nately low in the newspaper head
lines and the marshal's comments
on big fires"
1t is not that the clty's equipment
is better; it is not that ,Clarksburg
is better protected against fires, I'M
less it be carefulness exercised in
building, stringing of wires and the
like, and the precautlon taken by
the people generally.
But be 1t luck or whatever one
may seem proper to call it, no one
should take it for granted that the
past in this respect insures the flu
ture. Fire is an uncertain quantity.
While Clarksburg may feel safe
in sense because OF its fortune in
the past, 1t should not overlook or
fail TO appreciate every effort that
tends to protect against one OF the
two great destructive elements.
and it is hoped that every common
datlon and encouragement possible
will be given that department of the
state government especially created
and maintained to combat the burn
ing OF property, which not infre-
quently results in the snutting o.
human life.
In this connection under the head
of ''incendiary burning" the state
auditors monthly report just issued
contains the following concerning
the department OF the state fire mar
sha showing the progress OF the
work in protecting property and
Furnishing tirebugs. of which prog
ress there iced he no words OF COM
mendation as the work itself is all
the commentator it needs:
Since the establishment of this
office by the legislature of 1909, ten
men have been sentenced and are
now serving terms in prison fo- in
cend,ary burning, ,ad number OF
others have narrowly escaped under
the benefit of doubt, argument. AS
far as We have been able TO ascertain
this is larger mum or OF convic-
tions than has hithe.;J i en- known
in the history of The sss
From August, 1869. T. august,
1910. one hundred and e'sat crooked
fires were reported ~ Ire chiefs.
mayors and justices q. the peace
throughout the stat. Tie property
loss in these fires was $212,S65.
Using the average tax rate of 81,
this means direct loss to the state
N taxes OF $1,7s4, to say nothing of
the heavy loss to the parties owning
the ":operty. Over fifty per cent of
these fires were reported within four
months after the opening of this Of
fee.
1t is impossible for two men to
carry on the office and inspection
work of the department, and make a
careful investigation of a crooked
fire every third day. 1t often r.
quires weeks to unearth carefully
laid plot to destroy a property and
the evidence is necessarily circurl-
stGntial, the direct proof being
burned up, and hence the trials, both
preliminary and final, require great
acsl of time.
We have been able to investigate
only a small per cent of these losses.
and none of the 1855 fires of nm
known origin, carrying with them a
loss of $471,959, have been looked
into as required by the act.
I While complete investigation
would no doubt vindicate number
Of the los accused. it would involve
as large per cent of the 1S5 'ur-
= known
Ten years of practical test of the
Ohio fire marshal law, which is one
of the Oldest and probably the best
act dealing with this subject, has
: brought the per capita loss down to
$l.I5 while in states having no such
: law the average is $3.50, and in our
own state during the first year tesr
I OF the law the per capita loss waS
? S2.O2"
: Clarksburg doubtless does not
: fully appreciate the report as there
!. has been but one case or two here
r where incendiarism was suspected
! But, if there were to be great los,
{ of property here, even without losl
d Of life, there would be grea
d awakening, If it We're the common
i belief that a firebug was at fault
I What must be the tension of the feel
. ing at Jacksonburg now, where few
! days ago the heart OF the town wa