The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-07
ANNUAL F|RELOSS
IMPOSES BIG TAX
Chamber of Commerce Speaker
Places Burden at S. a
Head.
FOUR TIMES THAT OF EUROPE
Waste OF Rccklessness and
Cheap Construction Are
Blamed.
-FOUR TIMES THAT OF EUROPE

That the unnecessary fire loss OF
America imposes an annual tau. Of 50
a head on every man, woman and child
in the United states was the burden OF
the message OF Franklinl Fl. Went
worth, secretary of the National Fire
Protection Association, before the
Chamber of Commerce last night, Mr.
Wentworth combatted the currcnl
popular belief that this loss was paid
by the insurance companies" On the
contrary. he held that the insurance
companies are merely the collectors
of the ire tax of the nation, charging
like other tax collectors u handsome
premium on the job. He estimated the
annual fire less of the country at $50
100000, in the value OF the work oil
mems hands and the consequent in
evitable impoverishment to that ex-
tent of the nation at large, and cor
responding increase In the cost of liv-
ing.
United states Reckless.
Figures We're cited to show the com.
parative recklessncss of the United
States, which has fire loss four t!mes
as great as that of the countries OF
Europe IN support OF this he cited
the fact that Glasgow had a fire loss
in 1905 of s325,000, while Boston. with
a less population the same year, had
a loss exceeding s2,o60,oo0: Berlin, with
a population OF 100000 has an an
nual fire loss OF less than S1T5,00o: its
Fire Department costs about 100000:
Chicago's fire loss Is s5.ooo0o0 an
nually, and its Fire Department costs
more than 100000 for maintenance,
although its population is but two
thirds that of Berlin.
iessness and cheap wooden construc-
tion in this country. he argued. went
far to explain why fire rates are sew
eral times what they are abroad with
cent years, in which the losses reach
into the millions. and high winds fan
the flames through whole sections OF
inflammable constructed cities. insur-
anee rates, he held were more a gam
In telling of the scientific study
which has been made in recent years
into the subject of fire protection, he
claimed that the factory was the key
10 the situation. and that In each fac
tory there was some special process
or machine which was especially in
flammable and which endangered the
whole plant, lie argued for the. ses1r,e-
cation of the danger spots by the
building of fire walls and the placing
of engine rooms In separated segre'
gated buildings: for mill construction
in nonfreproof buildings. to give the
firemen chance for dlvidins build.
of wooden vertical air shafts,
Checking AGENCIES.
Mr. Wentworth told of the progress,
of the sprinkler systems. the inven
I lions OF real fire doors and shutters
of wire glass. and other provisions by
which all the buildings on certain
| streets might be made into practica
| fire wall to prevent the spread OF T:
great connagration over an entire city
] In fairness to the insurance companies
| he held that u was not right TO
| States TO attempt to regulate insurance
rates without some corresponding. stat
| utes to regulate fire risks and lesser
| the losses by CONGREGATIONS.
1 TavIpr Score
| tarv l.. s. Jones, Chief Jovnes and AS
sistant Chief Ratio. of the Fire De
partment We're interested listeners. a
We're Superintendent Davis. of th
| Water Department. and Building In
spector Beck a large number of fir
| insurance men We're present. A vot
of thanks, proposed by Coleman
| Workman, was carried with applause.