Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-12
SOMETHING ABOUT FIRE.
Many Large CONGREGATIONS Have
Come From the Tiniest Beginnings.

George Il. Mcclellan, former mayor
of New York in an article in the At
lantic Monthly. recently reviewed,
called attention to the growth OF
state Socialism" in American cities.
Rochester ferds an interesting ex-
ample of it. Not content with educat-
ing peoples children, enforcing healthy
living conditions on them and play
ing the part of guardian and parent.
Rochester Is now starting in TO edu-
cate its citizens in the art of keeping
their stores and homes from being de-
stroyed by fire.
One of the most Interesting little
booklets that has found its way into
The News office for some time is
labelled The Prevention of Fire
with the words Rochester Chamber
OF Commerce" where the authors
name is generally placed. 1t is 80
simple that it begins with the declar-
alton that "al fires are about the
same size when they start 1t brings
out, in the most convincing manner.
the fact that property or money
burned is property, money, labor alb
solutely lost. And then comes an
argument that there is a close rela-
ness and fire Constantinople, a city
characterized by uncleanlness, the
apotheoss of filth, is the most fire
stricken city in the world Out of
this ic evolved the theory Of the per-
sonai responsibility for cleanliness and
care, 70 the end that the number of
fires be reduced at least 80 per cent
If all fires are about the same size
when they start. Evidently the most
critical time is the first, five minutes.
Every fire is the personal RESPONSE
bility of the occupant of the building
for the first five minutes of its life"
This is phasized-and also the pre-
vention of great fires is pointed out
by quoting the man who discovered
the fire in the state capital building
at Albany: The fire at this time
could have been put out easily with
pail or two of water. We searched
in vain Tor anything to serve the pur-
pose. The night Waterman ran down
stairs to sound the alarm. there being
no alarms in the building. While We
awaited for the department." Well.
The loss was something like sS.000.000
of money value, and many priceless
documents.
With this foundation ii is quite easy
for the Rochester board of commerce
to point out the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ness and care, which keep combusti-
Dle materials under cover; inspection
OF flues and wires regularly; buckets
and fire extinguishers where they will
be available; fire extinguishers are in
working order; construction with ma
terials little subject to fire: no excel
sor. leaves or other finder" left To
be touched off by a match or cigar
cite thrown aside.
Since the little booklet was pub
lished. Bangor. Me. has been swept
BY a fire that, in the, beginning was
no larger than the lighted end of u
cigarette.
There are two observations in the
booklet that are essentially interest
ing. One is that it is now as cheap
TO build with cement or hollow tile as
with wood while the cost of upkeep
is lower. The other is that though
buildings may be fireproof. that peo-
pie caught in them. while the wooden
furniture and fittings are burning.
are not fireprcof. There is. says
the writer. too much confidence
placed in the fireproof buildings. a
furnace is "freproof' exactly the sam"
as building is, and the contents OF
furnace will burn exactly as the
contents of 'fireproof building do
burn. The building in which 14s peo-
rIe were cooked to death in New 1c"
recently. and the Iroquois theater III
Chicago, were 'freproof. The Gin
cinnati Chamber of Commerce was
'fireproof.' And in each and every
case everything inside them was
burned ont. Do not make "A fetish OF
iireproof.' A powder factory might
be .dreproof.' Manchester tS. H.
Union.