The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-09-26
Matches and Rats,

10 the Editor:-Not many lays since I
1oSt an my barns and also my dwelling.
ms was the result of the old -fashioned
friction match and rats.
And this is only one of tens of thousands
OF similar instances that occur in the
United States annually. The loss from
than any other evil which we have to en-
counter, possibly twenty per cent. of the
Mnnle PRODUCTION OF the wealth of the
fires started in this way each year. Not
taking into consideration the loss of life
and limb, which is by far the most i'm
this country are caused by the promis-
clouS use of friction matches. There ia
no excuse and no reason for the c~ontinu-
ance OF the manufacture of these matches
Wnen the. others can be made Just as easy.
When burglars enter your home and
carry off your goods, or when you lose a
fortune, in a business deal, someone is
fire Injuries the loser, impoyishes the
country and helps no one. If instead of
e~aulpping and maintaining fire companies
we would quit making matches that are
SO easily ignited. it would be a double
saving to the country and would stop the
equipments for the prevention Of fires. It
would also stop the loss by fire, to a
certain extent. The thing we need to
ufacture OF these easily ignited matches
and make no other except the safety
matches: There will be no discrimina-
tory that makes one match can make
the other.
Even if this requires remodeling Of the
factory and the installing Of the most mod
ern machinery necessary for the produc-
ton Of this match, this would be only a
temporary expense, while the loss by fire
in this country is an eternal and ever in
creasing drain.
There can be no objections raised to this
measure, because there are not any.
All we need to do is to turn our atten-
ton to this question and agitate it.
It is nothing but carelessness on the
part Of our lawmakers that we have NOT
already remedied this evil, and there is
no excuse for it when there is so much
at stake.
Sc let Us demand this Of our represen-
tatives in Congress, as IAN ounce OF pre-
US have the prevention.
There is no greater damage from fire
in our land than friction matches in the
wants. and the great pity of it is there
is no excuse for it. This may seem like
a very small thing to those who have
when We look back over the past and
think Of the great Baltimore. Jackson
vile and Chicago fires and think of the
women and children who are made home
less in a single hour.
When we gaze upon the naked pillars,
the solitary chimneys and smouldering
ruins OF some magnificent home or thirty
ing factory that seems to utter echoes of
sadness and regret, and when we feel the
sense Of desolation and loneliness that
these things produce, and when We see
thousands of families made homeless and
destitute and thrown out Of employment
from this very cause and three-fourths Of
it due to matches, the importance of this
great question is driven home to US.
AS Paul said, by a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory a far greater
credit and benefit would rebound to the
honor Of our Congress if they would pass
this measure than if they would pass all
the reciprocity laws relating to Canada
and England combined.
n. NJ. BLALOCK.