Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1911-10-20
a Proclamation.


The enormous annual fire loss of the
United States is certainly appalling and
remedial measures are being almost
universally adopted. The governors of
many of the States of the middle west
have issued proclamations designating a
Fire Prevention day. Investigation of
the subject shows the Importance of
concentrated and general action. The
aggregate property loss by fire in this
country during the year 1910 was
S2l4, 0O3, 300, or per capita loss of
81. 33. The last accessible figures in six
leading European countries show per
capita loss of only $.33. Last year in
thirteen cities of Germany, having a
combined population of 5,616, 800, the
fire loss was approximately one million
dollars, while five American cities with
a combined population of one hundred
thousand less, the fire loss was about
fifteen million of dollars. That of New
York City was three times as great as
London, and seven times the loss of
Paris. The fire loss of Vermont last
year was $3.50 per capita, a total loss
of over one million. The leading Yer
mont Fire Insurance Company in the
year ending August |, 1911, paid to its
policy holders and for expenses, S516,-
446. 70, every dollar of which had to be
collected from our people in premiums
and assessments. The commonly ac-
copied idea that insurance companies
stand the loss has no foundation in fact.
Premiums are based and assessments
made of necessity, so that the public
pay the entire loss on insured property
to the limit of the amount written.
The balance falls on the individual
having the misfortune to suffer from a
loss. The unprecedented destruction of
created values in the United States in
view of the experience elsewhere seems
entirely unnecessary. If the interest
and attention of our people can be
aroused, saving of several hundred
thousand dollars each year may be af-
fected in Vermont alone, which, if used
in the development of our natural re-
sources, the construction and mainten-
ance of better highways or in more
liberal expenditures for the education
of the young, would result in an meal
culable benefit to all our people ulti-
mately. Believing the welfare of Yer
mont so demands,
|, JOHN A. MEAD, GOVERNOR
do hereby designate Saturday. October
2Sth, A. d. 1911, as Fire Prevention Day
and do hereby call upon our people to
| devote the day to the removal of debris
from their premises, to see that the
heating appliances in their homes are
made safe, to carefully examine the
fiues and chimneys and to perform such
other work as may eliminate hazard by
fire. Boards of education should per-
sonally examine the institutions in
their charge: City and village author
tiles should cooperate with them and
with the public generally in the adoption
and enforcement of such rules and reg
ulations as will prevent this enormous
and constant drain upon the resources
of our state. Drills in the Public
Schools might be established and in
formation be disseminated. that would,
to considerable extent aid in the pro-
lection of life and property. | invite
the Public Press to take active part in
impressing upon the public the i'm
portance of this movement and in
awakening with every individual a
sense of every citizens responsibility to
his neighbor and himself to the end,
that the loss of life and property by
| fire may be reduced to the minimum.
Given under my hand and the great
seal of the State, this ninth day
of October, in the year of our
Lord, one thousand nine hundred
and eleven, and of the Independ-
ence of the United States, the one
hundred and thirty-six.
JOHN. A. MEAD, Governor.
/ HARVEY j. KINGSLEY,
Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs.