The Detroit times., 1911-02-18
ANNUAL FIRE LOSS
IS s250,000,000
F. H. Wentworth Tells Of Enormous
Waste and How Cities May Guard
Against Destruction.

Franklin II. Wentworth, secretary
Of the National Fire Protection asso-
citation, OF Boston, was the guest OF
honor at the luncheon OF the Detroit
Credit Mems association. in the con-
vention hall Of the Hotel Pontchar-
train. Saturday noon. Mr.. Wentworth
has a national reputation In tnsur-
ance matters and has made a record
at the head Of the association which
Is organized for the purpose OF cut
ting down the fire loss In the United
States. A large gathering of Detroit
business men were at the luncheon In
addition to the members Of the
Credit Mems association.
President William A. Petzold in
troduced Mr.. Wentworth, who spoke
in part as follows:
"We have really not begun to face
the problems that may yet involve
US as a direct result OF our careless
ness In the fire hazard. The growing
tendency toward state interference
in the business OF fire insurance Is
nothing more or less than a protest
against the frightful impoverishment
of the nation by fire. The public i'm
pulse behind state interference In
insurance Is not to regulate rates:
1t is to reduce them, Irrespective OF
the loss ratio. This action II taken
can have only one result; 1t will
force the insurance companies who
mean honestly to pay their losses to
retire.
1.-The fire waste touches the pock-
cts OF every man, woman and child
in the nation; IL strikes az surely
but as quickly as Indirect taxation;
1t merges into the cost of everything
that we eat and drink and wear.
The profiigate burning every year OF
$3.50, 100000 in value of the work
of mems hands means the inevitable
impoverishment of the nation. What
il we were to lose that sum annually
out of the national treasury, or In
wheat or corn or cotton? A loss OF
$250. 100000 per year means $780,
600 per hour for every hour out of
the "a. We are burning the equiva-
lent OF 5000 home every ten min
utes.
1.-THE people feel this tremendous
loss without yet being awake to the
cause. Their awakening is retarded
by the prevalence OF the foolish no
ton that the insurance companies
pay this colossal tax. But how could
they and remain solvent? II falls
upon the householder direct. San
Francisco and Chelsea do not pay for
themselves. You In Detroit and We
in Boston help pay for them. And
next year San Francisco and Chelsea.
risen from their ashes may help to
pay for Detroit. There Is but one
way In which we can escape the
periodical paying for one another and
that Is for us to begin rational
building construction and then pro-
tect what we have builded against
fire.
There Is way to solve this con-
Migration problem-not absolutely
but at least relatively. In the heart
of nearly every city there are streets
crossing at right angles along which
for a very considerable distance are
buildings Of brick, stone or concrete.
Looked ut upon the map these show
more or less complete Maltese
cross OF building which are not wood
en- and which operate to divide the
wooden-built district into quarter
sections and which might hold a fire
in any ono of these sections II equip
ped with metal window frames and
wired glass and other necessary fire
resisting materials. You will then
have the equivalent OF substantial
fire walls crossing at right angles In
the center OF the city, dividing II into
four sections. BY such an inexpen
sive but yet strategic procedure you
may be able to save your city from
the destruction which now awaits
only the right kind OF fire on the
right kind of night.
"The natural anarchy of the Amer.
lean temperament does not readily
respond to admonitions to correct IL.
careless habits and recognize its pub
lie responsibilities, but our common
impoverishments by the stupendou,
proportions OF the fire tax Is begin
ming to impress itself upon us SC
forcibly that even the most needles:
OF US Is forced to give some thought
to the common good and the com
mon safety"
nA3 Tbrs pipo l sttsra