Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-08-18
NORTH DAKOTA STATE
PREVENTION ASS0.

[nLvLlvllUV HOOU.
There has been launched in the
state a new organization to be known
as the North Dakota State Fire Pre-
vention Association and the officers
are E. c. Cooper, president; J. P.
Read, Vice President and o. M. Thur
Der. secretary. The objects and aims
of the association are set forth in
the following bulletin which is the
first of a series that will be sent
out over the state.
In Explanation of This Association.
This organization is new to North
Dakota although in other states as
socitations have been doing excel
lent work for number of years. The
North Dakota State Fire Prevention
Association is an organization of
insurance men, business men, private
citizens, lawmakers, builders, in fact
men from nearly every walk of life,
who are cooperating in a great fight
against the Red Plague" of. fire and
are earnestly trying to reduce the
fire waste of North Dakota, and thus
save vast natural and artificial wealth
and resources and human lives, all
of which are given up each year to
an astounding great number to the
fire demon. If this is accomplished
to any great extent it will mean
much to our state in more ways than
one and will also reduce the cost
Of fire insurance to our citizens.
Lower insurance rates will only
come through fewer fires.
The North Dakota association is
a member of the National association
with headquarters at Boston, Mass,
and which is composed of like asso-
Citations from nearly every state in
the union.
Objects Of the Association
The object of the association is the
dissemination of information on the
science and methods of fire proven
ton, fire extinction, and the reduc-
ton of fire waste and the loss of
life.
To investigate city and town ordi-
nances pertaining to fire fighting ia
cilities, waterworks. building con-
struction. nuisances, care of explo-
sives and to suggest remedies for the
existing hazardous or poor conditions.
The association does not in any
manner agree upon or fix or attempt
to fix or maintain rates charged or
to be charged for insurance, nor does
it do any act in violation of the laws
of the state. of North Dakota.
Membership
Any citizen of the state of North
Dakota is entitled to- membership of
this association, and every citizen
should MAKE it duty to become a
member. This is great work and
must have the cooperation of the citi-
zens and business men in order that
it be a success. Besides it's work
is of vital interest to every in.
dividual who carries fire insurance
and who owns property of any de-
scriptiOn.
Our Fire Waste
Just stop and think a minute in
regards to our national ash heap,
which amounts to $250,0O0,O00 annu-
ally in property and in addition. to
this property loss annually 1900 peo-
pie give up their lives and nearly
5000 are injured in fires. Possibly
in no other direction is the nation
al habit of waste more clearly exem-
plified than in the comparative indif-
ference with which We permit such
a sacrifice. In no other civilized
country are conditions as bad as in
our own United States. Fire losses
in our own country amount to $2.51
per capita annually as against 80
cents per capita annually in six
leading European countries
The reduction of this enormous fire
waste lies in the hands of the Amer.
lean public. 1t can be brought to
realize the enormous drain these pre-
ventable fires involve upon the ma
tional wealth, the hundreds of lives
which are annually lost and that sare.
lessness in one form or another is
chiefly responsible, they would check
the waste by encouraging individual
and municipal responsibility for Sc
curing better conditions. The aver
age man apparently believes that the
present proportion of fire losses is
inevitable. The latter were prevent
ed because the people individually and
collectively were finally induced to
give head to proper sanitary rules.
The epidemic of fires could be re.
duced as easily here if the people in.
diviually and collectively would give
heed to proper rules for construction,
protection and care of their property.
Citizens should have both a selfish
and public spirited interest in CO.
operating in the work of reducing the
fire waste of the country. Their sell
fish reason should be the securing
of lower insurance rates, and material
savings can be affected by the ex-
ercise of ordinary care. the removal
of rubbish and minor changes. Be-
sides the lower rates, these improve
ments protect life and property by
lessening the likelihood of starting
fires and of having them communi-
Gated from one building to another.
In addition every community should
do it's share to reduce the enormous
fire waste which amounts to $3.50. 00O,-
900 annually, with most of it due to
municipal and individual careless
ness. The cost of this comes from
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