The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-10-12
Ex-Chief Croker Suggests a
Department Founded on
'Pure Food" Lines.
W. DWARD F. CROKER, former

record Of more than a quarter
of century as a fire fighter, was one
Of the chief speakers at the recent in
ternational municipal congress and ex-
position at Chicago. Mr.. Croker's sub
ject was 1.-THE Reduction Of Fire
Waste,' and his address was devoted
principally to the question of fire pre-
vention instead Of fire fighting. In
part Mr.. Croker said:
II have fought the fire demon in
twelve Of which were spent as the
ranking officer Of the uniformed force
Throughout these years was steadily
and irresistibly led to the conclusion
that, while fire fighting and fire ex-
tinguishing organizations of our great
modern cities had reached high state
of efficiency and were keeping well
abreast Of the demands made upon
them, our citizens, as a rule, paid too
little attention to the vital matter Of
fire prevention.
1.-The enormous fire waste Of the
United States varies from $200,000,000
to 100000 annually, and the vast
~ greater indirect losses that result
seriously affect our economic and civic
progress. The loss of lives by fire is
one that cannot be realized save by
those unfortunates whose relatives
and friends have been lost in many
deDlorable calamities.
Great Loss Unnecessary.
*"This utter destruction Of more than
a quarter Of a billion of dollars in
property in addition to the lives meal
culable in money value is not an act
of God nor one Of the inevitable
chances Of industry and commerce.
"All that is necessary is to apply the
test Of comparison with other coun-
tries Of like civilization. In round
numbers the per capita fire loss in the
United States has been from 50 to 81
against 33 cents in the principal Eu
ropean countries. One Of the condi-
tons in these countries that operates
to effect lesser loss than here is the
larger use Of noncombustible mate
rails due to the high cost of wood.
Another reason is the intangible infu-
ence of their older civilization, which
makes these people more careful Of
small savings in all their affairs and
generally more cautious than we have
yet become.
But, allowing for these fundamental
differences between the countries COM
pared, it is yet apparent that the fire
loss in the United States, which is be-
tween seven and eight times that Of
the greatest European country is out
rageously and criminally greater than
it should be. It has been my observa-
ton that the large majority Of fires
arise from preyentable causes. In fact,
every fire Of consequence is prevent
able.
'"The subject of fire prevention is
vastly more important than that Of fire
fighting. When one conhagration has
been checked or prevented you have
accomplished little. The chances for
repetition tomorrow are equally as
great. .,xx i,tr-.s,x>.x
s. What Is Fireproof.
IF we are to better conditions you
must realize that 'fireproof' is not fire
proof as it is understood today. The
literal definition remains, but many
crimes have been committed in its
name. I know of no more abused word
I am sincere in the conviction that the
government should make it heavily
punishable offense to apply the term tt
ANYTHING but an absolutely flreproo1
building. :Srs':*s+"s<*S@'
There is but one principle to fire
proof construction, be it either homes
hotels, office buildings, theaters, apart
ments, battleships, railway cars o
what. To have freproof building
architects and owners must thro7
aside precedent and eliminate the US
of combustible and semicOmbustlbl
materials in their construction.
IF I had my way about it I Woul
not permit a piece of wood, even tt
size Of a lead pencil, to be used in tt
construction or finish of any buildir
in the United States exceeding
ground area of IS by so feet or thru
stories in height. If there was still {
absolute necessity for it's use, if
could not be replaced with steel, as
has been in many modern constrr
tons, it would then be well to attem
to conceive Of something better. l
opposed to the use Of wood in any fol
in freproof buildings, and the Il
ought not to permit its use. Wood
floors, wooden window frames, do
and castings burn and help other thlr
to burn; wooden trim and bases burr
everything that is made Of wood bu1
and helps the fire to spread. Elimin
wood-remove the cause, and you hs
precluded the possibility of fires.
eve have no department. of our E
eminent devoted to the matter Of
prevention. Our laws on the sub
are not specialized toecompletely &C
any particular building Or business,
though they could be- made br