The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-06-29

for your best energies in its reduc<
ton, because it is reaching out after
and destroying, not only your prop
erty and that of your neighbor, but
the lives Of those that are near and
dear to you and whose safety appeals
to you from the highest claim of hum
anity.
Permanent Loss.
However the main causing or per-
hitting a fire and consequent dam
age may feel about it, the loss real
~ falls upon and is at the expense
of the American people. Every dol
lar that goes up in smoke makes
Uncle Sam just so much poorer. A
loss by fire is a permanent loss, which
can never be made up while the
world stands.
Fire Insurance A Necessity.
Again, you are vitality interested be-
canse to you, as merchants. fra in
surance is a necessity, and this is
made so largely by the fire waste
referred to above. You must not only
carry fire insurance on your proper
ty, but you must know that 1t is u
ried by those who are your custom
ers, as losses to them many mean
nonpayment of a bill to you. OF
course, q community is always dam
aged by any fire, and II we could
look into the matter clearly, we would
see that every individual in that COM
munity also suffers.
1t is this FIRE waste that calls for
taxes with which to equip and care
for our fire departments, and other
provisions for putting out fires, such
as a good water supply, a hre-alarm
system, etc.
Question
Do you, as business men, say, Mr..
Young, we see tin fact, we have
seen it for a long time. Today we
are more than ever appalled, at our
fire waste and its destruction OF life
and property; but what do You wish
us to do? What car we do"
Causes Of Fire Waste.
/ would reply and urge, first, that
you consider the auses that lead to
this great waste. 1t may be we'll for
us to consider the things, great and
that are supposed to constitute
the causes for often a thing that we
count of but little Importance we
find must be reckoned with to a sur
extent. A cigarette is sup
posed to have started the Asch fire
its loss 100000 in property and
las lives. A cigar stump carelessly
through a v~entilator is sup
posed to have started the great Balti-
nore con1agration, A cigarette is
,aid to have started the capitol fire at
Albany. Parlor matches start $4,000
II Is, 000 fires annually, while at least
IS, 900 are due to bad chimneys or
detective flues.
What Do We Need?
1. What your city or town with the
i'd of the State can give you:
a.. A fire district with the proVi-
ions of law in regard thereto rigid
y enforced. Section 1886 of our law
equires this in every incorporated
ity and town of the State.
b. A proper building law, enforc-
d, because backed by a healthy SEN
iment in the community."*$
C.. An inspection law strictly fol-
owed by the officers in its enforce
nent and observed by the citizens."**
d. An adequate water supply, an
Ip-to-date fire alarm system, and a
veil equipped fire department.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, may / ask for your
ctive aid and interest in this work?
f l appear too much in earnest and
arried away with my subject, just
emember that it is caused by an at
empt to discharge faithfully the du-
les placed upon me as n of your
,tate officers, Insurance Commits
Toner, and a thorough examination
nd study of the subject. You can-
lot afford to stand by unsafe build
ngs that ieopardize life and property.
lee that your chimneys and fues are
afe and your stoves and ~stovepipes
yell protected. See that your premi-
es are kept clean and free from rub
ish and trash. Examine your base
cents and attics. / beg you to do
his, and not take for granted they
right. Do not use or sell any
ut safety matches. The parlor
is a curse of gre at danger, and
times the profit you make on them
I'LL not justify you in selling them or
ny amount of convenience your al
owing their use on your premises.
llow no smoking on your premises,
specially in your storage-rooms. The
igar stub and cigarette will surely
ct in their destructive work. The
waste and drain In this country
) equivalent to a tax of over $3.50 on
very man, woman, and child here,
Thich would raise a protest, if levied
Or some good purpose; yet this drain
) allowed to continue with entire in
iffrence On the part of the public
enerally.
1 am talking to you, Mr.. President
nd gentlemen, but the loss of $3.50,
90 900 of property each year and
yer 1000 deaths and at least 5000
of men, women, and children s
re appealing to you-yea, demand I
ng your aid in this great fight, for
he loss is almost entirely due. to pre-
entable fires.
ONLY zEBRA-MULE !.