The Ely miner., 1911-09-15
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Executive Department.
Proclamation.

That the fire waste is increasing
year by year and becoming more and
more appalling within the State Of
Minnesota is certain.
/.
To determine by a congress of rep.
resentative men, interested in the pres
ervatlon of the wealth of our state,
what the loss of property has been
by reason of fire, the causes therefor,
and how such waste can be reduced,
Will contribute greatly to the advance.
nent of this state and to the economic
Welfare of its people. The magnitude
Of loss of property by fire, as well as
the cost of fire prevention, is not
grasped by the average man. 1t is
estimated that approximately one-halt
billion dollars is annually expended
by the people of the United States
for this purpose,-a sum one-half as
great as the annual budget Of our fed.
eral government. Nearly two hundred
fifty million dollars represents the loss
by fire. A sum which would be
equaled If per capita tax Of $2.71
were collected from every man, wo
man and child in the United States
In no European country does the pei
capita loss exceed so cents.
During the past fifteen years com
putetions indicate that approximately
two billion dollars and twenty thou
sand lives have been sacrificed to
fire. Minnesota has borne too great
a part of this enormous loss Of prop
erty. The loss of timber in our state
by forest fires is almost beyond com
putation. Property destroyed by fire
Is a total and absolute loss. Every
indication points to an increase of losi
by fire in our state during the yeai
1911.
The season of the year when fret
are wont to increase in number is al
hand. The heating stove of the house
holder is again to be utilized, and the
smoke therefrom must penetrate the
swallows nest before escaping. 1t is
believed that more than fifty per cent
of our fire loss is due to incendiarism
or negligence. Much can be done for
the prevention of fires by criminals,
or through carelessness. Careless.
ness in the use of fire and lights in
housekeeping is common. Careless
ness in the use of matches is univer'
sal. Infiammable rubbish in factories
is too often found. Dark and dirty
Railways where matches are scratched
and where cigar and cigarette stubs
are thrown are too frequently the
cause of fires. Tenants visit dark
Easements by means of candles, OF
old-fashioned oil lamps. Unsafe oil
stoves are sold and employed. Oily
waste is not rarely found in packing
houses, factories and lumber yards
Property is not carefully watched and
those things which produce fire are
improperly guarded.
It is meet that our people should be
instructed and caused to realize that
fire waste is impoverishing our com
monwealth. Taking into account
these vital considerations for the well
fare of our state, hereby do proclaim
the eighth day of November, 1911, to
be known as Minnesota Fire Proven
tion Day, and urge that it be so rec.
ognized and observed in all depart
ments of the state, in all public and
private institutions of learning, and
by all organizations and persons inter
ested in the social and economic up
lift of our people. 1t is urged that
the Press, as the strongest factor in
the development of public sentiment
impress the Importance M this move
ment upon our people.
And I do further proclaim the Lold
ing of Minnesota Fire Prevention
Congress, to be held in the Palm
Room, Saint Paul Hotel, in the City
of st. Paul, on said eighth day of No
vember, and earnestly invite the en-
tire citizenship of the state to partici
pate and cooperate in carrying out
the plans of this gathering, that its
purposes may be fully realized.
In Testimony Whereof, have here
unto set my hand and caused the
Great Seal of the State to be hereto
affixed at the Capitol, in the City oi
st. Paul, this 7th day of September
A. D. 1911.
ADOLPH o. EBERHART,
(Seal.) Governor
Attest: @
julius A. schmahl, Secretary oi
State.