Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-10-20
a Proclamation


United States is certainly appalling aud
remedial measures are being almost
universally adopted. The Governors OF
many of the States of the Middle West
have issued proclamations designating
Fire Prevention Day. Investigation
of the subject shows the Importance OF
concentrated aud general action. The
aggregate property loss by hre in this
country during the year 1910 was
S2l4,003,300, or a percapita loss OF
only s2.33. The last accessible figures
in six leading European countries show
a per capita loss of only 80 33. Last year
in thirteen cities of Germany, having Il
combined population of 5,6l6, 1922, the
fire loss was approximately one million
dollars, while five American cities with
combined population of one hundred
thousand less, the fire loss was about
fifteen million of dollars. That Of New
York City was three times as great AS
London, and seven times the loss OF
Paris. The fire loss of Vermont last
year was $2.96 per capita, a total loss of
over one million. The leading Vermont
Fire Insurance Company in the year
ending August /, 1911, paid to its policy
holders and for expenses, s5l6, 1853,
every dollar of which had to be collected
from our people in premiums aud assess
ments. The commonly accepted idea
that insurance companies stand the loss
has no foundation in fact Premiums
are based and assessments made OF
necessity, so that the public pay the
entire loss on insured property to the
| limit of the amount written. The
balance falls on the individual having
the misfortune to suffer from loss
The unprecedented destruction of ere
ated values in the United States in view
!. of the experience elsewhere seems en-
tirely unnecessary. If the interest and
attention of our people can be aroused
a saving of several hundred thousand
dollars each year may be affected ii
Vermont alone, which, if used in the
development of our natural resources
the construction and maintenance o
better highways or in more liberal ex
penditures for the education OF tn,
young, would result in an incaculabl'
benefit to all our people ultimately
believing the welfare of Vermont 81
demands, |, John A. Mead, Governor, d
hereby designate Saturday, Octobe
2sth, A. d. 1911, as Fire Prevention
Day and do hereby call upon our peopl
to devote the day to the removal o
debris from their premises, to see tina
the heating appliances in their home
are made safe, to carefully examine tn
fues and chimneys and to perform sue
other work as may eliminate hazard b
fire. Boards of education should pei
sonally examine the institutions in thel
charge. City and village authorize
should cooperate with them and wit
the public generally in the adoption an
enforcement of such rules and regul
tions as will prevent this enormous an
constant drain upon the resources {
: our state. Drills in the Public Schoo
might be established and informatio
be disseminated, that would, to col
siderable extent aid in the protection {
y life and property. invite the Publ
70 Press to take active part in impressiu
upon the public the Importance of thi
movement and in awakening with ever
individual sense of every citizen
- responsibility to his nelghbor and hin
0 self to the end, that the loss of life an
property by fire may be reduced to tn
, minimum.
Given under my hand and the grei
~ seal of the State, this ninth day I
. October, in the year of our Lord, OF
thousand and nine hundred and eleve
!. and of the Independence of the Unite
States, the one hundred and thirty-si
, JOHN A. MEAD, GOVERNOR.
o Harvey R. Kingsley, Secretary of Civ
\ and Military Affairs.