New-York tribune., 1911-11-18
FIRES KILL ONE A DAY
w.. J. Beers, Former Marshal,
Tells of PeriIs in This City.
INCENDIARIES A DANGER
Declares to Factory Committee
Many Blazes Are Due to Arson
and Lack of Protection.

The irebug was the main subject oil III
terest at the session Of the factory inNes-
tigation committee yesterday William H.
| Beers former fire marshal, said the IN
cendiary and the lack Of proper protection
were responsible for at least three-quarters
OF the fires in greater Now York. Mr. Beers
made the startling statement that one per-
son day was killed by fire i'm this city.
when the average was considered. He said
the number of deaths this year was 2"'
and that the insurance companies paid out
100000 in losses
! In his statement Mr. Beers, who resigned
his position about ten days ago. said:
There were 9.622 fires last year in Man
| haitian. The Bronx and Richmond
Matches. cigarettes and the careless use OF
| easolene are responsible for the greater
proportion of these fires. lncendlarism ls
! a problem which the Fire Department au-
thorlties have to contend with. During my
| term of office ] was surprised at the num-
| her of persons whom we were called upon
| to trace from time to time. The incendiary
mania In New York is matter that de-
serves greater and more careful attention.
Last winter I'm the district bounded by Sth
street and 2O3d street. Lexington avenue
and the East River. there were 2I2 cases
which were regarded incendiarY.
II is difficult to convict i'm the majority OF
cases. but the law might he so enforced as
| to minimize the number of tncendlary nres
/ II is "A mania. to he sure, but with an ell
cient number of inspectors and investlga-
tors the city would be able to get on the
track of the offender and eventually OBTAIN
evidence enough to bring about MS cohV'-
ton and his retirement to an asylum OF
prison
Another man who talked about incendiar-
ism was Willis O. Robb. manager Of the
New York Fire Insurance Exchange. He
doctored their books to match and often
this was not found ont until after tho fire.
Practically all of the fire escapes in
spected by Henry Morgenthau, chairman
of the city committee on safety, were
worthless he said. and a repetition OF the
Asch disaster could happen at any time.
In one block in University Place, between
nth and 18th streets. he said 3.IJ0 workers
were employed and not per cent could
get out in case of fire, while worse condi-
tions prevailed on the East Side
owen r. Lovejoy. general secretary Of
the Child Labor Committee. told about
child labor and incidentally said the news
boy was not, as generally supposed, the
sole support Of a widowed mother, but
was rather a gambler and participant I'm
other vices that children should be shielded
from.
report from State Fire Marshal
Thomas j. Ahearn said that he had not
had sufficient time to make full study of
conditions but the complaints and inspec-
tions made indicated a great lack OF tac-
tory fire prevention outside or New YORK.
John W. Scott, superintendent of Ar
buckle Bros Brooklyn sugar refinery;
Mrs. Irene O. Andrews, assistant secretary
of the American Association for Labor
Legislation, and James r. Chamoers, OF
Rogers. Peet a Co, were other witnesses.
MIR. Chambers said central bureau OF
Inspection would not do; that each depart
ment should do its own Inspection.