The Daily Missoulian., 1912-07-26

ber loss In three or four OF the west
ern states being placed at 350.Q00,.
900 per annum. The damage effected
by forest fires ID far reaching; not
only Is the timber destroyed, but
ranges where feed thousands ol
horses, cattle and sheep, are ruined
homes are burned and crops destroyed
Although the national government has
inaugurated a system Of patrol II has
been impossible to minimize this loss
There is no doubt that q great many
Of these losses are caused by camp
fires. but tho principal factor is the
railway locomotive. For such fires
our railroads should be liable. Cam
ada has now In. force laws making
certain requirements OF railroad COM
panies and holding them responsible.
to the amount Of $4,000 for any loss
occasioned by their negligence.
"One attorney In Montana, at the
present time, Ia prosecuting cases
against railroads for 100000 damages
caused by sparks from their locomo-
tives. what must be the total fire
loss from this cause?
NJ Provisions Made.
Throughout the west. thousands Of
new towns are springing up, as II by
magic. and In the mad race OF compe-
ution no provision is made for the
Of the ash heap Since
only about half OF the annual waste
occurs in tho cities. the other half
deserves a large share Of our atten-
ton. In the towns. villages and
districts. there is no law reg.
ulating construction as a means Of
tho Union. where Il has not already
been done. there should be enacted q
fire marshal law; such law should
provide for the issuance Of construc-
tion permits In districts, towns and
cities having no building code or SUI
pervising building official. tho loca-
tion and description OF the proposed
10 accompany the applica-
ton for permit. II should then be
the duty of the firc marshal and his
deputies to make inspections of these
II will. of course, be nec-
essary to enact set of building
codes. regulating construction and
different rules for towns
and for country districts. This meth
nd may increase somewhat tho ex-
pensc Of the fire marshals depart
nent. but with better class OF build
ings. improved conditions resulting
from inspection. lower insurance
rates. and the reduction Of the ash
heap. the citizens OF state thus
equipped will be remunerated two
'old.
"The impression fs general that the
paramount duty OF a fire department
10 the extinguishing Of fires. This
IA true, but this duty should become
subordinate TO fire prevention. which
,an be accomplished 10 a great extent
IN smaller cities having paid fire de-
partments, by system of inspection
made by the firemen. Such inspec-
lions should be made at least once a
Constant Inspection. - l
"The city should be divided into
districts or sections. each district be-
ng inspected by the -firemen from the
station. having in charge that par
'icular portion OF tiis city the whole
being under the jurisdiction Of the
chief. The inspection reports should
point out just what improvements are
required in the properties inspected.
and when necessary the department
,hief should serve notice on the owner
'r agent OF the property. At the ex-
'iration OF a given time. the premises
should again be inspected. and II the
OF the notice have not
been complied with. the community
through its proper representative
should effect the alterations and
'harge the. cost against the prop
,rty." f.-.. tta.
THE advantage to be gained through
Inspection by the fire department is
beyond question. This method would
enable the firemen 10 become familiar
With every building in their district,
md on responding to an alarm they
would Immediately know the con-
the best method of attack,
md the probable cause and location
II the blaze. Where II would be i'm
possible for the fire department to un-
iertake these additional duties. q
'oard of building inspectors should be
'harged with their performance
80 '''SS% N"S' Va pus Sopbo NGNs'N
'pment and progress. Of increasing
population. and city-building. II is
necessary that government and super
'ision keep pace with the times. More
tringest regulations are needed in the
planning and construction OF our
titles and towns. for the. village OF
oday Is the city OF tomorrow. In Or
Ter to create these conditions. we
must educate our people In tho pre-
,ention and extinguishment of fire. az
hey are now being educated In the
prevention and treatment OF disease
Hardly a magazine or newspaper do
We read but we are attracted by an
'rticie on the prevention and cure of
'ome disease. How often are we at
racted by an article on tho preven-
ion and extinguishment OF fire? To
,ain information we arc obliged to
consult some periodical or document
which the layman rarely sees. 1t IL
what small number OF
lrticles on this subject can be found
n publications Of general circulation.
"The National Fire Protection as
is doing a splendid educa-
iOna1 work, but II needs and should