The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1912-03-22
WHY SHOULD WE
PREVENT FIRES?
Insurance Inspectors Show that Peo-
pie. and Not Companies Pay
The Losses.
THEATER CHANGES ADVISED
Grand Said One of Best i'm the State
But Others Should Be Made
! Fireproof.
CITY HALL A BIG RISK
Two Stoves Placed in the Scenery
! and Third By Wooden
| Partition.
CITY HALL A BIG RISK

+
driven home to Bemidji business
men last night when the speakers
at the Commercial club brought forth
facts and figures to show the size Of
the waste and by whom it was borne
and then showed how the conditions
could be remedied. The meeting was
attended by about 100 men.
J.. L. King was the first speaker
for the insurance men and his speech
will be found fully reported in an
other column. He was followed by
Mr.. Co1burn, who is also reported un-
der separate heading.
A. M Wallace, assistant state fire
marshal, brought out some startling
facts in connection with the investi-
cations Of the. afternoon In speak
ing of the Bemidji theaters, he. said
that from the viewpoint Of possibi1
ity of fire, the picture booth in the
Grand theater. was one of the best
constructed in the state and consid-
cred fireproof. The Brinkman was
said. to be in fair. shape and could be-
easily improved; the Majestic was
said to present a big risk.
Mr.. Woodmansee started repairs
on his booth this morning and says
that it will be able to pass inspec-
tion. at once He further said that
he had contemplated making the
changes suggested as soon as the
weather permitted, but would wait
no longer
Will Condemn Building.
Mr.. Wallace stated that several
Bemidji buildings would probably be
condemned and others ordered re-
! paired. He pointed to the Ohio fire
marshal law as model of it's kind
and showed that the loss in that
state had been cut from $14 100000
to $6,OOO,000 per year chiefly
through the work of that one depart
ment. Minnesota has placed but
$4,000 year at the disposal of it's
fire marshal department. 1t is ex-
pected to pay salaries of four and
| travelling and office expenses. p,
| Beltrami county was congratulate
ed on the personnel and excellent
work of it's last two grand juries.
He said that the southern and west
ern parts of the state had watched
their actions with interest and were
pleased when they returned the ar
son indictments they did.
Fire Losses Increasing. ly.&5
Following Mr. Wallace, w. O..
Chamberlain stated that there had
been an increase in the fire loss in
the state during the past two years
and appealed to the people. Of this
city to clean up and stay clean: He
said that there was no case on rec
ord of a man having been requested
to remedy conditions and not COM
plying with the request.
I Clean streets and alleys were ad-
i vocated ais the best advertising the
1 city could have. He suggested that
all refuse be placed in cans and cart
ed away each week instead of allow
ing it to pile up and be covered with
snow, finally freezing into shape
less mass. The city was compli-
mented on it's High school building
and he said that it would be a good
plan to allow the agricultural stud
ents to improve vacant lots by using
! them as gardens.
City Hall a Fire Trap.
! The city hall came in for scor.
ing that seemed deserved. It wa:
: pointed out that the fire protection
CONTINUED on Page 81