Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-09-26
GOVERNOR CARROLL HAS PRO.
CLAIMED WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8,
AZ FIRE PREVENTION DAY
LOSS IS ENORMOUS
During 1911 the Loss by Fire In tn.
United states Was $217, 200, 900;
Iowa Contributed
$500, 900


teachers and state fire marshal, in
teaching the prevention OF fires The
governors Of practically all the west
and that day will be generally set
waste, of the country and state.
Fire Prevention day last year was
observed by thirteen states with ex-
cellent results both as regards aduca-
tional value and direct benefits BE-
cured by the cleanup day movement
Much better results will be secured
this year because Of last years ex-
perience and the greater public In.
! terest in the subject.
Walter L. Fisher, secretary Of the
interior in President Taft's cabinet
has issued the following statement
concerning the great waste by fire:
| II the government should suddenly
lay an annual tax Of $3.50 on every
man, woman and child In the United
States on promise of spending The
money for some useful purpose, that
promise would not avail against the
storm Of protest which would be
aroused. Nevertheless, tax which In
the aggregate amounts to that is be.
ing paid by the people Of this country
4 II is the annual fire loss Of the nation
upon buildings and their contents
alone. It is expended not in productive
enterprise, but In death and destruc.
tion, and an even larger sum Is an
i.ually expended upon fire protection
and insurance premiums. Not only is
THU property loss paid by our people,
but in addition, annually, 1900 persons
give up their lives and nearly 5000 are
injured in fires. Possibly in no other
direction is the national habit of
waste more clearly exemplified than
in the comparative indifference with
which we permit such sacrifice. In
no other civilized country are ,condi-
tons SO bad as they are here.
II one stops and thinks over the
above statement made by Mr.. Fisher
1t can be plainly seen that the facts
| laid down by him are the truth and
every citizen IL urged to do all in his
power to prevent fires. Several large
tires have occurred in the, United
States which could have been pre-
vented with little effort.
The Proclamation.
| The proclamation which has been
issued by the governor reads as fol-
lows:
During the past few years public at
tention has been properly directed to
the enormous fire loss which annually
takes place in the United States, and
as a result strong sentiment has de-
veloped in favor Of better fire protec-
tion as we'll as more efficient means
Of fire prevention. Many states have
made provision by law for the office
of state fire marshal whose duty 1t is
10 investigate the cause and origin of
fires and to encourage, by educational
and other means, their prevention. In
several states a day known az Fire
Prevention day, has annually been set
apart either by law or by executive
proclamation.
While no portion Of our country was
visited by any great conflagration dur
ing the year 1911, the loss by fire In
the United States during said year
nevertheless exceeded $4,000. 900.
Our own good state contributed about
s5,50O,0 900 to this loss.
When 1t is remembered that this
represents property absolutely ami
Inflated. the economic loss to our state
and country becomes the more appar-
ent.
That a large percentage OF the fires
which annually occur in this country
may be prevented Is conclusively
shown by the fact that while the per
capita fire loss in the United States
in 1911 was about 1888, during the
/! same time 1t was 81 cents In France,
I SO cents in England and FL cents in
Germany.
In the light Of these figures, the
question Of fire prevention becomes
one of the important economic prob
lens OF our times, and any movement
having for its object the lessening OF
the large and unnecessary fire waste
which annually takes place in the
+, United States should have the hearty
support of all good citizens.
For the reasons herein set forth
have deemed it proper to set apart
a day to be devoted to the inspection
Of property and the education Of the
public in the causes. dangers and pre-
vention Of fires. and therefore here
by proclaim Wednesday, October .,
! 1912, as state Fire Prevention day,
and would earnestly recommend that
upon that day the teachers in our pub
lie and private schools and educa-
! tional institutions give special atten-
! ton to the causes, dangers and pre-
ysntion OF fires; that. the mayors ANDY
councilmen Of the various cities and
Towns give attention to the matter of
better building regulations, better fire
I, protection and better fire prevention,
/ end that they see to it that all pub
Tic buildings which are not properly
equipped with fire escapes be SO
equipped; that there be general
cleaning up of dilapidated buildings
which are especially liable to fire. and
that the owners of property give per-
sonal attention to the removal OF all
rubbish and debris from their
premises and to the setting Of their
heating appliances and chimneys in
, proper condition for winter use.
In testimony whereof, have here
unto set my hand and caused to be
affixed an impression OF the great