The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-02-03
APPALLING
FIRE WASTE
Fargoans Given Some Start
ling Information
Regarding RED Plague IN
the United States

... E.aNFas sHS#. lAs-EF -Ntsaa g.
The red plague, as the first waste
in America is called by the fire fight
ers and insurance companies, was the
main topic of discussion last night at
a big meeting Of the Fargo credit men
held at the commercial club. There
were two speakers of national reputa-
ton present, who, as fire experts, gave
some very interesting facts to all the
citizens of Fargo and told Of the APP
palling mount of fire waste in this
country in comparison with that of
European cities.
Franklin H. Wentworth Of Boston.
national secretary of the National
Fire Protection association, was the
chief speaker of the evening and, sup
plementing his forceful remarks.
Charles E. Meek of New York, sec
ond vice president Of the National AS
ISOLATION Of Credit Men and assistant
cashier Of the Fourth National bank
of New York, added to the evenings
instruction by giving a number of
details embraced in his own expert
ence. Both speakers were unanimously
declared to be about the best who
have eve been heard on the subject in
this city. They are making a COM
plete tour OF the country in behalf of
the prevention of fires in the big cities
and are telling how this evil may be
cured to a great extent.
Mr.. Wentworth made some start
ling statements which he substantial
ed with excellent proof. But some
Of the facts and figures he gave were
almost inc~onceivable, and the care
l~essness Of the American people is
alarming.
Chicago and Berlin.
1.-THE fire waste in America de-
clared Mr.. Wentworth, amounts to
s. 5000, 900 a day. The fire waste in
the city of Chicago for one year to-
tailed 5000, 900 and the maintenance
of the fire department of the city costs
1900, 900. The fire waste for the city
of Berlin, Germany, a city almost as
large, amounted to SITE, 900, and it
costs $4,000 to run the fire depart
ment. In France, especially Paris, the
fire loss is unusually small. If a fire
breaks out in either residence or bust
ness district and spreads to an adjoin-
ing building the property owner Of the
building in which the fire started
stands the total loss, and c-arelessness
is made a punishable offense. Nat
urally in France the fire waste is very
little"
The meeting was largely attended by
more than 100 prominent business
men of Fargo who are interested in
protecting the city from any danger
in the way of heavy loss. Prior to
the meeting there was a big dinner
served the credit men and the others
who attended at the Gardner hotel.
The meeting was presided over by
J. w. McHose, president OF the Fargo
Credit Mems association, who called
attention to the fact that the gather
ing was directly in line with the ex-
cellent movement that has been
started in this city by the North Dako-
ia Fire Prevention association which
has done such effective work in both
the Dakotas and has held such splen-
did rallies in various cities Of the
state.
The other speaker Of the evening
Mr.. Meek Of New York; presented a
number of interesting statistics where
in he showed what is possible to be
brought about in the lowering Of in
surance rates If every man ownec
his own home and every business mar
would see that every p~recaution was
taken to prevent fires. He urged the
| credit menrto take an interest in this
great movement and endeayor to in
struct the people in the direction OF
fire prevention n thus save thou
sands of dollars every year, which
| otherwise goes up in flames. Mr.. Meel
declared that "one ounce of proven.
| ton in the case of fires is worth
hundreds Of pounds Of cure, for there
is no cure for fire"
Solving the Problem.
Mr.. Wentworth gave a number O.
solutions to the red plague problem
| He. pointed out that in most small
cities the leading concrete and fire
proof business structures which wer'
supposed to be so fine as a genera
rule, never served as fire stops in tn,
spreading of a big conflagration OWN,
to the fact that they were nearly al
ways equipped with frame window
and castings. He advocated meta
window frames, the prohibition of tn
single root and cautioned about TIL
careless use of matches. He urged tn
proper building of chimney flues an,
made a plea for thorough fire inspec
ton, both of the buildings in the cit.
and Of the fire department.
All in all the meeting last nigh
was one of the most educational tina
has been held in the city In Il lon
time.