The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-01-29
WILL SPEAK HERE
ON FIRE WASTE
BIG MEETING WILL BE HELD FRI
DAY EVENING AT COMMERCIAL
CLUB WHEN FIRE PREVENTION
MAN OF NATIONAL REPuTA-
TON WILL DELIVER ADDRESS.

The Fargo Credit Mems association
will hold a big meeting Friday evening
at the commercial club when Franklin
H. Wentworth of Boston will speak
on the subject of The Fire Waste. Mr..
Wentworth is a speaker of national
reputation and is generally and most
favorably known throughout the east
ern part of the United States. He is
secretary of the National Fire Pre-
v~ention association.
Mr.. Wentworth will be accompanied
to Fargo on his western trip by
Charles G.. Meek of New York, Sec
ond vice president of the National
Association of Credit Men and assist
ant cashier of the Fourth National
bank OF New York. Both men are
making a big tour of the western part
OF h United States and it is consid-
cred a big compliment to this city
that they should include Fargo in
their itinerary, as they are only yis-
iting the larger cities.
The itinerary of Mr.. Wentworth and
Mr.. Meeks includes such cities as Buff
falo, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Grand
Rapids, Minneapolis, st. Paul, Duluth
Fargo, Butte, Spokane, Seattle. Ia
coma, Portland, San Francisco, Los
Angeles, San Diego, Salt Lake City.
Denver, Ell Paso Fort Worth, Dallas,
San Antonio, New Orleans, Mont
gomery, Birmingham and Knoxville.
This meeting will be one of espe-
cial interest to all Fargoans particu-
larly in consideration of the several
big fires the city has had during the
last year. The Fire Waste, Mr.. Went
worth's subject, is now claiming the
attention of the nation. The gov
ernors of several states have already
established fire prevention day for the
purpose Of public education in fire
hazards. Fire marshal laws are under
going revision throughout the nation
to the effect that arson and criminal
carelessness may be checked. Over SO
per cent of the fires In this country
are preventable. The annual loss in
the created resources by fire is $780,
900, 900 OF $4,000 per hour. The aver
age annual per capita loss in eight
European countries is 38 cents, while
in the United States it is nearly So.
This does not include the cost of fire
departments, which COS as much
more. Property destroyed by fire is
gone forever and impoverishes the
whole nation.
Mr.. Meek of New York. who will
also be here. is a speaker Of import
ance in the commercial work He be-
came identified with the National AS
ISOLATION of Credit Men many years
ago, being one of the charter MEM
bers of the New York Credit Mems
association, In connection with which
he served in a number OF capacities.
He served for seven years as secre-
tary and treasurer Of the national or
g~anization and under his administra-
ton the association had the largest
growth in membership in its history
and there was a wide extension of it's
work.
Three years ago the association APP
pointed a committee on fire insur-
ance. This committee rendered valu-
able services to the business inter
ests Of the country and in the course
OF its work it came into close touch
with the work Of the National Fire
Protection association and has done
much towards furthering the interests
OF that organization. During 1911 Mr..
Meek, in company with Secretary
Wentworth made a tour OF a number of
the southern cities, the result Of which
was so satisfactory that the tour these
gentlemen are now on was arranged.