El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-10-17

AppaIing Waste StaRgers Estimates.
The effect Of the fire waste upon
the living cost of the country can De
the more readily realized when it is
understood that it amounts to twice
the annual value of the cotton crop.
1t exceeds the annual value of wheat,
hay. rye and oats Within the last
United states has exceeded the amount
of gold held in the United Kingdom,
Austria Hungary, Italy and Spain. An
estimate of the geological survey
states that nearly one half of the value
of the new buildings erected each year
in the cities of this country is
destroyed by fire.
Due to Faulty Construction.
With such facts as these before
them the members of the con-
gress now =. considering fire waste
Importance of establishing definite
means of preventing this loss, ana
suggestions from experts who have
studied the subject will be presented.
writers has spent several hundred
thousand dollars in sending COM
mittee of experts to report on the con-
flagration condition in all of the
larger cities. The investigations of
these committees indicate that most
fires are due in part, at least. to
faulty building construction Other
causes are carelesseness and ignorance
of fire preventive as well as pro
tective provisions and, in some in
stances. the fact that the fire officials
are political appOintees and not always
properly qualified for the duties de-
volving upon them
Rubbish Originates One-FOurth.
The construction" of a building in
cludes the materials used the height
of the structure, the fire control areas,
the exposed vertical openings and
H.
within the buildings; the provision for
fire proof roofing and other conditions
having an influence upon the checking
or increasing the spread of a flame
once started Carelessness and ignor-
ance upon the part of the occupants
Of the buildings include the accumula-
ton of all kinds of rubbish in cor
ners where fire can be easily started
by a dropped spark, as well as the
careless handling of inflamable mater
ials. EX-chief Edwin Croker of the
New York fire department, claims that
at least One-fOurth of the great fire
be traced to rubbish filled cellars, halls
and corners Defective chimneyS or
flues are responsible for Is per cent
of the fire waste throughout the coun
try. Fully so percent Of the fires
destroying buildings in the southern
states arise from this cause
School Buildings Great Hazard.
School buildings stand fourth upon
the list of hazards in the fire waste of |
the country and an average of ten |
school buildings are destroyed by fire l
each week through the year. The /
waste of $50 school buildings burned :
each year has a material effect in in !
creaslng the number of half time |
classes and crowded school rooms ed |
ucatOrs so much object to. Aside from I
this waste is the constant danger /
school children are exposed to in at
tendance upon schools held in non
flreproof buildings An occasional
horror like the COllingwood school |
holocaust in Ohio, a few years ago.
when a large number of the school
children were roasted alive will cause =
a wave of public Indignation over !
such conditions resulting in the erec-
ton of many fireprOof buildings. It |
will not, however, be sufficiently /
strong to prevent the erection of many 4
wooden fire trap school buildings
a crusade for fire proof buildings IS
slowly bringing them into use in a
number of cities.
Public Offense In Germany.
The great difference between the an
nual fire waste in the United States
and Europe is due also to the lack of !
taken BY the occupants
Of the dwelling invaded by fire. In
Germany every person connected with !
a building may share this respons- /
lbllity. A fire is looked upon as
person responsible for it is promptly |
sought out and compelled to pay the |
penalty. The laws make absolute pro-
vision for fire protection and they are
enforced.
a few months ago an American re-
siding in Berlin was awakened one |
morning by the smell of smoke He
found that Il fire originating in a
ceiling of his dining room. The fire |
vas promptly extinguished with chem
cal apparatus and little damage was
lone. The next morning an official
urned in the alarm was called before
he fire marshals. The fact that he
lad been about to leave the city was
lot considered. He had to await the
nyestigation OF the fire. He was
lsked many questions. 1t was ascer-
aimed that the fire started from a
'oal dropped from a laundry stove in
IN attic above and rolled over upon a
wooden tIoor- The American showed !
nat the stove was an appointment out
noe of his apartment which he had !
lelther the duty nor privilege OF |
hanging. The landlord was called !
ie claimed that he had purchased the
ulldlng with the assurance that all |
avs had been complied with. He had |
OF had his attention called to the fire |
lsk of the stove The builder of the |
ouse was then called. He admitted |
nat ne was responsible for the setting |
I the stove and neglecting to provide |
metal hearth of the required kind !
etween the stove and the floor. The
enaIty enforced upon him included I
ne estimated cost to the citV in re- !
ponding to the fire alarm and ex-
ngulshins the fire. the damage to !
ne furniture of the tenants and !
me of 500 marks as a penalty for |
collation. of the law. The damage to |
he building was not included because
was held that the owner had been !
egligent in not knowing the cOndi-
on Of the stove and, therefore. should
lake his own repairs.
Saturday-Fire PraNentinn