Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-13

rs the average direct annual IRE loss in the
United States Of s225. 100000 inevitable
and unureventabie, or can II be materially
mftigated by means within our power7
Let us endeavor to appreciate the Importance
Of this enormous waste gather lessons by
comparisons and zee whether or not It IS worth
while to set ourselves seriously to curb the
disastrous and appalling loss. What Is the
cost Of THIS FIRE waste3 From the considera-
ton of the subject, exclude forest fires and
similar destruction which does not pertain 10
things gathered by the labor Of man
II Is true that the aggregate annual loss BY
forest fires is huge item. but we leave II out
OF account Apart from forest fires. the fire
waste in the United States during 1911 by d.
rect combustion 1850, 622. The added
cost OF maintenance OF fire departments, cost
Of waterworks systems chRrgeabe to fire
service as distinct from domestic service, the
equipment OF private plants With private FIRE
prevention and protection appliances the pay
rnent Of FIRE insurance premiums by the pub.
lie In excess Of the losses paid by the fire in
surance companies, but including the expense
NJ ccndrct'ng the fire insurance business
amounted 10 s2A2 .O0o non additional making
total fro loss IN 1911, direct and indirect, Of
S47s .6so622
Is this important? Then, again. no account
Is taken ~ the loss sustained BY property
NJ business. loss Of rents loss Of EMPLOYMENT.
or the loss 10 municipalities In the wiping out
r. 'o~~h'n values. These Losses cannot be esti.
rrot~7 ~ dollars and cents with any degree OF
o--roo'noes
T. rr~, no arpued that larre portion NJ this
''-9 600 Is not actually wiped ont For In
e'auoe frer1en are employed. appliances are
ru~ohased. etc True but the point is that in,
r77''ion ~ the FIRE waste a large amount OF
cqDltsl and energy IS locked mp in unproductive
lines in the same manner as is a vast army
ind navy. The producing community Ia taxed
10 provide for this gigantic amount Of unpro-
durtlve capital Let US look At the matter In
smother light According TO the above statistics
(which. bv the wFv, are authori'ative), sum
r0proxlmat'ng $3.50 000 600 Is diverted snnu-
s1v to direct md indirect Are waste What
does this ropresont n capitalized at 8 per cent
the local rate heine that or more? No less
q sum than 60 500 600 00n'
In a recent issue Of a financial journal.
the American Bankers Association published
statistics showing that the combined assets OF
all the savings banks plus all the State banks,
plus all the National banks, plus all the build
Ing and loan associations. plus accumulations
% life insurance companies In the United
States. amounted to 50 $1,000 600 Startling
figures. truly II needs however more than
the equivalent Of that immense amount OF
capital to provide annual funds. sufficient at
r ner cert interest to pay the fire cost OF this
country Hence II results that every man,
woman and child in the United states Is IN
directly assessed s per cent upon about 1907
or take family OF Ave persons. $685., for no
other purpose than indemnity for fire cost, d.
rect and Indirect Is this important?
About one-half OF the 1926 ESQ 622 OF direct
fire loss In 1911 upon buildings which
were totally destroyed or more or less dam
aged The other half was upon the furniture,
merchandise. etc, contained In the buildings.
Beside this vast property loss, there we're
close upon 1000 persons who lost their lives
and nearly 10000 injured.
The fires that cost these lives, injuries and
property loss occurred in $50 buildings
and the average damage to each building and
Its contents was 81 ,432. Now, what do these
figures mean? Who really comprehends their
Significance" We speak glibly of a million. or
Of hundred millions. but these figures convey
no adequate impression to our minds; they
create no vivid pictures, Suppose it were pos.
fb'e to bring these l66,250 buildings that
were visited by fire last year all together and
20 place them end 10 end. how far would they
reach? Well. the buildings damaged or de-