Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-18
ABOUT THE FARM;
Preparing For Fire.

In probably not one out of q thous-'
and American farm houses or barns IL
a bucket Of water kept in handy
place ready for use in case Of fire
emergency, writes a student Of fire
prevention, Yet SO effective is a handy
bucket of water when fire starts that
the insurance underwriters grant Il
lower rate Of insurance to manufac-
turers and merchants who will Keep
a specified number of filled fire buckets
in certain locations ia their buildings.
Frequently a cupful of water at hand
when a blaze starts as a tiny fame Is
more valuable in preventing fire loss
than a. Whole fire department ten
minutes later. A single bucket OF
water dashed soon enough on blazing
curtains or draperies. or a smal blaze
starting In rubbish, in hay, will put
out q fire before it has opportunity to
gain Roadway, and thus may be the
means, not only Of saving a building
and its contents and preventing h
death Of stock, but ever save loss OF
human life.
Every household should be equipped
with a fire bucket, provided with a
cover. filled with water, and used for
no other purpose. The best type OF
bucket is one with a rounded bottom,
which prevents its sitting on the floor.
and SO makes it useless for ordinary
household work. These buckets hould
be painted red, and should be filled at
regular intervals TO replace water lost
by evaporation. For the same reason,
buckets provided with covers are bet
ter than open buckets and prevent
dust and other material from getting
into the water and making 1t un-
pleasant. One such bucket at least
ought to be provided on every floor Oh
the house or barn. They should be To-
Gated near the stairs or TO
the building, so that those rushing IN
from the outside or starting lot the
stairs can get them without delay.
These buckets are particularly m
partant in winter e pumps or taps
may freeze. AS a general rule n hTe
risk is greatest in cold weather. De-
cause that is the time when the stoves
and furnaces are made as hot as pos
sible to keep the house warm. In the
case OF the barn, n water In these
buckets can be kept from freezing. ex-
cept at temperatures below zero. oy
adding two pounds and one ounce, OF
chloride of lime. the bleaching powder.
The calcium chloride is very inexpens-
sive and both keeps the water from
freezing at temperatures o zero
and also prevents rapid Evaporation.
With this mixture in his fire X
the farmer, except in cases Of unusual
ly temperature. has always at his COM
mand the means of checking the start
Of 2 fire in his barns The cost OF
such fire protection apparatus on farms
is SO slight, compared to the loss it
may save. tina no farmer should ne
elect this precaurion.
At the same time. no matter how
good the .are-fshting apparatus on a
farm may be. the owner and his
ployes should not. for h a reason.
become careless Or permit smoking IN
barns or other dangerous practices be-
cause they think they have at hand the
means to extinguish a fire. All home
owners should be particularly careful
10 keep lamps 50 tar from woodwork,
curtains. or other infammable mater
ial that there is no danger OF the direct
flame or heat setting fire to anything.
Open candle flames or other open
flames are particularly hazardous
Piles Of trash or papers or other waste
in yards around buildings or left in
cellars are especially dangerous. The
same IS true o: all oily rags or waste
which may lead TO a FIRE by a spon-
taneous combustion.