Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-01

earnest and most careful considera-
ton.
Think of it Over $4,000 homes de-
stroyed by fire each year in the Unit
ed States alone. The home that unit
In our civilization which is response
BILE for the greatness aud prosperity
of our States and our country is the
greatest sufferer from the fire causes.
l believe you will agree with me
that any movement that has for its
object the protection of the home is
worthy of our earnest effort. This is
the object of fire prevention and as
suca it should have our unqualified
support.
Have you ever realized in the Ian
guage of money the extent of our an
nual fire loss? We destroy property
each year to the value of S250.000. 900
of dollars. 1t is hard to realize what
such an enormous aggregate of money
value means. Why, think of it. Our
fire loss covering period of eighteen
months would pay for the building of
the Panama Canal. Our yearly loss ex-
coed the cost of our pension of the
Pomona Canal Our yearly loss exceeds
the cost OF our pension system also
the cost of our postal service. Look
ing at it in another way, we burn
each year the equivalent in value of
one-half the new buildings which we
erect each year.
Yes, and in addition to this enormous
destruction of our property, there are
destroyed each year over 5000 lives from
fire causes, which should alone prompt
us to assume aggressive measures look
ing to the obviating of conditions which
make such a sacrifice possible.
In our own State, we have been pur-
suing that policy of 'fwatchful waiting
that we have heard so much about re-
Gently and during that period covering
the last Is years we have seen our an
nual fire loss increase from one and one
half millions until for the past few
years We are averaging to burn about
s30o0.0o0 worth of property annually.
Personally L have never believed that a
period of "watchful waiting was Of
benefit to our country or to our State
and the results of our State fire loss I
believe bear me out in my contention.
We are ell OF the opinion that our in
surance rates are much too high yet in
surance rates are based on losses and it
works out that the more we burn the
more we must pay, Therefore, to Sc
cure lower insurance rates it is abso-
lutely necessary that We must burn less
property. .+ss-
If there were any controversy as to
the facts or if any reason. existed for
opposing a movement to check our fire
loss or If any good :, could be accom-
plished by permitting, the present APP
palling conditions to prevail the Ameri-
can people might be defended by toll
Grating such an alarming condition Of
affairs But there is no difference of
opinion regarding the essentials. So, 1t
is uncomfortable to me that people as
apt and eager as we are to lead In pro-
gressive movements should be so slow
and unequipped in fighting foe so
plainly in sight and so easily vanished.
The saddest feature of our fire waste
record is that two-thirds or more Of it
is preventable and could be avoided
through the exercise Of proper care.
The chief factor responsible for this
situation is general carelessness and
lack of responsibility on the part of the
individual, also lack IN many instances
of legal facilities for the removal of
causes which are productive of fire.
Every preventable fire is an economic
crime just as Involuntary homicide is
crime against a person, so wilful care
lessness contributing to fire is an econo-
mic crime against common property.
There must be in some way aroused
among the American people the same
feeling towards that individual and
community which exposes men and
property to excessive fire danger as has
come into existence In connection with
infectious diseases.
At the present time we punish the
man who abuses horse or illtreats
NANCY cat yet we sympathize with that
Individual who by carelessness or neg