Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-14

OUR EXTRAVAGANT
ANNUAL BONFIRES
Cause a Needless Loss Of Quarter of
a Billion Observation-Disclosures
Good Record-Railroad Gives
an Object Lesson
ENGGURES have just been compiled show
l. ing that the fire loss of the United States
for the eleven months ending November 80,
1915, is something like SjO,OOO.OOO less than
during the corresponding period last year.
This reduction, largely due to good luck, is
doubtless to be asCrbed in considerable part,
however, to the education of property own
crs in the advantages of fire prevention
methods and devices. A distinction may be
made. it is true, between fire prevention and
fire protection the latter term being applied
to means and methods of fighting fires in
their incipiency. BY these closely allied
lines of effort, according to one of the lead
ing fire prevention engineers in the country.
John II. Derby, of the National Civic Fed
Grafton, it may he possible to effect an an
nual saving of quarter of billion dollars
in this country.
prevention work, to use the general term, is
afforded by the experience of the Pennsylva-
MIA Railroad. The annual fire loss in this
instance is kept down to an average of
$4,000 property totaling $400 900 600 on
an insurance valuation. Fire brigades organ
ized among the employees, whose appoint
ment to fire prevention work is considered a
reward of merit certain desired privileges
being granted by the company for this SER
vice, are an important factor in tho reduc-
ton Of fire loss. Automatic sprinklers and
other mechanical devices form an investment
which brings large returns. Throughout the
properties of the road a system of fire pre-
vention and fire protection, embracing both
the human factor and factor of mechanical
apparatus, is in operation under the direc-
tion of the insurance department
A Lesson in Saving Money
In the year 1914 there were 427 fires which
were eXtingushed by employees of the Penn
sylvana Railroad with the companys own
fire apparatus. The insurance value of the
property involved was close to 1000 900. The
amount of loss was SlS46S.11. This showing
is an object lesson in what can be done by
property owners through fire prevention
work carried on according to modern
methods.
the work done by the Pennsylvania Railroad
r. H. Newbern, head of the insurance de-
partment, has some very interesting sugges-
tions to offer
aside frpm it's primary object the private
fire brigade" he says, has possibilities for
the alert mill manager factory superin-
tendent in promoting amicable relations be-
tween the management and employees, which,
If properly developed, will amply repay any
reasonable expenditure of time and energy
given to its organization. The motive un-
derlying fire brigade organization is fun
damentally one of mutual protection; TO the
manager. the safeguarding and preservation
of his plant; TO the employe, the permanency
of work and wage. When this relationship
is properly understood and the interest of
each party made the common interest of
BOTH have then laid the broad founda-
tion for successful and efficient organza-
ton"
Most of us do not quite comprehend the
extent of the wealth. destruction by fire in
the United States 1t means many things
besides the destruction of actual property.
1t means a toll OF 1900 human lives year
and the injury of 5000 men, women ana chill
dren II means, in many cases, throwing
hundreds and even thousands out of en-
ployment, 1t means, as in the case of the
dustrial production, but the temporary and
none the less wasteful cessation of work on
projects of large concern in relation to hui
man welfare This is but a partial list of
items on the extortionate price list of the de-
stroyer Fire.
The latest available official figures of the
Federal Government set the total losses by
fire in the United States at half a billion
dollars, one-half of this sum representing
the actual property loss and the other items
representing the excess premiums over in
surance paid, annual expense of water
works ehargeable 10 fire service, annual ex-
pense Of fire departments and annual ex-
pense of private fire protection. The last
named item is worth increasing for pur-
poses Of economy.
A Twenty Per Cent. Return
From figures which / have gathered"
said Mr.. Derby in conversation, "it is found
that for each 100000 OF insurable property
It is profitable to expend s5Oe0 for fire ex-
tinguishng devices, such as automatic
sprinkler equipments. chemical extinguish-
ers, standpipe systems, fire alarm systems.
etc. AS an investment hre prevention
work offers a very attractive return, the
average being 20 per cent, while in many
instances tie return Is greater. You ask