Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-02
DECREASE OF NEARLY A HALF
MILLION DOLLARS COMPARED
TO PREVIOUS YEAR.
WET WEATHER FACTOR
IN PREVENTING DAMAGE
People Being Educated to Exercise
Preeautions-United States Lays Far
Behind Countries Of Old World in
Reducing Fire Haxards-one State
Enforees Penalty For Negligence.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Oct 2.-Losses from
fire in Iowa this year, up to Sept. 1,
were almost half million less than
they were in the corresponding period
"a year ago. The figures total $472,3 O1
of 1914.
Several factors have operated to
bring about this saving, in the opinion
of the state fire marshal's office. OF
course it must be recognized that the
wet weather this year as compared to
the dry weather year ago has entered
into It.. Another big factor is the fact
that people are being educated up to
being more careful. The fact that fire
insurance companies reduce the rates
where the hazard is comparatively light
has been big factor. Then the gen.
eral education campaign as conducted
by the fire marshaFs office and the
preventative measures have entered
into it.
This country has a long ways to go
before it reduces it's fire hazard to that
VI IlC Olu COuuttlSS, dCCOfdlle " "A.
Tracy. of the state fire marshals Of
flee. In the majority of the European
countries the fire hazard averages 30
cents per capita. The average for 237
cities of the United States is $3.50 per
capita. Thirteen large cities of Ger
many show a fire loss of 10 cents per
capita. Eleven cities in England "A
cents per capita; in Ireland the loss is
As cents, in Norway 25 cents per capita.
Liability for Negligence.
The Iowa officials are very much in
terested in a ruling by Pennsylvania
court recently to the effect that the
party thru whose negligence a fire oc-
ours is liable for damages caused to all
property suffering therefrom. The To-
cal officials believe that this will hold
good in this state as it has been the
custom of many courts recently to hold
the party whose negligence caused a
fire responsible for damages to others
property.
Just as the many new inventions OF
modern times have increased the haz-
ard to life and limb, SO have they in
creased the fire hazard. Electricity.
and especially electric wiring. causes
many fires. In Iowa last year there
were sixty fires. due to defective cleo
trio wiring. There were 12S fires from
various uses of gasolene. The gasolene
engine, the automobile and gasoiene
stoves all cause numerous fires.
Fire Prevention Day.
The state officials have received re-
ports from many Iowa communities
which are planning to observe fire pre-
yention day, Saturday. Oct. 3. The
schools will quite generally observe the
day on Friday, the 9Th. At Fort Dodge
the Boy Scouts have become interested
in the fire prevention movement Mr..
Tracy was up there few evenings ago
a. addressed the young members Oh
this body. Each boy in this organ1za-
ton has been assigned to certain terri
tory and 1t is to be his duty to notify
property owners in his territory OF fire
prevention day and Of its requirements.
This is the fifth annual fire proven
tion day in Iowa, the first one having
been observed in 191f 1t is the ami
yersary date of the great Chicago fire.