The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-06-11
Fire Waste in the United States.
(The Tridentl

(Ihe IridenD
Many are the reasons assigned from
time to time, for financial depression.
The failure of crops, the administra-
ton in power, and the European war,
are alternately blamed. One of the
great factors, however, which is COM
monty overlooked, is the great waste
under out American system, and par
ticularly the appalling destruction by
fire. The lists of fires published in
the daily papers lengthen day by day.
and aside from the periodical conha-
grations such as Boston, Chicago, Bal
timore, San Francisco and Salem. fire
| losses go on at the rate of $40 100000
month-practically $500,O00,0O0 an
average year. The erroneous impress
sions seems to prevail that because
| these losses are covered, or nearly so,
b y insurance, they have no appreci-
able effect upon the general finances
of the country. This, however, is
child's reasoning; property burned. is
so much property destroyed. and the
fact that the owner collects sufficient
from his insurance policy to rebuild
his plant or house, does not in any
way change the situation in general
that just so much wealth has actually
been removed from the financial world
ana WIlllC he ullllSCll may NC llltlS
better fixed than before, the general
community will have to suffer, each
his share, of the actual loss. which
the insurance companies are bound to
draw out of the business in the long
run otherwise insurance would soon
come to an end. At the rate of $780,
100000 assets per annum being turned
to ashes, therefore, is il any wonder
that we begin to feel the financial
burden. 1t has come to point where
it is not only desirable, but necessary
to turn our individual and collective
attention to fire prevention. If our
legislative bodies would give more
time to legislative enactmentS directed
against the ravages of fire. and less
to regulation, and attempted regula-
ton of insurance, and the continued
taxing and hampering of companies in
the conduct of their legitimate bust
ness, they would contribute more tc
the welfare of their constituents, and
) the ultimate reduction in insurance
rates.
Faulty and flimsv construction Of
buildings, and the use of fire-invit!ni
, materials, defective chimneys. etc, are
most prolific sources of fires. There
r should be uniform building laws drawn
and enforced, looking towards the pro
} per having of foundations, conStruc
{ ton of walls and crimneys. laying o
= floors, erection of StairwayS and ele
4 vators and the protection of opening
and installation of heating and light
ing. To enforce these laws. Their
z should be rigid inspection. not onl,
S of public, but of private buildings, il
every detail of construction and ma
II terial.
|, There should also be system O
|. penalties for carelessness in causing
n fires. Although we are quick to pun
ish the incendiary. the offender VIII
u through carlessness brings about tn
e same dire disaster. goes Scot free.
d The man who puts ashes in woode
boxes or barrels, instead of covere
l. metal cans;
e Who throws lighted cigar or cigal
& cite butts, or the ends of burnin
matches promiscously. instead of int
J. a metal receptacle;
L Who installs. or permits loose joiI
ted gas brackets, which can be swun