Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-08
CHARLES S. WHITMAN"

Yours very truly,
(Signed)
CHARLES S. WHITMAN"
The appeal for the observance of a
national fire prevention day has met
with wide response. not only from the
governors, but mayors, and public Off
cials are commencing the plan an
nounced by the Safety First Federa-
ton, and 1t is evident that such elabor-
ate programs have never heretofore
been arranged as those announced for
this year.
When the estimates of fire loss in
the United States and Canada for 1914
was reported at $235.591,350, this
stupendous total was staggering and
seemed unbelievable by many. The
records, however, are complete, and if
this enormous amount was evenly
spread out the average cost to every
man, woman and child in these coun-
tries would be Sc a year, including
the cost of equipment and mainten-
ance of ftre-fighting apparatus and de-
partments.
In several cities the officials have
announced a program on fire preven-
tion for the entire week beginning
Sunday, October 3rd, when a cam
paign was inaugurated from the
pulpits in the churches, continuing
every week day through the public
schools. factories, halls. hotels
theaters and public institutions, urging
those in charge of buildings to ex-
anime the property carefully so as to
better safeguard the occupants from
fire hazards. On Saturday 1t is
planned to hold parades of fire ap
paratus with tests and drills by the
firemen.
Particular attention is being di-
rected by municipal officials to the
condition of school buildings, and fire
drills will be held in all the public
schools and similar institutions dur
ing the week, particularly on Friday,
october Sth, as no sessions will be
held on Saturday, which has been
designated as national fire prevention
day, the anniversary of the great Chi
cago fire.
Realizing the great Importance of
fire drills in public schools. the Safety
First Federation has prepared a cir
cular outlining a very simple and
practical plan for arranging and con-
Quoting public school fire drills. Thou
sands of these circulars are being
distributed by the affiliated organiza-
tions throughout this country and
Canada, and will be sent to school
authorities upon request to the Fed
Ci alloh HeduqudTlefSs East 39th
Street. New York City.
The designation of a national fire
prevention day in October will make
that the banner month in the public
safety movement for the year. The
first annual convention of the Safety
First Federation will follow in ten
days, convening in Detroit, October
18th. The fire prevention committee,
comprising many prominent fire ex-
rerts and engineers. will prevent it's
report containing important recon-
mendations for adoption at this time.
AS soon as these measures are ap-
proved a comprehensive campaign will
be instituted in every Commonwealth
and municipality with the view of re-
ducing the fire hazards through the
enactment of model laws and reguIa-
tions.
Among the recommendations to he
presented at the Detroit convention
are the following:
l. The enactment of fire preven-
ton laws In all States in the Union.
2. Designating by legislative an
proval October 9th as national fire
day.
3. Making it obligatory upon school |