The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-09-23

IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
CAUSES LARGE PART OF
THE FIRE LOSS.
BURNT CHILD FEARS THE FIRE
But 1t Seems Necessary to Burn Some
People Severely Before They
Consent to Use Proper
Precautions

Experience is our one efficient great
schoolmaster. Often in spite Of his
obstinate exactions. We never learn. 1t
Is said that "A burnt child breads the
fire. We don't know. 1t looks like
this is mistake. So foolish and vain
Is man that sometimes we are wont
TO ask if experience will not relent
and permit lis unrestrained to Rush
in where angels fear TO tread We
drive along the boueyards and there
behold mansion, surrounded with all
the beautiful settings that science and
art, can master, yet built OF irflamma-
BILE material. The fire bell rings and in
spite OF every effort made by the fire
department, we behold the settings
disturbed. ruthlessly torn from their
berths and fed to the angry flames. A
heap of ashes marks where the mag
nificent structue stood, and about it,
charred and dead. the blackened stubs
Of shubbery and trees and flowers and
lawns have been sacrificed, as il BY
the heathens OF old to appease the God
of Fire. How long will it remain thus?
That building could have been made
fireproof without a great deal OF aG,
ditional expense. The owner had
ample means at hand and was willing
to spare no expense in making the
building the most beautiful in the
neighborhood. Is it carelessness, or
is 1t merely custom? We know not.
Why people will build and sacrifice to
the fire demon, and build again and
sacrifice again, is beyond the compre-
hension of the mortal mind.
Last month in the city Of Dallas, the
fire loss amounted 10 s43,S00 The
total value OF property involved in the
fires was s1,sS3,250. Suppose the en-
tire city was within the fire limits and
that every building had to be built fire.
proof. does ii not stand to reason that
1t would not be long until the extensive
fire departments OF the city could be
reduced. and the large insurance pre-
miums would gol into the bank ac-
counts OF the people?
During the ymoRth of March the
building permits issued for Dallas
amounted to S147.690. II will be noted
thai for one month alone the fire loss
amounted to nearly thirty per cent OF
the actual building operations. This is
not bad average. We are of the
opinion that the percentage of fire
loss in Dallas is far below the average,
taking the country as a whole. A good
fire department is responsible for the
small loss. Look at the amount OF
property involved ard one can guess
what the loss would have baen in sec
tions not provided with fire fighting
apparatus.
The best precaution against fire is
something that will not burn There
might be some excuse for the use of
inflammabe materials in building con
struction If there was anything to
gained from an artistic standpoint
There are species of non-inhamable
building materials that are OF sur
passing beauty, elegant, comfortable,
inviting.
Building operations are just now be-
ginning to loom up all over the South
west. Combustible materials will be
largely used. as in the past 1t is
true. the people are learning Ex.
perience is getting in lick once in
while. Surely the builders will take
the lesson to heart sometime and.t that
sometime will come when the manu-
facturers and the. dealers in ireproof
materials speak out and inin in the
campaign that viii utterly put to rout
the firetraps that form so prominent
part of the building operations OF the
land. Build frepreof.