The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-02-22

Structed lightning rods upon farm
barns and other buildings that stand
alone and thus are exposed to cleo.
trical storms, becomes general, there
will be a material reduction in losses
from this source.
Spontaneous Combustion.
am pleased to be able to report
that fires where spontaneous combus-
ton has been given as the cause
have been materially reduced both in
number and in amount, during the
year just past The total loss from
this source reported during 1914 is
1851, 045, while during 1913 this
amount was $46s,599.
During the last two years consider
able effort has been made not only by
this department but by means OF
pamphlets and bulletins issued by the
department Of agriculture at Washing
ton, as well as by the leading agricul-
tural papers published in this state to
call the attention Of farmers and 9TH
ers to the danger Of fire resulting
from conditions that produce sponta-
neous combustion, especially in farm
barns, and have no doubt that these
various efforts are responsible for
this desirable showing.
In addition to the fire causes enum-
Grated above, deem 1t my duty to
cali attention to two more; namely:
those resulting from defective electric
wiring, and from the careless hand
ling Of gasoline.
During the year 1914 there were 60
fires reported as resulting from de-
fective electric wiring, aggregating
loss Of $21S,112 In view of the rapid
growth in the us.e of this means !of
furnishing light and power, I am of
the opinion that the loss by fire from
this source in the future will increase
rather than diminish, unless adequate
inspection is provided. Rigid local
inspection OF electric wiringy super
vised by thoroughly competent state
inspector, is demanded by every inter-
est OF safety to life and property.
Handling Of Gasoline.
The loss to property by reason of
the careless use, handling and stor-
age of gasoline and other inflammable
oils amounted during the past year
to $131,127. These forms OF fuel have
come into such general use during the
last few years that special care should
be exercised both in their storage and
handling The person or corporation
who deals in such substances should
be held to stricter account as to how
and where he stores them. This
should anG can be remedied by law.
1t Is not easy to reach the indi-
viduaI user and fnduce'Nh to act
with prudence and care. This, how
ever, must be done or there will con-
tinue from year to year to come to
the people OF the state the sad details
of an ever increasing number of lives
lest because some one was ignorant
or careless in the handling of these
dangerous substances.
Better Fire System.
During the past two years much
money has been expended in the state
for better water service and fire ap-
paratus, and many OF the smaller
towns which heretofore enjoyed no
fire protection have now a fairly good
water system and some fire appara-
tus. In number of places very
efficient volunteer fire department
exists.
The most noticeable drawback to
the efficiency of a local fire depart
ment in small town is the want OF
a proper alarm system by which the
firemen may be promptly called to
the station. AS every one knows. a
few minutes time in the beginning Of
a fire is Of the greatest value, and II
would therefore urge upon municipal
officers everywhere to give this mat
ter attention in order that the most
modern and up-to-date system OF CIV
irg alarms may be put into use.
Profitless.