Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-09-11
BURNING TIP MILLIONS.

TF you we're 10 go to bank and draw out all your
savings in brand new bills and then If you we're to
take tho money and go and stand in the middle Of the
main Of this city to the bills
time Won would find yourself in the hands OF a po-
liceman before you could Jack Robinson
There is question about the ownership OF the
money. II yours with which do you please You
spend it foolishly. YOU give It away you
invest II wisely But II you burn it up, is Immediately
assumed that you crazy. at least temporarily
mentally unbalanced and the public feels that has
right TO restrain you.
Despite this fact. we 60 on serenely from year to
year burning up property without taking the
slightest thought apparently, Of what doing.
We costly structures and then sit down and wait
for them burn because neglect the first principle
Of IRE prevention.
Gasoline which is more deadly than dynamite we
handle II it much water We leave matches
around where children may play with them. We hang
lace curtains close the jet and then leave the
window open when we go to bed that the wind can
blow the lace curtains into the flame.
Statistics for the year 1915 show better than words
the reckless which the American people handle
their property.
There were in 1915 no less than s152 individual
fires which in each instance caused estimated prop
erty damage Of more than $4,000
The total fire loss for the United States now aver
ages more than S25ooooooO year. In 1915 It showed
slight drop but there is 10 believe that
1915 indicate that they will be far greater when the
year is completed.
II this s25OOooOOo loss we're all, II would certainly
be enough but when this is said only less than half
the story told Besides the burning up Of property
we spend every year in this country than $3.50.
900 for the upkeep of FIRE departments. and there
Is additional waste the increased size Of insurance
premium made necessary by carelessness
Figure it out for yourself There 1oOOOOooo
people in the United States roughly speaking. The
annual FIRE tax is s5O0oO0000
That means that every man. and child spends
s. a year 10 live because Of our national care
lessness II the family consists Of it
means that every family bears burden of SS5
because Of the FIRE waste
Ignorance Of the FIRE danger Is stupendous. II is
wful ignorance for in these days there Is reason
why anyone should not know and knowing there is
no reason why he should rudimentary
means of protecting himself
Take your own case. for instance Suppose FIRE
started in your home tonight while you asleep.
What have at hand 10 put the FIRE out Sup
pose ere started this minute in your home while you
are away How would il be extinguished without the
help Of the city fire department? Is there extn-
guisher in your house2 Is there FIRE pail
bucket Of sand? In ninety-nine nut Of every
hundred IT is safe to wager that there is not
Even negative precautions not taken. People
permit rubbish 70 accumulate in piles in their attic.
In closets. in their cellar.
A pile OF papers under the stairs the closet is
nrst-class FIRE risk. These places usually dark
+ and when they visited a match or candle is
auired careessness frequently results in the match
being dropped or the candle being left behind when
the visitor departs II IT is a closet the door shut
and soon there bright little FIRE burning there.
II the proportion is one careful person ninety
nine careless persons what right those ninety.
nine to expect the other persons 10 help them pay
n their FIRE protection? Should the careless person
be made to pay for putting the FIRE his home?
Il IF the FIRE spreads from his home 10 his neighbours
should he pay his neighbor for the loss where the
= Gre due 10 his own carelessness?
The idea Of personal responsibility is spreading fast