Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-03

be said, include besides the cotton itself much
other property such sheds, gins and vehicles
But as regards the number of fires, the statistics
in hand are evidently incomplete, so that the de-
struction of cotton itself probably far in ex-
cess of what the figures denote study of fourteen
cases on which the reports considered fairly
curate shows that thirty thousand six hundred and
seventyfour bales destroyed either in transit
or at terminals or in warehouses and gins. If
sixty dollars is reckoned the average price of
bale that means loss of nearly one million, nine
hundred thousand dollars on these fourteen items.
II is cheering to note that in the last few
years warehouse facilities have improved. The
Gambler cotton warehouse is model of the sub
stantially built and modernly equipped structures
of the kind with which the South is being pro-
vided: and as these Developments continue, fire
risks and fire insurance rates will steadily decline.
Meanwhile however as Mr.. Meek remarks there
should be more rigid control over the use of pub
lie spaces for storage purposes
IF warehouses are not available, suitable
space removed as far as possible from the
danger of fire should be set aside and
fully guarded while in use. Inexpensive sheds
rooted with freproof material could be erected :
close TO loading stations and the hazards thus
reduced. The insurance companies might
make prohibitive rate on unprotected cot
ton which would put the holders of collateral
on guard. There is nothing better in the world
to lend money on than cotton. 1t should COM
mand reasonable rates. The negligent man.
ner Of handling it produces additional tax,
both for insurance and banking facilities
Cotton fire waste is only item in Americas
colossal ash heap The total fire losses for the first
eight months of 1916 amounted to one hundred
and sixty million dollars. and for decade they
have averaged two hundred and fifty million
year To reduce this fearful and needless sacrifice
of wealth should be major concern of all bust
ness organizations and all good citizens as we'll of
State and municipal governments That 1t can be
reduced is shown by the record of European coun-
tries whose fire losses, even in the most crowded
centers of population, are a meager fraction of
those in the United States. .s-
1t can be reduced by protective laws such
that passed some months ago by Atlanta, provid-
ing for the elimination of single roofs; by we'll
considered and well-enforced building regulations
of every kind by the influence which wholesale
merchants are able to exert their customers
in small towns and rural districts; by the educa-
tional campaigns which insurance companies and
commercial bodies are conducting; and by re-
solve on the part of the rank and file of the peo-
ple property owners particularly, to observe those
simple rules of caution and forethought, the lack
of which is responsible for the great majority of
fires.
The season is at hand when the record of fire
waste begins to mount In Atlanta, in all other
communities this autumn and winter will be just
as unfortunate or just as fortunate in respect to
fires as the people themselves dtermine. Careless
ness will entail its wonted toll of loss and suffer-
ing; caution will bring its well-nigh invariabe
curity This problem, like all problems, becomes
in the end a matter of individual responsibility.