The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-10-07
Mr.. Bellrens Bespeaks Public Coopcr.
alton for Fire Prevention Day
National Per Capita Loss is $5.
News and Courier.

ing held under the auspices of the
Safety First Federation of America,
Inc.
In speaking Of the vast amount of
fire waste in this country annually
Chief Beshrens gave out the following
yesterday:
If you We're to go to the bank and
draw out all your savings in brand
new bills. and then if you were to take
the money and go and stand in the
middle of the main street of this city
and set fire to the bills, one at
time, you would find yourself in the
hands of a policeman before you could
say Jack Robinson.
There is no question about the
ownership of the money. 1t is yours.
to do as you please with. You can
spend it fooiishly, you can give it
away or you can invest it wisely. But
If you burn it up, it is immediatly as
sumed that you are crazy, or at least
temporarily mentally unbalanced, and
the public feels that it has a right to
restrain you.
Despite this fact we go on serenely
from year to year burning, up our
property without taking the slightest
thought, apparently, of what we are
doing. We erect costly structures and
then sit down and neglect the first
principle of fire prevention.
Gasoline, which is more deadly than
dynamite, we handle as il it were SO!
|QNH &lfo< - | I' TT II l
around for children to Sp5ayS xI Ith. We
hang our lace curtains close to the
gas jet and then leave the window
open when we go to bed so that the
wind can blow the lace curtains into
the flame.
Statistics for the year 1915 show
better than words the reckless way in
which the American people handle
their property.
There were in 1915 no less than s.
1872 individual fires, which in each in
stance caused an estimated property
damage of more than $4,000.
The total fire loss for the United
States now averages more than $780,
100000 year.. In 1915 it showed
slight drop, but there is no reason to
believe that this is more than tempo
rary, for the losses thus far in 1916
indicate that they will be far greater
when the year is completed.
If this $3.50, 100000 loss were all, it
would certainly be enough, but when
this is said only less than half the
story is told. Besides the burning up
Of property, we spend every year in
this country more than $25O,O0O, 900
for the upkeep of fire departments,
and there is additional waste in the
increased size of insurance premiums
made necessary by our own careless
ness.
Figure it Out for yourself. There
are 100,0O0,000 people in the United
States, roughly speaking. The annual
fire tax is $500, ,OOO,O 900.
That means that every man, woman
and child spends IS year more to
live because Of our national careless
ness. If the average family consists
Of seven, it means that every family
bears burden of s35 a year because
of the fire waste.
Ignorance Of the fire danger is stu
pendOus 1t is wilful ignorance, for
in these days there is no reason why
anyone should not know, and knowing
there is no reason why he should not
protecting himself.
Take your own case, for instance.
Suppose a fire started in your home
tonight while you were asleep. What
means have you at hand to put the
fire out Suppose fire started this
minute in your home while you are
away. How would it be eXtinguished
without the help of the city fire de-
partment? Is there an extinguisher i'm
your house? Is there even fire pail
or Il bucket of sand? In ninety-nine
cases out OF every hundred it is safa
to wager that there is not
Even negative precautions are not
taken. People permit rubbish to ac-
cumulate in piles in their attic, in
closets in their cellar.
A pile of papers under the stairs or |
in the closet is n first class fire risk |
These places usually are dark, and |
Whon they are visited match or can
die Is required. >CareleSsness fire.