Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-31
Protection OF SUPPLIES
WILL HELP WIN THE WAR
Council of Defense Advocates Guard
Against Fires in
Warehouse.
INSPECTIONS NOW IN PROGRESS
Accredited Representatives, with
Cards Signed by Governor and
state Insurance Commissioners,
Making Tour Of Virginia.

Because waste helps our enemy and
the protection OF our supplies will help
win the war" there is now at work
in Virginia a large force of trained
engineers whose business 1t is to pre-
vent fires. This work is also being un-
dertaken in every State In the Union at
the suggestion OF the National Asso-
citation Of Fire Underwriters to min
imize fire hazards in order to conserve
the food supply and to curtail losses
through fires in tho United states.
Special attention is being given to Gle
vators and warehouses in which food
Sturs are stored.
Each inspector carries AN identifca-
ton card and credentials signed by
Governor Henry c. Stuart and Colonel
Joseph Button. State Commissioner Of
Insurance. who is eX officio State Fire
Marshal. The Virginia Council OF De-
Tense is also distributing cards
throughout Virginia and in other ways
is calling attention to the fact that
these inspectors are on n patriotic
mission whose purpose II il to safe
guard food supplies and industries that
produce articles necessary to the sue
cessful prosecution of the war.
AS munition plants are pretty we'll
protected from fire already. the plan
is to have the inspectors first take up
an investigation of plants where. food
supplies are stored or manufactured,
such as cannerics, Erist and flour mills.
Wholesale groceries. g~ranarteS. and
other plants containing foodstuns as
raw products or in the process OF man
ufacture. Next will come clothiers.
metal and wood workers. ~tanneries.
tent and tent supply manufacturers.
machine shops. and SO on down the line
of industries. the idea being to put all
essential industries in the safety zone.
GENERAL. CLEANUP CAMPAIGN
OF MERCANTILE DISTRICTS
Later on there will be a general
cleanup campaign in the principal
mercantile districts OF the cities of the
state, including house to house inspec-
tions and the wholesale elimination of
Elaring hazards such as would con-
tribute to a spreading fire. 1t will not
be a ''one-round" inspection. for sys-
tematic follow-up work is planned.
A great many bad fires are due to
poor housekeeping which invariably
results in accumulation of infiammable
materials. general disorder. unclean-
illness and lax regulations, together
with nonobservance of factory laws,
especially in regard to smoking. Cheap
equipment and poor workmanship In
it's installation soon develops hazards.
particularly when so many industries
are working under abnormal stress.
In the main, however. the experts de-
cidTc ClednliueSS ana OTueT are the
first essentials of efficient fire pre-
vention.
Seven rules or suggestions are print
ed on the cards sent out for posting.
They are as follows:
Learn the factory safety rules and
observe them.
If you discover a fire. give the alarm
promptly. IL you do not know how to
do this. ask to be shown.
Don't smoke where it is not per-
nitted.
Never drop a lighted match, cigar or
cigarette: be sure that 1t has no spark
left before throwing it away.
Report suspicious strangers seen
about the plant.
III you notice any unusual smoke, the
overheating of any machine, or any
other accident, notify the foreman at
once.
Carry the precautions into your own
nome; keep your house and yard free
from rubbish and help Others I, do
the same.