Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-10-16
AN APPEAL TO THE
MARYLAND PUBLIC
Forgetful of Waste Caused By Fire
Prolific Causes carelessnsss


President wilson's proclacation of
April Is, 1917. contained the follow
ing:
This is the time for America 10
correct her objectionable fault of
Mastefulness and extravaganza. Let
every man and every woman assume
the duty of careful, provident use and
expenditure as a public duty, as
dictate of patriotism which no one can
now expect ever TO be excused or for
given for ignoring"
This should call TO the minds of all
persons wastefulness of every nature.
There is. however. a grave likelihood
that the public generally is forgetful
OF the waste caused by fire. For a
moment let US reason together on this
subject.
Under our system of community,
municipal, state and federal govern
ment, we are all more or less direct
Is connected with an interested in the
welfare of others Therefore the
! waste Of one, influences, to a greater
l-og.- lesser extent, all others. As an
example. one industry has bearing
upon others. The result of the de-
struction of a fertilizer plant, for ex-
ample, would mean the curtailment Of
this substance for crop raising pur-
poses. just as much as the destruc-
ton of a sawmill or lumber-yard
would interfere with the production
of boxes for the handling of canned
goods produced from the crops raised
by the farmer with the aforesaid fer
tilizer.
To this we might add that the de-
struction of a tin can mandatory
would prevent the canning of the
farmers produce, and this waste
thereby influence the public general
~ TO an appreciate extent. Through
our President our nation, and through
cur nation the whole world. calls up
en- you individually and collectively
| foI the conservation of all resources.
Therefore it is urged upon the peo-
pie of Maryland to do their bit. This
lreans every one-the Householder,
the Farmer. the Merchant and the
Manufacturer One of the most pro-
| life causes of fire is carelessness.
Carelessness in not keeping premises
free from unnecessary accumulations
OF rubbish, hazardous conditions per-
mitted around manufacturing plants.
careless handling of lighted oil Ian
terms, gasoline, and similar volatile
materials.
Will you not require that your
premises be kept clean, paying special
attention to the condition of attic,
basement, closets and cubby holes,
discontinue the use of and remove
from your premises all articles and
materials which are likely to cause
fire that are not absolutely necessary,
and where such material is neces-
sary use every effort to safeguard the
keeping and handling thereof? Do
you realize that every dollars worth
of property destroyed by fire is abb
solutely lost, irrespective of whether
there may or may not be insurance?
| For example. realize, please, that in
addition to the loss to a farmer or
merchant, by the burning of hum
| dred bushels of grain or hundred
bushels of potatoes. there is just that
much less grain and that many less
potatoes to be used by the public, and
| that the fact that the farmer or mer-
chant who has had this loss may re-
ceive compensation therefor from fire
insurance does not reproduce the
grain or the potatoes, and the fact of
having his value in dollars will not
feed the public We don't eat dollars.
Marylanders, do your bit, be it
large or small Your country calls
upon you individually and collectively
ir this plea for conservation.
This work is being undertaken at
the special request of the Maryland
! Council of Defense.
emember-cleanlines and the re-
mcval of unnecessary hazards, proper
care and supervision of necessary.
hazardous devices and materials.
The burning of an important build
ing may start a confagration, the end
of which may be very disastrous.
Provide a few buckets of water and
fire extinguishers; by so doing you
may be saving the life of one or more
OF your fellow citizens, and you will,
without question, be adding much to-
ward bringing this worldwide war to