davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04
TLIF NATION PAYS HIGH FOR CARELESSNESS WITH FIRE

cause, whether internal or external.
These fires, of course, share the de-
gree of preventability of the primary
cause, and in addition TO this are
largely affected by such questions as
fireproof roofing, fireproof construc-
ton, water supply, fire department
efficiency, and various other elements
that are strictly within human con-
troll. The fact that the city Of VI
emma, in Austria, is said never to
have known fire which spread be-
yond the building in which it origin
ated is sufficient commentary upon
the subject Of preventability in ex-
posure fires. There is hardly small
town in the United States which can
match the record of this great city.
New York State, naturally, has the
largest total again-S2, 1861 ,O90, or
14.3 per cent of the whole. It's per-
centage is exceeded by South Dakota,
2S.6 per cent; New Hampshire, 22.6;
and several others, while the best
record is that Of Wyoming, GA per
cent.
1t was formerly supposed that
more than 80 per cent Of all fires
were of incendiary origin, and 1t can
not be doubted that the percentage is
much larger than the figures given
here, since many Of the unknown"
causes are doubtless due TO crime.
The known total of S6,l96,2 29, how
ever, is by no means negligible, and
The National Board of Fire Under
writer's, in connection with local au
thorities, is now engaged in organ
izing a great campaign throughout
the United States. This despicable
form of crime not only has been
cause of great property loss, but has
cost numberless lives. The District
of Columbia shows the large percent
age of III per cent, which is greater
than that reported in any of the
states, but CALIFORNIA; 1872 per cent
ranks next in proportion, and its
S8S6,45 is far the largest total of
loss, being nearly 100000 greater
than the figures for New York. Ne
vada reports only 0.6 per cent as due
to this cause, the best showing of
any state.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04
Some Strange
Geographical Variations


3 From ignition of hot grease. oil,
tar, wax, asphalt, etc, the table
shows losses of S440.963, but Ohio,
with its large oil interests, suffered
nearly one-quarter Of this entire
amount, the figure being $l03,876,
or 81 per cent. 1t is another strange
coincidence that Oklahoma, with its
very large oil interests, suffered TO
the extent Of but 1884, and is rated
at 40 per cent, this figure being
too small to recognize upon per-
centage basis of one decimal place.
New York's loss of STATIC, or a
per cent, is chargeable rather to the
size Of its population and the extent
Of its manufacturing interests than
TO natural features.
For the most part the states show
little damage from hot or molten
metal, and a few of them have none
at all. The total, however, reaches
the stable figure Of Sll6,906. For
some reason, Maine has the largest
figure, with $4,000, with Massa-
chusctts and Indiana next, each hav-
ing something over $4,000 Of loss.
with the exception OF Maine, all of
The states are below 10 per cent.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04
BY ADACHI KINNOSUkE

DARON SHIBUSAWA, in an in
ID terview published in tn
"Hochi" (Tokio), has many
pertinent and interesting things to
say on the investment of capital in
China. He is quoted as follows:
"China is Japan's investment field
par excellence. At present China is
in desperate financial straits. The
people are hard up and so is the gov
eminent. Both her domestic and for
eign affairs are in tangled and al
together precarious condition. But
there is no doubt whatever that she
is to be a great world market in the
future; she will be the stage for a
great international competition very
soon. This is the opportune moment
for Japan which enjoys special rela-
tons with China and a position OF
vantage to be up and doing. If Japan
were to lose this opportunity she
would see a thousand years of regrets
and repentances. China's ills arc
many and grievous, but the worst Of
her troubles is financial. And our
country should go to her rescue ahead
of all the rest of the world.
"A radical reformation Of the fnar-
cial system of China should be the
first on the programme. Her silver
standard should be changed to the
gold standard. Her central bank
should be modelled upon the central
bank of Japan; and her monetary
system should be made uniform. All
these reforms call for a great deal Of
money. Japan should lead in the
work of inducing the countries of the
world in supplying China with the
needed funds.
Now, the United States to-day is
so rich she is troubled in devising
the ways and means of placing her
ever-increasing idle funds. To-day
America sincerely desires TO invest
her money in China. | have even
heard that there is plan afoot Of
stationing a number of men to look
into the investment conditions IN
China for the benefit Of the Ameri-
can financial corporations. The Uni
ted States should, therefore, gladly
respond TO our solicitations for plac-
ing her funds in China.
Our financial leaders should take
the initiative in this matter and per-
suade China to welcome the importa-
ton Of foreign capital. Japan should
adopt the positive policy of leading
the international investors in China.
I'm my judgment, it is vitality inn
portant that Japan should join the
United States in her investment ac-
tivity i'm China-for America has the
same desire to enter the Chinese field
as Japan. We should work this prob
lem out hand-in Inland with the Amer
lean capitalists. The friendly CO.
operation between the United States
and Japan in China is not only the
safest method for Japan and her in
terest, but it is also the most helpful
procedure for the economic develop
mcnt of China herself"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04
Strictly Preventable

Analysing more closely, IT may De
noted that defective chimneys and
Aues, the third Of the known causes
in point Of size, show strange varl-
alton from IS per cent in the Dis
trict Of Columbia to PAT per cent
in New Mexico. Thus, in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, this cause was
most negligible, while in New Mexico
il was responsible for nearly one
nJarter Of the total fire loss. In the
state Of New York this cause Is
chargcsble with Al per cent. FIRES
Of this nature are more frequent IN
winter than in summer, and, there
fore. should logically show a larger
proportion in Northern states than
in fhoze Of the South. but Vermont
with 6.G per cent, and Alabama
with 50 per cent. sre - nearly
.ousl a. 70 MAKE this syoolhssn
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04

A some Of the signs of war pros
- perity in Japan the Sumitomo
family celebrated their profitable
year by distributing five million yen
Cabout $2,5OO,OOO in gold) among its
employees at the beginning Of this
month. The Sumitomo family is one
of the wealthiest families In Osaka,
and is presided over by Baron Kichi-
zaemon Sumitomo. The family is the
owner of the Sumitomo Bank and
also many valuable copper mines.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04

THE war had stimulated The nil
L ing enterprises in Japan to .
remarkable degree. According to tn
official figures Of the Department o
Agriculture and Commerce Of Japs,
the actually paid up capital whici
went into mining enterprises Of ore
type or another for the period y
eleven months from January TO III
end Of November, 1916, amounted o
over 9,534,OOO yen (about si,'Sl
000). In the entire year Of 1915 on'l
100000 yen, or about S2,9s5@'
was devoted to the same purpose
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04

difficult. II is probably nearer to
the truth to regard the percentage
as due i'm some measure to good con-
structlon, thorough inspection and
careful occupancy. In almost every
state this loss is far too great, and
calls for diligent measures of pro-
lection. The combination of defec-
tive chimneys and single roofs is
one of the most dangerous known
10 our civilization.
Next in order of presentation, al
though nearly the least of all in point
of size, are fireworks, firecrackers,
etc. This cause is good example
of what can be accomplished through
popular education, for it is but a few
years since the Fourth of July in
the North and Christmas in the
South were regarded with dread by
fire departments. The movement for
q "Safe and Sane Fourth has been
taken up with zeal by hundreds of
communities, which are substituting
patriotic exercises and wholesome
sports for the indiscriminate use Of
powder, which was formerly deemed
indispensable. Whatever may be the
hardship to the feelings Of Young
America involved in this change, it
is certainly productive of saving in
life and property, not to speak OF
sundry fingers and toes, and num-
Der of states now show loss so
small that it is figured at zero In
counting fire costs. 1t is interesting
to note that the small State of New
Hampshire tops the list with a loss
of S59,713, or 40 per cent, from
this cause. The next state in point
Of percentage is Arizona, with only
IS per cent, and the other states
range downward. In thirty-one of
the forty-eight states the percent
age does not rise above / per cent.
This is a remarkable improvement
over former years, and yet its total
of S260,5 fire loss for the United
States is still too large by that ex-
act figure, since every dollar of it
may be classed as strictly prevent
able.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04

carelessness par excellence, as every
enc who has eyes must realize. In
only eight Of the states does the per
centage fall below 10 per cent. 1t
may be interpolated that these hg-
ures are somewhat misleading, be-
cause many other instances are
doubtless covered up under the head
ing of Unknown Fire Causes. Ger
tainly most fires, whatever may be
their direct cause, are indirectly
traceable TO matches, and these little
articles of universal convenience are
used by the average citizen with
preat disregard for their immense
powers of destructiveness.
Of all of the states, Rhode Island,
with 8.8 per cent, makes the worst
showing, after which come Massa-
chusetts, with 54 per cent; Illinois,
with Al per cent, and New York,
with 4.3 per cent. Florida is cred
tied with but GA per cent, and has,
therefore, the best apparent record.
The largest figure under open
Fires" is that of Pennsylvania, $780,
257, with New York, S95,0O5, second,
and Georgia, s53,7O1, third. From
the standpoint of percentage Mis-
sissippi, with II per cent, is slightly
ahead of several other states, while
Nevada and New Mexico have no
fires whatever charged to this cause.
The national total is nearly three
quarters Of a million dollars.
Open lights are directly associated
with carelessness in the home, and
vet one observation-disclosures no
fires from this cause, and in Wyo-
ing the loss was but $50. On the
other hand, New York had losses of
s230,742 and Massachusetts of $780,
500. Massachusetts, and Ohio have
the largest percentage, the figure be-
ing 1.9 per cent in each case.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04
The Case Against
the Smoker

Most smokers would Indignantly
resent the charge that they are not
good citizens" but the burden of
proof would seem to be on them IN
the light of figures which show
total fire loss of $4,505, 1868, attrib-
utable to their carelessness. Only
one state falls below 10 per cent
under this heading, and that is Ar
kansas, with or per cent. On the
other hand, the figure rises 10 1870
per cent in Nevada, or nearly one
dollar in every five of the states to-
tai loss. Nevada has the smallest
population Of any American state,
and it is a coincidence that the small
est state in point of territory should
be the second in proportion of fire
loss from smoking, Rhode Islands
figure being ITO per cent. Idaho
comes next, with 10.5 per cent, while
New York, as is perhaps natural in
consideration of its population, has
the largest loss in dollars. New
York's figure is 1901, $50, or one dol
lar in every twenty-five Of its total
fire loss.
1t may be surprise TO some to
find steam and hot water pipes fgur-
ing as a cause of fires, and yet insur-
ancc men have reason to so regard
them. In New York State alone the
years loss from this cause was $685.
COS. The percentages run from 05
per cent in the case of New York TO
90 per cent in several of the states.
OF all known fire causes that en-
Tracing stoves, furnaces, boilers and
their pipes ranks fourth, and it is
next TO the largest Of the strictly
preventable causes Idaho seems TO
be the worst offender in the matter
Of defective heaters, with l5.4 per
cent, and South Dakota, with lis
per cent, is second. New York again
takes the lead with total losses of
S869,475, and Illinois is a close sec
ond, with S799,56G. No state comes
down TO fractional percentage, the
smallest figure being that Of Ala
bama, "a per cent.
All Of the above are ranked as
Strictly Preventable Causes, some
being due 10 habits Of direct care
lcssness on the part Of the public
and others 20 a lack Of the prclimi-
rsry inspection which would reveal
the danger point. Taken in the az
yIsxats. thsy form q serious ndicL.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04

ment of the characteristic national
heedlessness.
The next nine causes cited in the
table come under the heading of
Partly Preventable, the degree OF
preventability varying somewhat
with local conditions, but appreciably
large in all cases.
With the single exception Of "EX-
posure," which implies a multiple
ity of primary causes, electricity is
chargeable with greater damage
than any other cause in the table,
and of this damage it is undeniable
that a large portion is due to care
lessness in use or TO lack Of inspec-
ton. It is scarcely thirty years
since electricity began to figure
prominently as a fire cause. When
electric lights first appeared 1t was
supposed by underwriters that they
would effect a reduction IN the num-
Der of fires through their displace-
ment Of the known dangers Of gas
and kerosene. These optlmists, how
ever, were speedily disillusioned,
since it became evident that electric
ity brought new and subtle dangers
of its own. Fires from defective
insulation for example often broke
out in places difficult of access in
walls and elsewhere. With electric
ity's extraordinary usefulness, ITS
universal distribution and its numer-
Gus forms of application it practi-
cally has assumed first place as a
cause of fire, and this in spite Of the
great progress in correcting many of
the earlier defects in switches, wir-
ing and apparatus.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04
Electric Irons
a New Peril

No one who recalls the lroquols
Theatre horror can doubt the need
for extraordinary care in handling
this dangerous force, and yet an al
most new item that is rapidly grow
ing formidable bespeaks the greatest
carelessness. This is the epidemic of
fires from small electric home de-
vices like smoothing irons and curl
ing irons and the want of exercising
the proper care in their use. Under
writer's are genuinely alarmed at the
frequency with which it appears that
such irons have been left in circuit,
with the current turned on, and for
gotten by their users until they have
become overheated and have set fire
to their surroundings. This is al
ready serious peril to life and prop
erty, and one that is highly inexcusa-
bic.
Under electricity the largest total
losses are those of California, which
makes a showing of Sl,035, 405, or
14.2 per cent. This, however, is ex-
ceeded in percentage by Arizona,
where 30.4 per cent of all fire loss
was so caused, and by Montana, with
figures of 1872 per cent. Delaware
makes the astonishingly low showing
of IL per cent, figure that is not
approached by any other state. The
loss of New York is $933,4l3, or AT
per cent of the whole.
The extraordinary damage from
recent explosions is, of course, not
included in these figures, which are
for the year 1915, but explosions in
some form or other are a constant
menace in every state. New York
again has the largest total with S3l2,-
ST., but the percentage Of Nevada, 7.S
per cent, is the highest, with Maine,
60 per cent, second, and New Mexi-
co, az per cent, third. Georgia, with
o. per cent, seems TO have been the
safest in this regard.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04
Fires from
Exposure

Exposure fires are divided into
two clases-externa and internal.
External exposure is that of one
building to another; internal eX-
posture is due to fire starting in the
stock or premises Of one tenant and
communicating to the premises of
another tenant in the same building.
All such fires are assigned to this
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04
EXPORTS FROM AMSTERDAM
TO THE UNITED STATES

The total value of articles invoiced
at the American Consulate at Amster-
dam for the United States for the year
1916 was S37,O70, $50, being larger than
that of any previous year. The follow
ing table shows the comparative values
during the last five years, together
with the values of diamonds and to-
bacco, the chief articles exported to
the United States:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04
Dangers That Lurk
in Kerosene

Under the heading Petroleum and
It's Products, which means, of course,
not only kerosene, but the ubiquitous
end dangerous gasolene and other
lesser products, such as lubricants,
Delaware shows the largest percent
age of loss, with As per cent, and
South Dakota, with 81 per cent,
comes next, although New York has
the largest physical loss, its total be-
ing $234,633. OF all the states Ala
bama, with 0.3 per cent, has the
smallest loss.
The value of 'clean up" days on
the part of the citizens and the peri
odical inspection by uniformed fire
men under the direction of the Chief
of the Fire Department in our more
progressive cities as an aid to fire
prevention may be appreciated from
the fact that total losses of $685.
259 are attributable to ruoDlsh ana
litter. This gospel would seem to
be most necessary in the District Of
Columbia, where the astonishing per
centage of 1916 per cent is recorded,
as against no recorded fires from
this cause in Arizona. Illinois losses
were the largest in property con-
sumed, being $SO,S99, after which
come Massachusetts,, S53,507; Ore
gon, S51 1893, and New York, S44,6O9,
in the order named. 1t is encourag-
ing TO note that only five states ex-
coed 10 per cent of fires from this
cause.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04
Fires from
Unknown Causes

The third division is that of "Un-
known Causes" and, for obvious
reasons, this cannot be subdivided.
Fires so frequently burn up the evil
dence of their origin that this divi-
sion probably can never fail to be a
large one, but it would seem that
loose reporting must account for the
fact that 62.2 per cent, or nearly
two-thirds Of the entire fire loss in
New Jersey, has been designated as
Unknown" in origin. In contrast
with this, South Dakota accounts for
the origin Of all but 17.2 per cent of
its fires, and the average for the
United States is 40.7 per cent. The
total is $50, 363,29S. 1t cannot be
doubted that a substantial proper
ton of this huge total might have
been prevented.
After such an analytical study it
is hardly necessary to call atten-
ton to the vast economic waste Of
fire and the shocking way in which
such figures discredit our national
housekeeping. With all due allow
ance for sub-standard fire depart
ments and water supply systems
here and there, the lesson is con-
stantly borne in upon us that Amer
leans are a nation Of careless peo-
pie VINO take unnecessary chances
and disregard the simplest precau-
tions. The presence of one careless
individual in a community imperils
his careful neighbors, if such there
be. 1t probably is only by a sys-
tematic and patient educational cam
paign, extending over years, or gen
erations, if need be, that America
can be weaned from this national
failing.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04

tual money loss, while Arkansas
Delaware, Missouri, New Mexico
and Utah are rated at 90 per cent.
Spontaneous Combustion
Not a Myth
Some people have supposed that
spontaneous combustion is a myth,
but there is nothing mythical about
a fire loss of s5,463,S22 in the United
States in a single year. When 1t is
estimated that this figure is 80 per
cent preventable, it may be assumed
that such an estimate is very con-
servative. The most frequent cause
of spontaneous combustion is from
allowing oily rags TO be kept in
wooden boxes or in contact with COM
bustible material. Certain kinds OF
oil have a great tendency to produce
flame upon the least opportunity.
The public has been warned times
without number of the danger of
carelessness - this matter, but oily
rags are so~often found in every
household, factory and business
building that the proportion of care
less individuals is able to cause
severe losses. Massachusetts would
seem to be the state of the most
careless people from this standpoint,
since it suffered nearly one-fifth of
the total American loss, the exact
figure being Sl,067,224 or lib per
cent. Another New England state,
Vermont, is second, with SO per
cent, while little Delaware does not
report a single dollar of damage
from spontaneous combustion.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04
By WILBUR L. MALLALlEU
General Manager National Board OF
Fire Underwriters

General Manager National Board Of
Fire Underwriters
TCONOMISTS are wont to call
attention to the constant
- financial loss due to American
carelessness. Carelessness appears
so tragically in the news columns
through its toll of dead and injured
that this fact has somewhat over
shadowed its purely economic values,
but il is coming to be realized that
these values are of proportions al
most inconceivable. Rarely, however,
has this been illustrated so spe-
officially as in the remarkable statls-
tics on American fire causes now for
the first time made public through
the actuarial bureau of the Nation
al Board Of Fire Underwriters.
Americans have long regarded fire
as a species of necessary evil, and
have prided themselves upon pos
sessing the finest fire-fghting equip
ment and the most efficient firemen
Of any country. This national COM
placency is dispelled with an abrupt
shock when it is learned that, in
spite of our superior fire depart
ments, the per capita fire loss of the
United States is many times as large
as that of most foreign countries.
Results of an
Extensive Survey
A natural question Immediately
arises as to the reasons for this
disquieting fact. The reasons, Of
course, are manifold, but there has
been a growing suspicion for years
on the part of those who have studied
the subject that most Of the reasons
are far from being excuses. Exact
knowledge, however, has been lack
ing heretofore, and it is because OF
this lack that the National Board
of Fire Underwriters, after much
discussion with the National Con-
vention of Insurance Commission
ers, and the Fire Marshals' Asso-
citation of North America, under
took the gigantic work of analyzing
nearly all Of the 100000 or more
fires which annually occur in the
United States in order to tabulate
and interpret the information de-
ducible therefrom. This effort has
entailed such extraordinary labor
that the figures for 1915 are only
now available. The following table
shows the classification by causes.
In order to facilitate a study of the
table these causes have been sub
divided into those which are adj
Judged to be Strictly Preventable,
those which are Partly Preventable,
and those which are Unknown, but
which may safely be regarded as
largely preventable. Indeed, the
word "Preventable" stands out over
any consideration as being the first
and most important lesson that the
figures teach.
STRICTLY PREvENTABLE CAUSES
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04

First Authentic Survey Of Fire Causes Ever
Made Shows Definitely That a Large Part
of the Loss in the United States Is Wholly
Preventable and Most of 1t Could Be Elm
mated by Observing Simple Precautions
Cost Of the Ubiquitous Match, Cigarette
and Rubbish Heap