El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-09-14
STREET.
Of 1000 MILES
Insurance Man Thomas
Says Flames Destroy That
Much Yearlyin US.

That the prevention OF waste by
fire at home is equal in Importance to
the problem OF the line on the west
ern front in the grand strategy Of the
world war. was the statement made
Thursday evening by Charles F.
Thomas at a meeting OF citizens held
at the chamber Of commerce. The
meeting was called by John " Wyatt,
president Of the chamber Of commerce,
for the purpose Of discussing conser-
walton Of foodstuff and materials.
Mr.. Thomas is a member Of a COM
mlttee OF Texas fire insurance under
writers whose corporations have do
mated their services to the United
States government TO spread the gOs-
pei OF conservation during the world
war Other members Of this commit
tee who are in EI Paso are Carl Hunt,
George Young and Fred MOseley-
While the meeting last evening was
rot largely attended there was much
enthusiasm displayed by those pres
ent. M. Wyatt called the meeting to
order and introduced W ". Turney as
the chairman
In part Mr. Thomas said
Must Guard Against Fires.
THE proceeds from the efforts Of
hundreds Of men upon thousands Of
acres. and the necessities Of tens Of
thousands Of consumers may dlsap-
pear in the flames and smoke OF q
single fire. Therefore. after prOduc-
tion comes the equally important re-
sponsibility Of protection, not protec-
ton in the ancient political meaning.
but fin respect TO defensive activities
in the war with preventable fires.
Urges Clean Up Of Rubbish.
an behalf Of the work OF cooperat-
ing with the federal government for
national defence. we would ask YOU
business men and the whole citizen
ship Of FL PasO 10 at once put into
effect an increased vigilance Of your
properties VIII you investigate at
once and cause to be inspected at reg
Ular intervals your back yards. open
areas. Easements. elevator pits and
any parts or divisions. OF your prem
ises not frequently observed TO the
end that such a common fire breeder
as rubbish may not be allowed to
accuU ulate-
"Wiu you give special care and at
tention 20 all fire protection devices
now on your PREMISES IL IS as essen
tial that sandpipes and hose. chem
ical fire eNtinEuishers and watch
clock devices be maintained az 100
percent efficiency. as &c is essential
for our soldier boys 10 daily examine
their rifles
Ale1uh Tor Cooperation
viii you cooperate with your city
fire marshal and your city OFFICIALS
especially the building inspector and
fire chief. 10 the end that structural
defects or weaknesses may be dlscOv-
cred and II not eliminated. at least
desi gnated so that they may be thor
oughly understood by your fire de-
partment when they shall answer
your distress call2
stop Individual Carelessness.
1--WE have come 20 FL Paso. just as
we have visited other cities in Texas,
rot 10 tell You something you do not
already know but rather 10 impress
upon your attention the fact that
every fire iu the United States. in
these times ot national need and
emergency ls "a victory for our enc
mics. Individual czrelessness is the
greatest fire hazard. Imagine a street
1000 miles long, that Is from Chicago
TO New York, or from FL FasO TO
Kansas City, lined with all kinds OF
houses, stores, !
mills. schools, churches, hospitals. I
factories and warehouses Every year ]
fire starts in at one end Of such !
street and burns through TO the other I
end. Then the American people build I
up the street again and IRE starts I
On the return journey
20 Percent PrcventabIe
This is the annual American fire +
waste. and nearly 20 percent Of the {
fires originate from preventable J
.auses. An elevator burns every day, I
and the average property loss in each I
such fire is equal TO sinking a ship /
We may not hope 70 survive useless .
Tres in our factories, stores and ware
houses at home and the German sub /
marine on the sea Therefore we ap-
peal chiefly TO your sense Of patriotic .
lblfEation. The ordinary arguments /
# penalties and credits in your fire
insurance rate have often failed to
sro1uce the safeguards and improve
.raa-rfwaaa and ~nu. .