The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-07-30
FOOD CONSERVATION
and FIRE WASTE
What The Preservation Of
Feed Supplies Means
to The u. S.

<ahA0 NVOA oAy W. VI LhC l. avn
Coast, will note young men clad in the
now familiar khaki uniform, with
rifles over their shoulders, watching the
approaches to every bridge and tunnel
of any Importance or strategical value,
These troops are on duty day and night
for the purpose of safeguarding the
Nation Is railway communications, so
important in the present crisis. The
same ~precaution win also be seen at
all prominent shipbuilding and manu-
featuring plants which are working in
the interests of the United States. All
Of these steps are taken to prevent
Any interruption in the campaign OF
preparedness in which the country is
engaged in tho meeting the stern issues
Of the war.
The guarding of these various prem.
ises has been brought about through
the National Board of Defense, which
has also under consideration the thor
ough extension of this system of pro-
lection to all warehouses and other
Aepots where the food supplies of the
courtry are kept in storage. Many
VI bnCbC WdlCuoucc", uCWoVoIy pdiLiCu-I
lArly in the States of Washington, Ore
gon and Idaho, are situated ut isolated
points, and as the National Board and
various State Councils of Defense can-
not perfect plans for the guarding Of
these premises, it becomes the patriotic
dairy Of every American citizen to lend
his aid and to "do his bit" towards
rendering tho food supplies in his
Hsirhborhoed immune from danger.
Fire Waste and Food Supplies.
/" Orc Of the great problems presented
- the Board Of National Defense in
~ care and preservation of the food
sa9pliss of the United States is the
fact that the FIRE waste Of this country
= 20 greatly in excess Of that of any
stA~ nation. Statistics covering = 20
year period conclusiyely show that the
Per capita FIRE cost in the United
il over seven times that of the
nation with which we are at present
engaged in var, and that to every man
woman and child in this country there
il = tax of 42.5l each year ~ compared
with q per capita cost of only 35 cents
in Germany. The statement has been
sade, and it remains incapable Of sue
c sssful contradiction, that if tho same
y Astage by fire existed in Germany as
in this country, the consequent loss and
destruction of food supplies would have
boon 20 great that Germany long since
y ould have been compelled to sue for
UsAl M 4..+ Lof>-o - nanu
to realize that unless we change our
u ethods and overcome our habits OF
.arelessness this great Nation faces
the serious danger of defeat through =
which common sense and caution
On the part of each individual citizen
easily prevent.
Pacific Coast Especially Favored.
Nature has been peculiarly kind t.
who reside on this Coast. We
few adverse weather conditions
contend with, and all our people live
such comparatively easy and ia
surroundings as to beget habits
# carelessness and Indifference towards
he ordinary hazards of fire. Under
formal conditions these habits might
te lIduRut Will a NuhSci DochJ AShOiSN
md with few results of vital signif-
ance, but in the present crisis and
iced for the preservation Of all food
upplies, these same habits of careless
less and indifference can quickly as.
ume the Importance of = National
catastrophe.
That Federal and State officials are
.-.-r:cr ~ voaliza tho ms 0DitudA of
his danger is evidenced by the fact
nat in many of the States = special
curse Of education is being given tG
he school children by fire prevention
xperts, who point out the dangers re-
ulting from the careless handling OF
catches. tho accumulation Of litter and
ahbish in Easements, ~woodhouses, at
Sc Of coal oil and gasoline, the hang
10 of electric cords over nails, and i,
10 numerous other habits of careless.
ess that almost universally prevail in
gerry household. Even one of the
hool superiptendents had the need OF !,
20 nliness forcibly brought to his at
by his young daughters who
Xxi I6leQet To n bftbuI0 Ou uIC pre-
anton at the afternoon session of the
and who took him down into
,eir basement and stood watch over
ma while be cleaned up the rubbish
bich he had carelessly allowed to &C
lmulate, while a perfect wave oil !
rimnsy cleaning swept over n Of the
ties of the State caused by a state :
ept TO the school children that their :
houses were in danger of catching
e if the chimneys had not been
eaned within a year. :
Tho Farmers Responsibility. !
Above practically all other occupa ,
pps, the eyes of the Nation turn to !
ards the farmer, the great producer y
food supplies, and to the farmer and =
nit grower the necessity is urgent !
: using every means to protect and I
eserve their products. 1t is a seriou. o
isfortune, from the personal point OF o
ew. to see the fruits of years OF >
swept away by fire, but when ,
this is coupled the greater and mort P
loss to the country in the u
of food supplies, the re 9