The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1917-07-31
Fire Prevention
In Logan Told
By Roofing Expert

| cuSh ledi III llics as nave just
devastated Nashville, Tenn; Augusta,
Ca, and Paris, Tex, may be expected
sooner or later by Logan people, &C
cording to ]. Charles Rice of Salt
Lake, visitor today.
There is such similarity between
conditions here and those which con-
tributed so largely to making uncon-
trollable the spread of the flames in
the cities mentioned" said Mr.. Rice,
that Logan must be prepared to
meet the present plight of these
stricken cities" Mr.. Rice went on
to say, however, that Logan Is no
worse Off than most American cities
in respect to the fire hazard, and in
this connection called attention to the
following editorial of April 2 in the
st. Louis Post-Dispatch:
I'm the three conflagrations at
| Paris, Tex; Nashville, Tenn, and
Augusta. Ca, which last week caused
a loss of $12, 100000, insurance ex-
perts state that single roofs were
the chief factor in spreading the fires.
THE single roof is the cheapest,
first cost alone considered, and it IS
typically American. 1t is probable
that the use of slate. metal and other
noncombustible material for roofing
in Europe is very largely the reason
why the annual per capita fire loss
there is but 3S cents, compared with
SAILS in the United States.
Shingles as roof covering are a
survival from the log cabin period. &"
Mr.. Rice thinks the editorial quot
ed makes plain the need for roofs
that are fire-retardent and also rea-
sonable in cost. Ell Paso has solved
the ploblem by using shingles sur
faced with crushed slate, according
to Mr.. Rice, who went on to explain
that the asphalt is fire-retardent Of
itself and proof against sparks and
embers, while slate surfacing is, of
course, absolutely unburnable.
THE protection of an asphalt roof
against exterior fire is altogether
adequate" says Mr.. Rice. while the
effect OF an interior fire is to soften
the saturation. this fusing the roof
into an alright sheet, which blan-
kets the flames"
Mr.. Rice quoted from letter to
his house. the Certainteed Products
corporation, from Captain Langtry Of
the Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, fire de-
partment, which referred as follows
to q fire which occurred in Var
mouth, April IL, 1914:
"The fire burned rapidly and the
whole superstructure, under the Ger
tainteed,' was Attire and burned all
away. when the roofing fell in and
to certain extent smothered the
fire. II this had been a shingle roof.
much different story would have
been told, as a strong southwest wind
which prevailed at the time would
have carried burning embers, that
come from the wooden roof. far over
the residential section of our town"
Mr.. Rice is here in conference with
John Anderson Lumber company.
Smith Brothers Lumber company,
U. o. Lumber company, and other
business houses interested in Certain
teed products.
Mr.. Rice is staying at the New
Eccles hotel, and should any person
be interested in building at this time,
he will be glad to give them any in
formation regarding Certainteed roof
ing, paints, varnishes and building
papers. turned out. by the Certain
teed Products corporation, who are
the largest manufacturers in this
industry