The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-03-15

l IOldI .plBopu''So
! The loss sustained in these eight
fires exceeds 21.7 per cent of the to-
,, tai fire loss of the state.
| The number of dwellings burned
was 2,222, and the loss on buildings
was $S59,S92 and on contents $24S,-
z43
The sound value Of these dwellings
was reported at $4,670,640 and that
of their contents at $1,115,964
| The number of barns burned was
SIS, and the loss on buildings was
s47S,3s0, and on the contents $324,-
142
| The sound value of the barns was
reported at $543,35S, and that of their
contents at s363,S39.
The number of stores burned was
367, and the loss on buildings was
$S74,5S4, and ON the contents $1,11S,-
566.
| The sound value of the store build
ings was reported at $2,212,145 and
that of their contents at $2,S59,565.
The number of factories burned
was As, and the loss on buildings was
$115,661, and on the contents $41S,-
672. ..- Ia,
The sound value of the factory
buildings damaged was, reported at
$711,70O, and that of their contents
at $1,475,750.
Ninety-five (95) deaths were re-
ported as the direct result of fire;
this number was II less than that
reported for 1915. OF this number
43 were women and % children. In
Al cases fatal to life gasoline or coal
| oil was involved. Twelve (12) chill
dren were fatally burned as the re
suit of playing with matches or fire
or being in close proximity to a bon
| fire.
Inspections of buildings and prem
Uses to the number Of 612 were made
in 1877 different cities and towns in
the state, upon the basis of which
| there were issued 113 orders to re-
move buildings, 62 to repair build
ings, 1876 to change, SO to cleanup
and repair, and 157 to clean up in
iammable conditions 49,
Two hundred twenty-three (223)
suspicious fires were investigated in
100 different places in Is different
counties of the state.
In addition to the number of in
| dictments pending from previous
were had during 1916. OF the cases
that came to trial resulted in con-
yictions and sentences to the peniten-
tiary or reformatory, | was paroled
by the court after plea Of guilty, 2
sentenced to the industrial school for
for the insane, l sentenced to the
hospital for inebriates, l to the in
stitution for feeble minded children
at Glenwood, 2 were tried and ac-
| quilted, z were fined and given jail
sentences, three of which we're pa
rolled after paying fines, 5 who had
made written confessions to setting
fire were paroled by the court, in
| dictments are still pending, and Q
n"e under arrest awaiting final ac-
tion by the grand jury.
! Farm Fire Protection.
| BY far the larger part Of the wealth
OF our state is found upon our farms.
Not only are the farm buildings an
nually improving in appearance but
their contents now possess a value
that seemed fabulous a few years
ago. The destruction of modern
farm barn with its precious contents
is no longer matter involving hun
I, dreds, but thousands OF dollars.
From the very nature of his loca-
ton, the farmer cannot enjoy the fire
!, protection either to his home or to
his outbuildings that is afforded to
his neighbor In the city or town
where they have an organized fire
department, and for these reasons a
rigid observance of the principles
and rules Of Fire Prevention is his
only safety. Many Of these princi-
pies are well known but will never
! theless bear repetition:
% Extra care In the building OF
the chimneys as well as in the plac-,
ing OF the furnace or other heating
- A 49,.