The evening herald., 1917-03-29
TIRE LOSSES AND THE
HIGH COST on LIVING

Few people realize how directly the
much discussed High Cost of I.iv-
sng" Is influenced by Americas ex-
cessive fire waste. A recent nation
wide analysis Of fires and fire causes
has shown enormous destruction Of
common staples Single fires IN ele-
vatcrs and mills frequently consume
the equivalent of living for small
army ~ people. For example, n re-
cent hlaze in an Illinois elevator rem
dered 7oo.e zoe bushels of corn unfit
for human food. and also destroyed
seo aoo bushels ~ oats
Grain elevators. flour. cereal. grist
and feed mills present wen known
elements of fire hazard in that thof
are subject to explosions % the high"
explosive dust that results from han
ding cr milling crain These disasters
also cost many lives; dust explosion
In nuffalu mill. In 1918. resulted In
over thirty fatalities A short time
ago the United states department. "
agriculture made q STUDY Of the fire.
quent explosions IN grain separators
IN tbs Bis Bend country 90 the north =
west. and found that In the height ~
the season those reached from ak 10
ten "a day. the flame from such cV-
ploSions in large number of cases
spreading into the surrounding grain
with destructive results.
individual haru fires add enor-
mously 60 this total Throughout
most of the country the season Of
thunder storms follows closely upon
that of harvest. and thousands of
barns stored with potential food. go
up in flames each year because -
lightnine These fires must be classed
as largely preventable. since statistics
compiled by the actuarial bureau of
the national board OF fire under
writers show that Of the total fire loss
from lightning. more than 80 per cent
Is found where lightning rods are not
used
The spontaneous combustion of hay
ami grain in poorly ventilated barns IS
another big factor which might largely
be prevented By proper precautions
When TO such items are added thu
fires In grain fields from lpcomotIys
sparks. aud from the matches Of care
less smokers. II may he realized that a
vast amount Of foodstuff is turned into
clouds ~ smoke instead ~ human
bone ana muscle. This inevitably has
it's effect upon the price ~ tho re-
mainder
Most people depend upon groceries
FOR their food, and the average vro'-
cry. containing. as II does, stocks of
Kerosene and other inflammsDic mer-
chandise. IL a special instance of fire
hazard This is shown hy the rro1.
number thar are consumed during
each year. and each grocery fire SUBJ
tracts definite quantity of staples
from the national supply
Meat supplies are directly affected
hy the large number Of I've stock
burned in fires in barns and stables.
and also hy the many fires in packing
houses. slaughter houses. etc.
Tho Same condition holds true VITA
other staples than those Of fcod. in
two years there were reported -,
fires IN wool and cotton mills C''ton
~ commodity which Is particularly
subject 90 disastrous fires This also
applies in marked degree to he
refining. storing and handling of ",l ..
one of our commonest daily read,re-
ments
The supply ~ wood enters into many
phases of our living necessities On
Vow York state alone 2oo,ooo pe"-
pie are employed In turning out an
annual product of nearly 100000. 200
In wood manufactures striking ~ The
basis ~ this great industry. hundreds
.of human lives. and millions ~ dol
lars worth ~ property are DESTROYED
each year hy forest fires, whirh mignt
be prevented with proper cere. IN"
national forest service. IN one year,
discovered i,i2G forest fires o. have
been caused h1 campers; LILO Nv lo-
comotive sparks, and 40 hy incen-
diaries The burning ~ saw mills.
lumber wards furniture and wooden
ware factories and stores is too fre-
quent 10 cali for special comment.