The sun., 1918-07-23

situation and induce panic conditions
in the American mind by creating a
false impression regarding the maaa,.
tude of losses from this cause.
The Mayors Committee on National
Defence, according to THE StN OF
July 10, ascribes the increase OF fire
losses to inefficient labor" which Tur
Sun translates as "dlution OF labor"
Jesse l.. Phillips, State Superintendent
OF Insurance (see THE SuN of Juno
24) credits material portion of them
to carelessness and negligence, which
In many cases might we'll be termed
criminal; but he also ascrihes con
siderable portion OF the increase TO
"the activities OF paciists. spies. ma.
tive born traitors and pro-Germans
with incendiary proclivities.
Mr.. Phillips Enthusiastically strikes
the king pin In the causative fabric
when he places most Of the blame on
carelessness end negligence, but he
does not strike so accurately or force.
fully when he touches enemy in
cendiarism. Undoubtedly there has
been some incendiary activity Of this
class; but the national board follow.
ing very comprehensive investlga-
ton Of food and war supply fires dur
ing a period of several months. most
of which had been reported as of in
cendiary, suspicious or probably In
cendiary origin, published the result
of its inquiries in a well digested hui
letin, THE Truth About Enemy
Fires" showing that only SO per cent
Of the fires were incendiary and that
in another 8 per cent. the origin, al
though unknown. was attended Nv
suspicious circumstances. These were
fires in which an assumption of "en-
envy incendlarism" seemed most rea
sonable.
1ncendiar!sm is always with us. II
furnishes part of the irreducibe min
mum below which we can never eA-
pect our total of fires and FIRE losses
to go. There Is nothing in the records
to show that incendiary fire losses
have increased as much, proportion.
ately, as general fire losses. or tina
there has been any actual increase in
the number of incendiary fires; al
though II is to be conceded that in
face Of the reduction in total number
Of fires. there has been a proportionate
increase in number of criminal fires
Carelessness manifests Itself in
many forms. 1t allows rubbish to ac.
cumulate, fire doors to be blocked
open, oils and vofatiles TO he improp.
erly stored or left standing in open
containers. 1t neglects safeguards
around open fires. heaters and ordi-
OLE tr;,
cords to be hung over nails and iron
pipes; it fails to provide proper cans
for oily waste and greasy rags.
In another form 1t permits cherli'al
extinguishers to become corroded or
to remain uncharged caps to stand
pipe outlets and hydrant nipples to
become set by corrosion; automatic
sprinkler heads to become corroded
loaded" or painted over. and sprn-
kler valves to be closed when they
should be open. Last winter It per-
mitted more than 14O0 sprinkler
equipments to freeze in Greater New
York and thus subjected the mctropo-
lis to the greatest ConfiaEraton hazard
1t has ever known. In Boston nearly
500 sprinkler equipments were SINH
larly affected for the same reason.
In a Western city two years ago
found more than 400 soda and acid ev-
tinguishers protecting" the properties
of a great estate In which tho SUI
phuric acid had been allowed TO to-
teriorate until it's specific gravity was
Is instead of the required is hrcaJsa
the managers did not want to exp,nf
the few cents on each eXtiuculs.c.
necessary to recharge them ev y"
year.
Last winter in the leadnS hoto' =
another Western city l found all 49,
chemical eXtinguishers reposing 90
the steam radiators-nOt TO j. -
them from freezing but to keep a..
out of the way of the hall clean
And they were not even set d"e
between cleanings.
We are slowly, very SLOWLY red
ing the number Of fires. Loss rad
ton must come through insta!la'.
and care OF appliances and euN
ment. Buildings must be fire re-
tant, or nearly SO; fire stops must
provded--walls. partitions. door,
shutters, wire glass windows in metal
frames, elevator and stair we'll ono'os-
ures and shields for belt and sAa''
openings.
Fire buckets and barrels OF pl'er
pals of sand chemical extlnEuisH =.
both soda and acid and special 'Qu.d.
hydrants and standpipe and hose IS
TENS with adequate water supple.
and automatic sprinkler syst,".,
with plenty OF water and autuayt
alarm service are the final cpusrt3-
tors of threatened values. bat -
effective in time Of need tho .. Us.
be constantly maintained at ,lo ls..
est point of efficiency.
And such maintenance is nor hp@r
obtained in the present coudlt %
American Carelessness.
Fire prevention effort probably vii
continue to reduce the numhcr uI fire..
but loss prevention can b. q hrE.i
only through exercise OF personal r"-
sponsibility by plant. store ara i..9-
ing owners or managers g. 'hr emit
that cleanliness shall ~ enforce. u,
all fire appliances and equipment ."'
be constantly and instantly ready ''
use at their highest potential Ia*
can be done only through the or..'. '
exercise of the utmost caro- 80 r-
lance PAUL Ma
NEW York. July 30.
Nas L., hn A,t1t