Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-03-14
ENEMIES IN
OUR MIDST

There our powerful enemies abroad,
and crafty alien enemies, spies and
traitors among US. Every good eiti-
zen must aid and sacrifice to sup
press them.
These are enemies during the con-
tinuance Of the world war.
There are other insidious enemies
in our midst, ever present, in war time
and in peace. These are the lax con-
ditions responsible for a fire loss of
s226,842,915, in 1917, in the United
States.
This loss is particularly deplorable
at this time because much of it rep
resents food, building materials and
supplies destroyed, which were much
needed in the successful prosecution
of the war.
An alien enemy fires an elevator
and causes loss of one million dollars
on grain.
In a second case lax conditions are
responsible for an elevator fire with
a like loss.
The effect on the country is the
same in the two cases.
The secret service must deal with
the first case; an intelligent, awaken
ed citizen alone can take care of the
second case to prevent recurrence.
We cannot too often point out these
insidious enemies. Are you harboring
any on your premises? After care
full inspection do you find any of these:
Chimneys on posts or brackets,
cracked, mortar disintegrated, wood
in contact, unclean and ready to burn
out at any time, sewer pipes used as
chimneys.
Stoves on unprotected floor or near
unprotected wall.
Furnaces and boilers, defective, on
wooden floor, too near wooden parti-
tions, too close to ceiling.
Smoke pipes, rusted, disjointed, not
riveted or wired firmly, too close to
unprotected ceiling or wall, through
partitions without the protection of
double thimble and asbestos, not prop
erly fitted into the chimney.
Stove pipe holes, open or covered
with paper or other combustible ma
terials.
Hotels and restaurant ranges, with
almost continuous, heavy fire, set on
unprotected floor.
Gas stoves and plates on unprotect-
ed base, too close to wall, rubber gas
tube used instead Of iron.
Swinging gas brackets against walls
curtains and window shades, gas flame
too close to ceiling or shelving.
Electric light wires, on hooks, nails
gas or water pipes, machinery or other
metal supports, through partitions
and wood work without bushing, COM
bustible decorations and shades on
wires and globes, overlooking of cir
cults for display purposes, tampering
with wires by employees.
Kerosene used for starting fires or
quickening sluggish fire.
Gasoline used for cleaning indoors,
or near an open flame.
Oil barrels on wood floors or plat
forms, floors oil-soaked, sawdust used
OIL oily floors.
Oily waste and rags on wood floors
and benches, paint and varnish rag:
and mops against wood, oily clothing
n wooden lockers.
Waste paper, rubbish and refuse
in yards, alleys, easements, closets
attics, cellar hatchways or elsewhere
n or near buildings.
Ashes on wood floor or against
wood wall, partition, fence or post, or
in box or barrel.
Rubbish fires close to buildings.
Throwing away lighted matches, Gig
arettes and cigar stubs.
Smoking in factories, barns, mills
or elevators housing combustible ma
terials.
Single roofs, poor, covered with
moss, dust or shavings.
Openings in walls for entrance of
sparks.
Window and doors open and not
screened, exposing combustible mat
erials on the inside.
Stairways, elevators, shafts and
chutes not trapped at floor or enclosed