Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-15
Circulation Every 1OOrE
Evening Yesterday 1 WV
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY IS. 1919.
Money Waste by Fires.

According to figures compiled and pub
lished bv the National Board of Fire
Underwriters, and therefore presumed TO
be reasonably accurate, there was loss
OF S25S, ass in Delaware during the year
1917 from fires that were classed as strictly
preyentsble For the year 1916 this loss
was $3.50, $50, showing q small increase
during 1917.
During 1917, the loss in Delaware from
fires classed as parity prevcntsble was
Ss2, 2S7. compared with a loss Of S24l, ,l34
during 1916. Here, At least, was large
and gratifying decrease.
From fires classed rs unknown, prob
ably largely prcvCntablc,' the loss IN
Delaware during 1917 was SOS, 1873.
During 1916 the loss from this source was
So ,69S, showing large increase
The summary shows fire losses Of these
classes amounting 10 $40, lis for 1917
and $3.50. 6l2 for 1916. Here We have
decrease, but not sufficient 70 be alto
gcthcr encouraging. The figures 20 70 prove
the necessity for reform which will
or partly preventable fires III our State.
As eternal vigilance IS the price Of
liberty. - also il is the price Of reasonable
immunity from unnecessary or avoIdahle
losses BY tire We have ire regulations
in the city OF Wilmington, and also IN
some Cf the towns Of the State, but how
frequently when damaging fire visiiations
occur, do they prove Of little or no avail !.
In addition TO observing all the rcgula-
ticns pres cribed by law, the people. ~
EXERCISING ordinary care and vigilance,
may 60 much TO avert the danger Of loss
b. 6rc But how many Of our people.
especially our business people, give serious
attcn.Isi. 10 ,his matter Il All tImc-
Nondc- row many store cellars on
Market street amt other throughiares
would prove. oE Investigation. TO be 1cIi-
t.blc inytatIou~ 70 fires, Who has not
observed even hy occasional glimpse into
these cellars, conditions really alarming
Iack1ng boNt~ piles of Infiamnahle g.
Cci>ior, looSc paper u large quantItlcS and
various other accumulations of rubbish
that would iced flre, once i got >taricd,
and probably result in disastrous blaze
And how many dwelling houses are in
q sim lar condition by reason Of accumu-
la;ions OF lnhammable rubbish IN the
cellars, in many instances very near TO the
heaters In Row many houses are There
lace cur aims, or curtains Of other filmsy
=
gas burners that vagrant breeze may
blow he curtain into the flame, and thus
pave the way TO destructive blaze?
Il Is altogether probable that If all our
people would exercise only ordinary care
and pfecaution IN respect Of fire, fully 20
per cent OF the losses now shown TO result
from tires Of the prevcntablc OF partly
preventabic class could be aveIted. This
would result in d considerable saving
Il Is well worth while 70 give serious
attention 10 his matter Loss by FIRE i
dead loss when there j. no insurance,
and very frequently-in most instances,
probablN-thc amount Of the in u'ance
Is inadequate To he cost OF the total de-
structlon Of property, 70 say nothing of
loss caused by interruption to business
40 more important uhjcci could claim
tie attention oi our people, especially ~
his Tim. Of The year, wheI tll" winter
weather incites - ovrfWorkiIg uf stoves
and heaters. ia order 10 make stores and
busln'->> places and DIV rllings comfortable
The woodwork becomes dry and heated
and ovcrS BIZ Of rubbish lying around be-
coTne> 50 warmed up that Il IS an easy
matte for il ia become ign,ed bv tie |
slghtc~t contact with fire
To continue q loss hat may be prevent |
ed Is criminal carelessncss We hope
all our people vii heed the warning
sounded by he National Board Of Ere
| nde writer and resolve upon immediate /
reform