Evening journal., 1919-10-09
give THOUGHT TO
REDUCE FIRE LOSS
High School Pupils Hear Ad-
dress BY Fire Marshal
Elliott
EXPERT POINTS OUT
LESSON TO FARMERS

Governor John G. Townsend. Jr., who
was a Wilmington visitor last night
and today, has given the stamp Of his
Official approval TO Fire Prevention
Day, which is being observed today
in the schools Of the city and by clti-
zens generally. In a statement calling
on citizens TO observe the day, the Gov
ernor points out the necessity OF in
creased production and the need OF
eliminating the waste caused by pre-
yentable fires.
IL is not alone ln cities aud towns
that the toll Of careless fires annually
costs the country hundreds OF millions
Of dollars. Fires resulting from care
lessness also are frequent on farms
and at present, when the country Is in
need OF an its resources IN food sup
plies, this waste Is considered par
ticularly unfortunate.
Harold l.. Miner, chief OF the fire
prevention service OF the dupont Com
pany, who has studied the subject OF
lire losses in every particular, called
special attention today TO the fire haz-
ards on farms.
"Ihe large amount OF farm property
yearly destroyed by flre and the num-
Der Of lives lost because OF such fires
is overlooked, possibly because the In
dividual loss Is usually small As a !
result little. II anything, has been
done to aid the farmer in making his |
farm safer" said Mr. Miner
During the month OF September the |
Journal Of Commerce and Commercial |
Bulletin cites over one hundred in |
stances I'm the United States and Can |
ada where farm buildings and produce
have been destroyed by fire. This |
record includes barns, dalres, granar-
les, homes, stacked grain, tobacco
sheds and warehouses, etc. None OF
The fires reported was less than 1880.
while quite a number apprOXmated
$4,000, one $4,000, one $4,000 and one.
which involved an elevator, was $780,
300. The loss Is. very significantly de-
scribed, In a number Of Instances, as
follows: Two cattle barns and feed
barn and stables, farming implements
and quantity Of hay: farm home, barn
and contents; barn and seasons crops (
home on farm: all buildings on farm;
and granaries; all buildings
Jn ranch; farm house. two barns and
contents, COW barn and iJ0 tons Of
nay.
Most OF the farm lres are due di-
'ectly 10 carelessness. IL Is a coinci-
lence that one Of the largest city con-
lagraliOns was the direct result OF
farm lrc hazard. ON october 8, 1871, In
H., Mrs. O'Leary set or hung
her lantern too near her cow. The
COW kicked 70 over As a result 1900
houses were burned, 100000 people
were made homeless and 200 people
we're killed. such is the crime OF care
essness.
Lanterns and similar lights must be
ised on most farm properties. When /
lean, well filled and free from leaks
hey arc reasonably safe. When Ian 4
erns are taken into the barns they I
hould be hung on hooks, out Of the
Wind. as far as possible from hay cob L
tebs and other combustible materials. Il
nd as brought out above, away from y
orses and cattle" c
Records shoyS that many OF the pre- I
entable fires are caused from the use o
Z matches or smoking I'm barns. Sm0k- G
ig should be prohibited and matches d
iould be stored, carried and used with b
reat care. G
"The extensive use OF gasoline for G
trucks, engines, tractors, 8
.c., is introducing another serious fire 81
azard from which the farm was for v
lerly free. The following. which was
ken from Mondays Issue Of a Viii G.
iington paper is a typical example Of {,
lis hazard: W