The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1919-10-08
TAKING A CHANCE"
EXACTS BIG TOLL
CARELEssNEsS SHOWN TO BE RE.
sPoNsIeLE FOR MOST OF
FIRE LOSSES.
TENNESSEE IS WIDE AWAKE
Commissioner Walter Bell Would Make
the state Flreproof and Asks
Publlc's Aid.

MT. j. W.. deQRepeIQ III LHe MeLlpnls
Commercial Appeal, a great Southern
newspaper, has written instructiyely
On the dangers OF Taking a Chance"
in the matter of fires. There is one
problem, he says, now confronting the
people of Tennessee, one in which all,
individually and collectively, are vital
ly interested, and that is fire proven
ton. 1t stands out most prominently
and demands the n thought and the
test effort Of the entire citizenship.
Medical science has proved that it
is much easier to prevent a disease
than to combat an epidemic. If this
is true in the matter of diseases that
affect the health of the people, the
same line of reasoning can be logical
ly applied to the fire problem. Thus,
it is apparent to even the average
citizen that it is decidedly easier to
check a conflagration.
In the past Tennessee, along with
other southern states, has suffered nu'
merous fires, many very disastrous
and others less in scope, which have
not been confined to any given town,
city or community, but practically all
sections have been called upon to pay
tribute to the fire demon.
There can be no lodging the fact
that carelessness has exacted a toll
greater than any n thing in all his.
tory. 1t is responsible for 80 per cent
of the fatalities and accidents Of a less
serious nature. In life and property
loss carelessness is the n big de.
mon of destruction" that stalks about
the business office, the factory, the
mercantile establishments, in the
shops, in the homes and OF the farms.
| Most accidents could be avoided, if
proper precautions were taken.
Tennessee should be made as a
"fi~reproof" as possible. To this end
it behooves every individual citizen to
guard most zealously his own property
and the property of his neighbors.
Study the habits of those about you.
If you detect a bad stovepipe, a defec-
tive flue, electric wiring below the
standard or notice the reckless han
ding Of gasoline, kerosene or other
highly inflamable oils or chemicals by
anyone, call the proprietor's attention
to these facts. II he does not correct
them report him to the authorities
Some stores allow trash and waste pa.
~ RI a NVlntn In tho nntfnn COO.
ton some merchants pile up large
amounts of sample cotton in the store.
Some keep open CRATES and are not
careful to protect the Goals from roll
ing out when closing up at night. Jan
ltors are rather careless in the furnace
rooms. There are many other pieces
of c~arelessness INDUCED in which
should be looked after. In this way
you will be doing the community a
great service as we'll as protecting
your own property and safeguarding
your business against a probable fire.
There are hundreds of fires or "un-
known origin" which, If a thorough in
vestigation were made, in many cases,
would reveal the fact that someone
was to blame.
Here is n fact that we can't
dodge: Every time a fire occurs due
to a p~reventable Cause the derelict Is
morally responsible for the destruc-
ton of the property. He may be be-
yond the arm Of the law, but in the
true sense he Is morally accountable
for the loss sustained.
If the people will cooperate with the
fire prevention department" OF the
State of Tennessee and observe every
rule of p%recaution, fires can be re-
duced to a minimum and the wRnton
waste of property stopped. That de-
structtve fires In the main can be pre-
vented is most gratifying, But what
does 1t take to bring about this happy
condition?
Every individual cooperating.
Team work was a great dynamic
force during the war in successfully
putting the various drives "over."
would suggest that every town in Ten
nessee organize a fire prevention
b4uouJ "iOSo WY "ouAo bO ~ w
operate with the state organization,
inspect suspicious buildings at close
intervals and report their findings and
render whatever assistance possible
to propagate Q system Of education
that will eventually enlist the service
of the whole community.
Start a campaign Of publicity in
your town. Start . Cleanup" cam
paign. Organise q civic league If you
have no such Organization and get the
ladies to Join In. Mahs your town as
near immune agsfnst fire as possible,
and In doing this you will have a more
healthful place In watch 70 live and
bring to light Q city Beautiful" Get
the people TO thinking and soon they
will naturally become interested and
for q better order Of things. Fires
are needless waste. Preserve your bust
ness and protect your property and
your town by sidiag in every way to
step the miilions Of dollars worth OF
waste annually.
The slogan: Mako Tennessee fire