The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1919-09-26
TAKING A CHANCE"
EXACTS BIG TOLL
cARELEssNEss SHOWN TO BE RE-
sPoNsIRLE FOR MOST OF
I. FIRE LOSSES.
Commissioner Walter Bell Would Make
the State FIreproof and Acks
Puhlic's Aid.

Mr.. ]. w. Hedgepeth In the Memphis
Commercial Appeal a great Southern
newspaper, has written instructively
on the dangers Of Taking a Chance
In the matter of fires. There IL one
problem. he says, now confronting the
people Of Tennessee, one In which all
individually and collectively. are vital
iy interested, and that is fire proven
ton. 1t stands out most prominently
and demands the sane thought and the
lest effort Of the entire citizenship.
Medical science has proved that II
10 much easier to prevent disease
than to combat an epidemic. II 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.
1t is apparent to even the average
citizen that It Is decidedly easier to
prevent a fire than to control and
check a conflaRration.
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 one thing in all his
tory. 1t is responsible for 80 per cent
of the fatalities and accidents of less
serious nature. In life and property
loss carelessness Is the one "big de-
mon Of destruction" that stalks about
the business office, the factory, the
mercantile ablishments, in the
shops; in the homes and on the farms.
Most accidents could be avoided, II
proper precautions were taken.
Tennessee should be made as near
"fireproof' as possible. To this end
1t behooves every individual citizen to
guard most zealously his own property
and the property of his neighbors.
Study the habits of those about you.
II you detect bad stotepipe, defec-
tive flue, electric wiring below the
standard or notice the reckless ham
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
per to accumulate. In the cotton sec
.ion 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
TORS are rather careless In the furnace
rooms. There are many other pieces
Of carelessness INDUCED In which
should be looked after. In this way
you will be doing the community a
great service as well as protecting
your own property and safeguarding
your business against a probable fire.
There are hundreds of fires or "un-
known origin" which, If thorough in
were made, in many cases,
would reveal the fact that someone
was to blame.
Here is one fact that we can't
lodge: Every time fire occurs due
10 a preventable cause the derelict is
responsible for the destruc-
lion of the property. He may be be-
yond the arm of the law, but in the
true sense he is morally accountable
Tor the loss sustained.
II the people will cooperate with the
fire prevention department" of the
State of Tennessee and observe every
rule of precaution, fires can be re-
iuced to a minimum and the wanton
waste of property stopped. That de-
,tructive fires in the main can be pre-
vented is most gratifying. But what
ioes 1t take to bring about this happy
condition?
Every individual cooperating.
Team work was a great dynamic
'orce during the war in successfully
putting the various drives "over." I
would suggest that every town in Ten
lessee organize fire prevention
,quad," whose duty It would be TOGO
operate with the state organization,
inspect suspicious buildings at close
intervals and report their findings and
'ender whatever assistance possible
o propagate a system of education
hat will eventually enlist the service
II the whole community
Start a campaign of publicity in
vour town. Start cleanup" cam
,aign. Organize a civic league If you
lave no such organization and get the
aides to join in. Make your town as
lear immune against fire as possible,
md in doing this you will have a more
lealthfIil place in which to live and
,ring to light city beautiful" Get
he people to thinking and soon they
will naturally become interested and
.ctive for better order of things. Fires
re needless waste. Preserve your busi-
less and protect your property and
our town by aiding In every way to
top the millions Of dollars worth of
"a afa annually