The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1919-10-03
: TAKING A CHANCE
EXACTs BIG TOLL
cARELEssNEss SHOWN TO BE RI.
sPoNsi6LE FOR MOST OF
FIRE LOSSES.
TENNESSEE is WIDE AWAKE
Commissioner Waiter Bell Would Make
the State Fireproof and Asks
\ Pubic's Aid.

Mr.. ]. w. Hedgepeth In the Memphis
Commercial Appeal a great Southern
newspaper, has written instructiYely
on the dangers Of Taking Chance"
In the matter Of fires There is one
problem, he says, now confronting the
people OF Tennessee, one in which oil,
Individually and collectively, are vital.
ly Interested, and that Is fire proven.
ton 1t stands out most prominently
and demands &he sane thought and the
BEST effort OF the entire citizenship.
Medical science has proved that 1t
js much easier to prevent disease
than to combat an epidemic. II this
IL true In the matter of diseases that
affect the health Of the people, the
same line OF reasoning can be logical.
" applied to the fire problem Thus,
1t 10 apparent to even the average
citizen that 1t is decidedly easier to
prevent fire than to control and
check conflagration.
In the past Tennessee, along with
other southern states, has suffered nu.
msrous 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 dedging the fact
that carelessnsss has exa cted a toll
greater than any one thing in all his.
tory. 1t Is responsible for 80 per cent
OF the fatalities and accidents Of q 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 establishments, Id the
shops, In the homes and on the farms.
Most accidents could be avoided, Il
proper precautions we're taken.
Tennessee should be made as near
''fireproof as possible. TO this end
n hehooves every individual citizen to
guard NEST zealously his own property
and the property Of his neighbors.
Study the habits Of those about you.
II you detect bad stovepipe, a defec.
1--WE flue, electric wiring below the
atLndard or notice the reckless han
ding of gasoline, kerosene or other
highly inflamable oils or chemicals by
anyone, call the prOprieter'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
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
tors are rather careless in the furnace
rooms. There are many other pieces
OF oarelsssness INDUCED in which
should be looked after. In this way
you will be doing the community q
great service as well as protecting
your own property and safeguarding
your business against probable fire.
There are hundreds of fires or "Sn-
known origin" which, IL a thorough In
.vestigation were made, In many cases,
would reveal the fact that someone
was TO blame.
Here IL enc fact that we can't
aodgei Every time a fire occurs due
70 q prsyentable 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 10 morally accountable
for the loss sustained.
II the people viii cooperate with the
'tfirs prevention department" Of the
State OF Tennessee and observe every
rule of preoaution, fires can be re-
ducsd to minimum and the wanton
waste of property stopped. That de-
structive fires in the maip can be pre-
vented Ii most gratifying. But what
does II take 10 bring About this happy
sondition7
Every individual cooperating.
; Team work was great dynamic
l0ree during the war in successfully
buttlng the various drives over" I
ksuld suggest that every town in Ten
Asssee organize a fire prevention
tSuad," whose duty 1t would be to CO.
tDerats with the state organization,
Inspect suspicious buildings at close
haervals and report their findings and
jender whatever assistance possible
propagate q system Of education
bat will eventually enlist the service
b the whole community.
Start a campaign Of publicity In
keux town. Start q cleanup" cam
aign. Organize civic league II you
Hve no such organization and get the
Adies to Join In. Make yeur town az
hsar immune against fire a. possible
md in doing this you will have more
Asalthful place in which to I've and
wing to light "city beautiful" Get
Ne people TO thinking and soon they
~ naturally become interested and
aselys for q better order Of things. Fire,
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