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 @. 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 citi-
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.
It is not alone in cities and 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 All its resources in food sup
plies, this waste is considered par
tlcularly unfortunate.
Harold l.. Miner, chief Of the fire
prevention service OF the dupont Com
pany. who has studied the subject Of
fire losses In every particular, called
special attention today 10 the fre haz-
ards on farms.
"The large amount OF farm property
yearly destroyed by fire 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 in the United States and Can
ada where farm buildings and produce
have been destroyed by fire This
record includes barns, dairies, granar-
les, homes, stacked grain. tobacco
sheds and warehouses, etc. None OF
the fires reported was less than $500,
while quite a number approXlmaled
$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
Two cattle barns and feed
BARN and stables. farming Implements
md quantity OF hay; farm home, barn !
and contents; barn and seasons crops |
lOme on farm; all buildings on farm
'csidence and granares: all buildings |
IN ranch; farm house, two barns and |
contents, cow barn and ij0 tons Of |
lay.
Most OF the farm fires are due d.
'ectly TO carelessness. u is a coincl- |
ience that one OF the largest city con- |
lagralions was the direct result Of a
farm fire hazard On october g. 1871, in |
H., Mrs. O'Leary set or hung |
her lantern too near her cow. The |
cow kicked lt over. As a result, 1900
houses were burned. 100000 people
were made homeless and 200 people
were killed Such Is the crime OF care
lessness.
Lanterns and similar lights must be
ised on most farm properties. When
,lean. well filled and free from leaks
hey are reasonably safe. When Ian
erns are taken into the barns they
hould be hung on hooks, out Of the
Wind. as far as possible from hay, cob
webs and other combustible materials,
nd. as brought out above, away from
orses and cattle"
RECORDS show that many Of the pre-
entable fires are caused from the use
II matches or smoking IN harms. SmOk-
ng should be prohibited and matches
hould be stored, carried and used with
,reat care.
"'rhe extensive use OF gasoline for
automobiles, trucks. engines, tractors.
tc., Is introducing another serious fire
lazard from which the farm was for
nerly free. The following, which was
AIKEN from Mondays issue OF VIII
nlngton PAPER, is a typical example Of
his hazard:
-, 9l wears old. Of -