The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-11-28
What Does Fires Cost You?

mobile, which they stole.
What Does Fires Cost You?
Probably YOU think it doesn't cost
you anything unless your property
is damaged but it does just the
same.
If there is enough insurance to
pay the damage you think That's
fine,-the% insurance companies pays
it''-but who pays the insurance
company? You do, whether you are
a property owner or not. The cost
of insurance enters the selling price
of every article the merchant sells;
it's added to the cost of everything
you spend money for.
South Dakota pays more for fire
losses than for education for her
children; more than the cost of run
ming the entire state government.
Every year the fire loss is twice
the cost Of the magnificent capitol
at Pierre.
1t is cheaper and better to do
your share of fire prevention work
than to stand your share Of losses.
Over 5000 people are victims of
the fire demon in the United States
every year. Countless homes are
saddened by death and suffering
resulting from this cause. Often
the victims are innocent women
and children.
Here in Huron the scarcity of
homes and business is so great that
the burning Of any structure is a
public calamity. A comparatively
slight fire damage often means
heavy water and smoke damage and
a long period devoted to repairs.
Care with matches-Keep match
es away from children. They RAY
burn themselves as we'll as set fire
to property. Use safety ma, mes
wherever possible. Be sure a
match is entirely out before throw
ing it away and be very careful
where you throw it. But above all
keep matches away from children.
Inspect hues-Smoke pipes are
pitted by coal gas, and damp
weather rusts them. Then the first
hot fire may break through, or the
pipe may be so thin that heat will
penetrate and start a blaze on wood
that is too close for safety. Soft
coal eats the metal faster and also
deposits SCOT which will burn out
later with such heat that a bad fire
may result.
Soft coal Coal dust. especially
when damp. sometimes cakes and
heats and finally starts a fire. Piles
should BE- small if possible, and
where larger quantities are stored
the piles should be ventilated with
pieces Of old water or sewer pipes.
If piles are discovered heating they
must be broken up and ventilated
and if possible the coal should be
moved and scattered into small
piles.
Build right-See that wiring is
in accordinance with the National
Electric Code, as required by the
city ordinance. Build good brick
chimneys from the ground. Leave
plenty Of room around smoke pipes
Don't use cedar shingIes-the fire
rate is less if your roof is covered
with asbestos" shingles. Have
your insurance agent find out for
you the right method of construc-
ton whenever you are in doubt.
Instruct children-A little time
spent in teaching the children the
dangers Of matches, ben fires and
carelessness with fire may save their
lives and will almost certainly pre-
vent bad burns.
Europeans have learnd to prevent
fires. and Americans can learn, too
If we will. Our fire loss is about
eight times as great per capita as
the normal loss in Europe. Nearly
every fire alarm mean some one
has been careless at some time.
Carelessness is an individual mat
ter. Fire prevention begins with
tho Individual