Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1919-10-16
TAKING A CHANCE"
EXACTS BIG TOLL
cARELEssNEss SHOWN TO BE RE.
sPoNsIRLE FOR MOST OF
FIRE LOSSES.
TENNESSEE is WIDE AWAKE
Commissioner Walter Bell Would Make
the State Fireproek sRd Asks
PUblle's Aid.

Mr.. J. W. Hedgepeth in the Memphis
Commercial Appeal, . great Southern
newspaper, has written instructiyely
on the dangers OF Taking q 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.
iy interested, and that is fire proven
ton. 1t stands out most prominently
and demands the sane thought and the
hest effort of the entire citizenship.
Medical science has proved that 1t
is 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 1t is decidedly easier to
prevent a fire than to control and
check 9 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
hat carelessness has exaeted toll
greater than any one thing In all his
tory. 1t 10 responsible for so'per cent
OF the fatalities and accidents Of 9 less
serious nature. In lie and property
loss carelessnsss ID the one "big de-
mon Of destruction" that stalks about
the business office. the factory, the
uaercantfls Establishments. IN the
shops, In the homes anA on the Farms.
Most accidents could Nbe avoided, II
proper precautions were taken.
Tennessee should be made as near
"fireproor' 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
II you detect bad stovepfpe, a'defee-
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
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
ltors are rather careless in the furnace
rooms. There are many other pieces
of carelessness INDUCED In which
should be looked a:ter. In this way
you will be doing the community a
great service a. we'll ~ protecting
your own property and safeguarding
your business against q probable fire.
There are hundreds OF fires or "un-
knowa origin, which II u thorough IN
NSSOSb
would reveal the fact that Someone
was to blame.
Here IL one fact that We can't
dodge: Z" Every time ATTIRE occurs due
to a prevehtable cause the dereiict' 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 ise morally accountable
tor the loss sustained.
II the people Will cooperate with the
"firs prevention department" Of the
State of Tennessee and observe every
rule OF prscastioA, fires can b re-
dueed to minimum and the wanton
waste OF property stopped. That de-
structivs fires In the main can be pre-
vented 10 most gratifying. But what
does It take to bring about this happy
condition!
Every Individual cooperating.
Team work was great dynamic
force during the war In successfully
putting the various drives over" l
would suggest that every town IN Ten
nesses organize q fire prevention
squad" whose duty It would be to CO.
operate with the state organization,
inspect Suspicious buildings at close
Intervals and report their findings and
render whatever assistance possible
70 PROPAGATE system Of education
that will eventually enlist the service
of the whole community.
Start q campaign OF publicity in
your town. Start cleanup" cam
paiyn. Organize q civic league II you
have no such organization and get the
ladies' TO joia In = Make your town as
near immune agsinst fire as possible,
and In doing this you will have q more
healthtii place in which to live and
bring to light scity beautiful" Get
the people to thinking and soon they
viii naturally become interested and
active for bettAT order of things. Fires
are needless waste. Preserve your bust
ness and pretset your property and
year town hC aAiAS n svsry way to
saeDaths msissens cf aefiAss worth Of
waste s~aua,.y. s
'efHx HxsaAs .lsAls TsaAsssss fire
1890