Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1919-10-09
TAKING A CHANCE
EXACTS BIG TOLL
cARELEssNEss SHOWN TO BE RE-
sPoNsIBLE FOR MOST OF
FIRE LOSSES.
TENNESSEE is WIDE AWAKE
Commissioner Waiter Bell Would Mako
the State Fireproof and Asks
PubIic's Aid.

FhpIlI Nios
Mr.. J, W. Hedgepeth in the Memphis
Commercial Appeal, a great Southern
has written instructively
on the dangers OF Taking a Chance"
in the matter of fires. There is n
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
test effort of the entire citizenship.
Medical science has proved that 1t
is much easier to prevent a disease
than to combat an epidemic. If 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 q 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
that carelessness has exacted a toll
greater than any n thing in all his
tory. It Is responsible for 80 per cent
| of the fatalities and accidents of a less
serious nature. In life and property
loss carelessness is the n big de-
mon of destruction" that stalks about
| the business office, the factory, the
mercantile establishments, 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
it behooves every individual citizen to
guard most zealously his own property
and the property OF his n%eighbors,
Study the habits of those about you.
If you detect a bad stovepipe, a defec.
tive flue, electric wiring below the
sti ndard or notice the reckless han
! ding of gasoline, kerosene OF other
highly inflamable oils or CHEMICALS by
anyone, call the proprietor's attention
10 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.
itors 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, II a thorough in
vestigation were made, In many cases
would reveal the fact that someone
was to blame.
Here Is one fact that we cant
dodge: Every time a fire occurs due
to a preventable cause the derelict Ii
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 is morally accountable
for the loss sustained.
If the people will cooperate with the
Sire prevention department" of the
State Of Tennessee and observe every
rule Of precaution, fires can be re
duced to a minimum and the wantor
waste of property stopped. That de
%structive fires in the main can be pre-
vented is most gratifying. But whaI
condition.
Every individual cooperating.
Team work was q great dynamic
force during the war in successful,
putting the various drives over"
would suggest that every town in Ten
nessee organize a fire prevention
squad" whose duty it would be to CO
operate with the state organization
inspect suspicious buildings at clos,
intervals and report their findings ant
render whatever assistance possibl,
to propagate a system of education
that will eventually enlist the servic'
of the whole community.
Start a campaign Of publicity II
your town. Start q Cleanup" cam
paign. Organize a civic league II yo'
have no such organization and get tn,
ladies to join in. Make your town o.
near immune against fire as possible
and In doing this you will have a NOR,
healthfui place In which TO live an,
hsing 70 light Q city beautiful" &c
.sAe people TO thinking and soon the.
win naturally become interested an.
active for . better order Of things. Fire
IRE needless waste. Preserve your bus,
ness and protect your property an
your town by aiding In every way t
step the millions q dollars worth o
waste annually.
The ahnaMA1 SAgAAna pamnAasas fire