Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-10
WHITE POINTS OUT
W|LM|NGTON'S FIRE
PREVENTION NEEDS
r.o~rt Here Planning for Under
writers Inspection, to be Made
Next Week.
COOPERATION OF THE
PUBLIC is SOUGHT

wilmington has outgrown the No,ui,-
reer FIRE denartment, according 10 Eu-
ward III White of Philadelphia, president
of the Conservation and tlre Preventloh
Society OF MARYLAND, Delaware and-the
District OF Columbia. who made the state
ment TODAY when he came here IN con-
nectiou with the proposed fire hazard m
spection here next week. Inc city Is
growing rapidly" he added. and IS get
ting away from old customs: 1t IS TOO
large 10 depend on volunteer hre service.
"'rhis il one campaign IN whicn the
public is not asked To contribute cent
an that is asked is a thought, SAID MI
White. discussing the proposed inspection,
which i 10 be- started next Tuesday morn
ing under the auspices OF the Natlonal
Roard of Fire Underwriters Whining
ton will be watched by the rest OF the
country" was the statement OF MT
White. in saving that the campaign Is
MANNED 10 eventually cover the entire
limited States. Mr.. White commended
Wilmingtonians for the splendid manner
m which the campaign is being received
hv the people OF the city, sarylng that from
his observations the work is being well re-
ceived bv everyone. He said II Is not the
nlan 10 order changes, but TO secure the
co-operation of everyone Tor the purpose
of obtaining the best results. seventy
five per cent of fires are preventaole, ac-
cording 10 statistics, and are que 70
fhouehtleSsnesS and carelessneSs, ne SAID
The loss resulting from fires ples up on
the heads of everyone and during the year
1918 arose TO So 6S per capita tor the
limited States. Bv States, he said, Della
ware is the third highest, with per
capita loss of sass. The States of Min
nesota and New Jersey have a greater per
rapita loss than Delaware. In Rhode
Island. the loss was S3.57, while IN Penn
sylyania IL was but S2.lS. During the
mast wear. the FIRE loss for the country
reached s350. 600, 600 property loss, while
I5 300 lives were snuffed out through the
same cause
In the inspection TO be made by num-
her OF inspectors and engineers next week,
general conditions are 10 be investigated,
such as the care of rubbish and ashes and
the condition of business places, particu-
llrlv in the rear areas, where packing
eases and crates are great source OF
danger The inspection Is tor the purpose
III calling everyone $ attention 10 improve
the present situation. IL IS the plan to
point out conditions existing, which, II
remedied, viii stop the ire hazard that
much A little store or dwelling IN re-
mote section may De as EpOu u ctt1 AOt d
hig fire as 8 building in the heart OF the
business section. 1t is the plan for the IN
spectors TO 20 through the city thorough
lv and make recommendations for the I'M
proyement of conditions. 1t Is hoped to
secure cooperation and to point out TO the
people of Wilmington some OF the things
that are being done unintentionally and
ehich greatly increase the fire hazard.
In speaking of property loss resulting
from fires. Mr.. White said that the cost OF
the replacement of property today IS q
SERIOUS thing 10 be considered. II some OF
the larger cities had big fire today, they
would not be able to build up as rapidly as
Is wears ago. The scarcity OF material and
the great cost would prevent a rspid re-
building. Property loss is always greater
than the insurance loss. and what Is an
other great item is the time r6st IN re-
building.
Mr.. White urged great care in the mat
ter OF cleanliness and added that he hoped
that when the campaign is over, it would
not be forgotten. but hoped that the
cleanliness achieved would be maintained.
While Mr.. White spoke OF the advls-
ability OF Wilmington having paid fire
department. he did not cast any reflection
on the work of the volunteers, who have
gwen of their time and means for the pro-
lection of life and property.