Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-09-28
5,OOOPERSONS
LOST LIVES IN
FIRES YEAR
Report Shows That Large
Number Were Seriously
Injured.

II Boston, Sept. ~2s.--LAst year nearly
1900 persona were burned TO death
With approximately 10000 injured, Z
large percentage of whom were injuf-
"a permanently, and made public
charge on our citizenship. T. Alfred
Rleming of the national board of un-
Nerwriters OF New York city told the
Xutomotive section of the national
Mlfety council congress here today.
81 sA classification o.: these losses
losses shows that over 70 per cent are
women and children of school age
and under. This classification shows
mAlat the home and the school have
heen neglected In great scheme Of
safety education It also shows the eff
gectiveness OF the general campaign
III safety in the shop and factory.
u "Coincident withsthis loss Of life, the
destruction of property during 1920
IS quoted by w. e. Mallalieo, general
manager OF the national board of Fire
underwriters almost doubled that of
any previous year OF our history
Teaching an enormous total OF over
Nh05.0 00. 000-which, does not include
The ~stupendous losses in forestry. 30.
Ser cent of which Is due to careless
MESS of citizens. This waste Of
National wealth of nearly n and n e
half millions a day is paid for by ev-
cry citizen of the nation. It is gener-.
Silly considered that these losses are
Sborne largely by insurance companies
which is rue but insurance companies
IRE only collecting and distributing
sagencies and of necessity n com-
ssbelled to require increased rates to
cover increased losses. Every prod
wet purchased for the home or for
ssthe factory has in its cost to tho con-
ss4unner an ahnoun to the insur-y
SSAnce and overhead cost. 40
@s3&4It is the largest and most unneoes-
EeAry leakage of the country's res
Sbources and is almost entirely avoid
sshble and unnecessary.
Paul C. Redington OF the forestry
Iaivision Of the United States, in an,
iaddress in California recently stated
sthat of 20.244 forest fires caused by
campers last year, rs per sent or over
$4,000 were due to smokers careless
ss3less. It would seem that the only
syray to obyiate these tremendous loss
ses of life and property would be to
Sstnnduct the longest possible contin-
.alous campaign of education for their
sM@limination,
Most Neglected Plans.
The sections where safety has been
s1Nost neglected are in the home and
school. 1t is an appal ing fact that
rot one business man out of every
200 has ever applied the knowledge
@of safety he has used in his factory
- his home. He has forgotten to call
a cabinet meeting of the members Of
s.dfiis family and, servants to instruct
them how to turn in an alarm, how
ID extinguish a fire in its incipiency,
how to avoid danger from articles
AeSad in the home and how to use the
sxtinsuisher he has installed. In 9TH
eer words, financial value in produc-
~ ti@- !. 80 Ann
~ovcf-sight thai the pricelesa Jewels
f5 human life i'm the home, and vet
the nation ,is only as large or As. strong
as It's hofneS.Ss
similar negligence is shown in the
oeare.s maintenance and construction
fbf u schools. IA very small percen-
age of the members of our present
boards Of education have assumed
mofgstthAn the financial burden OF
sssAchi,ool activities while they, are equal
" irresponsible for the moral and phys
ica1 safety OF each child under their
Fe..sAs'Ti great disregard OF
properly established rules IN the CON
structionsof new buildings and the re-
modelling of old structures. Its5has
been found; by experts. that over 80
per cent tSof the school buildings are
maintenance THAN the Co1linwood
school when it burned. causing the
death Of ia children and three
teachers.a Over five schools burn in
hesrnited States for each day of the
,Near: Trifles due to ~carelessness or
through thoughtlcssness are the caus-
es Of the largest percentage of fire
c~asualties and CONGREGATIONS.
Allows Fire Z Spread.
has been said by an eminent
authority that 10 per cent Of our loss
of 1dfn i0 1Yyo ia rnHn$aNfa u We ~<tn.
openings. / firmly believe this ID
rue 1t is the vertical opening left
unprotected that allows the fire 70
spread through the building or to the
adjoining area. Lack of proper fire
windows. shutters, water curtains,
opeh stairways and elevator shafts,
lacf, of firesdoors between divisions
ofsSr maine Buildings. This is what