The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1922-09-22
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK.

Every millions of dollars worth OF property goes up in
smoke, substraeting a vast amount from the sum lotaI o ! me Ia,
tons wealth. For a number of years strenuous campaigns have
been conducted annually with a view to reducing TINS staggering
loss and a part OF the plan is Fire Prevention Week. Gov. Robert
son las issued a proclamation calling upon the people OF Oklahoma
10 observe the week beginning October 2 Ills proclamation
should be read and needed by every citizen. The governor says:
"rhe annual toll taken by fire in the destruction OF both prop
crty and human life is so supendors ard appalling as to challenge
the attention OF every worthy citizen. Just remember that the
rate Of our fire loss requires us to pay S!9OVo"o annually III ire
insurance premiums. That IS SlrIo0OOO each month, or upwards
OF $4,000 for each day in the year. 1t is almost twice as much as
the cost of state government. including the construction and main
tcnance Of all our educational, eleemosynary and penal institutions.
II is a per capita tax of about 800, whereas we have no state tax
at all to pay now. 1t will not do to say or to think that the IN
surance companies are to blame for this u%nbearable tax. They
are only permitted to tax us according to our losses. We Tx this
tax ourselves, for it is based on fire losses for which we are re-
sponsible. ii we see to it that losses are reduced, then we can be
certain that insurance rates will be reduced proportionatey. That
is the sum and substance OF the whole proposition. We know we
can reduce losses. We did it during the war, a period when losses
were reduced one-half 1t has been demonstrated IN a lew OF the
states, notably Wisconsin, where the lowest loss ratio in the Unit
ed States prevails. OF course, it can be done but it takes a united
and persistent effort to do it. We cannot just think and dream
about it, we must get busy we must organize and put up a real
Every state in the union IS confronted with the same prob
lem. Fire waste has now become a menace to the safety of the
nation. The resident Of the United States will issue a proclama-
ton urging the people to devote the entire week from October
the End to October the 9th, to an organized effort to stem the tide
Of destruction. The governors Of all the state will join i'll the great
movement. @e a
Therefore. I hereby designate the week from October End to
October the 9th, 1872, as fire prevention week, and earnestly
counsel the people in every community to take up this tight with a
determination to overcome this enemy of our safety and prosperity
ITO win this fight every home in every community must be
reached. Every store and office III every town and city must be
surveyed. It is well known that most of our fires are due to our
own fault. We can avoid them by the exercise OF just ordinary
care and prudence. Fires are caused by the federation of fire
breeding conditions. They do not break out in clean, well kept
premises. 1t is a problem for each home and each community to
solve. We must have action on the part of municipal officials
ladies' clubs. fire departments, ministers of the gospel, superlnten-
dents of public schools, and school teachers, and from every force
i'll every community that can create and influence public sentiment
Organize i'll your own way, but permit me to urge you unite all
your forces during this week to rid your community of fire dangers
Of all kinds. Call it cleanup week and make 1t 50 III TACT"