The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-02-11
FIRE PREVENTION .
SUBJECTS TALKED
Jay w. Stevens, Pacific Coast Repre-
sentative of the National Board
of Fire Insurance Under
writers, City Guest

stevens, Paclflc Coast representative
of the National Board of Fire In
| surance Underwriters. This is the
general conclusion of those who lis
tened to his talk at the chamber of
commerce rooms last evening. Mr..
Stevens comes here directly at the
instance of the Winnemucca Volun-
teer Fire Department and in the
two-day period he has made himself
acquainted with local conditions, met
the business and professional peo-
pie, talked to the two student bodies
of the city, held open meeting for
the public at the chamber of COM
merce rooms. His stay will be fur
ther honored at a banquet to be
given in Winneva hall tonight by
the Winnemucca firemen at which
he will be the guest of honor.
In his talk last evening Mr.. Stew
ems emphasized, among other things,
the following:
That fire losses during 1921 were
larger in a countrywide sense than
in any previous year, excepting
1906, the year of the San Francisco
holocaust.
That the big part of the fire losses
sustained came from incendiary
causes, and that arson is a natural
concomitant of financial depression.
That gasoline is probably the
most dangerous of the many fire
hazards, while celluloid articles run
close second, gallon of gasoline
having the same amount of COM
bustible energy, under proper condi-
tions, as 80 2-3 pounds of dynamite,
while common practice too frequent
ly gives defective electrical wiring"
or Spontaneous combustion" as fire
origin.
That fire calls are responded to
by the departments in the United
States at a rate that equals one fire
call for each building every eleven
years.
Mr.. Stevens explained the relation
of the National Board of Fire In
surance Underwriters to the general
public welfare and the educational
work being carried under the au-
spice, emphasizing that arson is be-
coming increasingly difficult as a
means of converting property into
cash and expressed the belief that
the most ingenious subterfuges are
being uncovered under the methods
of detection placed in vogue, with
resultant punishment to offenders.
In Oregon, he said, the state fire
marshal's office has been a tremend-
Gus factor in tracing fire origin and
securing convictions for felonious
acts. The service rendered by Mr..
Stevens and other agents of his type
are given free to the public. That
this service is distinct those who
heard him last night admit, for he
pointed out fire hazards that are
also life hazards, and told of recent
instances in northwestern cities
where lives were lost through the
use of what is commonly known as
Black Silk Stove Polish. One of
the ingredients used literally in this
concoction is gasoline and the UNI
knowing housewife, polishing what
she thinks is a "cold stove," may
| be a victim of the explosion that
follows all too frequently when fric-
tion is applied to the polish. Gel
luloid toys, Mr.. Stevens declared
last night, form constant menace
to childhood and the manufacture
should be prohibited. We are, after
all, bland and self-complacent grown
up children with small thought for
our actual welfare, and this saying
is especially apt when applied to
matters dealing with fire.
| The visitors rendered a distinct
compliment to the Winnemucca fire
| fighting organization and laid en-
phasis upon the coordination which
is an outstanding feature. Little
WONDER" he said, 'that this little
city should have the honor flag Of
fered last year by Governor Emme
D. Boyle for the most efficient fir
| lighting organization in Nevada. II
is expected that the governor will
oe here some time in May to make
The flag presentation speech and the
occasion will be made a gala one
This flag will be presented later tc
the local school whose student body
shows the greatest proficiency in
ire drill. l witnessed the fire drill
at the Winnemucca grammar school
yesterday and was truly amazed to
see the eight rooms cleared of child
hood in less than forty seconds. The