The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-10-12
homes, we expect much good to be ac-

homes, we expect mucn SOOQ 20 De &C.
complished. 1t is easier to teach the
children fire prevention than the old
er persons whose habits are fixed.
1t is also fact that more fires oc-
cur from without, than from within
that is someone else's property catch
es fire and it spreads to your building
and those Of others. So if your neigh
Dor is careless in such matters, your
property is endangered by his care
lessness He should not be allowed to
increase your fire hazard nor should
you be allowed to increase his.
Valley City has many buildings hay
ing single roofs and consequently is
always in danger of a conflagration,
as statistics show that single roofs
are great cause of fires spreading.
The shingles blow for long distance.
A high wind and a fire makes a bad
combination. We have such winds oc-
OCCASIONALLY. At present our water sup
|ply is inadequate, due to the small
storage capacity and the small mains.
In our business district the mains are
but 6" which will supply but three
2h" lines of hose. When fourth
stream is added the pressure is so re-
duced as to render the streams inef-
ficient. The Armory fire and later the
Liberty Cafe fire showed the need of
larger water mains.
The main from the we'll to Fifth av-
|enue is 81 and streams taken from
that main gives us our best streams.
See what was done at the Valley City
Plumbing and Heating Company build
ing for example.
1t is absolutely necessary that we
work and vote for the water works
bonds, to be voted upon October 18th
to enable the City to complete its
plans they have for the increased wa
ter supply. The City Council acting
upon recommendations from the fire
chief has added two motor trucks to
the department, one to carry the hose
the other to carry the ladders, so that
Valley City now has completely mo-
torized department which should be a
source Of pride to every good citizen
The members of the department prom
Use you that they will do their utmost
to give a good account of themselves
at all times.
"To give concrete example of what
our losses amount to for the five years
ending in 1920, the astounding total of
losses amounted to $1,672,722, 77.0O
This sum is used for constructing
dwellings would build 1894, $40 dwell
ings costing $5,000.00 each. 1t would
supply homes for 1,672,720 people. 1t
would have constructed 1921 school
houses costing $100,000.00 apiece.
There are IL school buildings de-
stroyed each day by fire in America
"Perhaps it will surprise you tc
learn that matches and smoking caus-
ed the largest individual amount OF
damage during the five year perioo
mentioned, S90,27l,3 340O being the
amount.
Electricity comes next with $685.,
735, 16S.O0. Stoves, boilers, furnaces
and their pipes come next with $685.
1924 ,O71.00. | shall not go on down the
list but call to your attention the fac
that these are classed as strictly pre-
ventable causes.
If our fire losses are high in thi!
city they are reflected in increased in
surance rates. The insurance compa
MES do not pay for these losses. w
pay for them People grumble enough
about the city, county, school or othe
taxes, yet the insurance tax seems t.
be accepted as matter of course, an,
it rests in our own hands to a g:rea
extente to reduce this tax.
! The property loss is not the onl
fire loss. Fifteen thousand lives ar
lost each year thru fire. Of these, VIC
men and children suffer most.
A year or so ago, one little lad los
his life in this city by playing wit
matches and later an elderly lady los
her life thru fire. So we too, contrib
ute our share.
"Valley City has many buildings {
poor construction, some Of them occl
: pied as apartments. Those living
. such buildings should use the utmo:
. care to protect themselves and the
y property from fire. We have found
4 fire fighting in this city that one {
: the causes of quite number of firt
|, is smokepipes that have rested tn,
= from the inside. They rust more