The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-10-10
Fire Losses Cost Every
Person in Terrell County
And u. S. SAT Yearly
Statistics Show That Most of Fires
Were Preventable Property Valued
At $250,000, 900 Added to Ash Heap.

AT SZ5O,UUU,OUU ADDED to ASH Heap.
The economic loss from preventable
fires costs every man, woman and
child in Dawson and Terrell county
and the United States $4.47 d year
Every family OF five persons pays a
tax OF $22.35 to Carelessness every
twelve months. Besides the economic
losses by fire, which are high, the loss
OF lie is still more appalling, $4,000
people having lost their lives last
year to say nothing OF the injured and
manned for life.
In Dawson there is scarcely week
that the newspaper does not carry
an account OF some fire in which there
was a loss Of property. A glance
through the newspaper files of the last
twelve months shows number OF
cases whereby the reckless handling OF
gasoline fires were started.
The national debt of the United
States is now expressed in eleven fig
ures. The amount of money represent
ed by its huge total of $23,000 100000
is beyond the bounds OF human COM
prehension. If, however, we had start
ed forty years ago to invest each year
at six per cent compound interest a
sum OF money equivalent to its re-
speCtive fire loss we would now have
a fund sufficient to wipe out our whole
national debt.
Fires Increase.
The amount placed to the credit OF
this fund has increased each year. In
1921 the fire loss was six times as
great as in 1881, although the popu-
l., =, 4
OF the earliest year.
To fully realize the extent of this
national fire waste it should be con-
sidered from an individual and COM
munity standpoint In 1921 the per
capita fire loss was SAT-. AT this rate,
the average loss to a community
would be over $4,000 for each Is
600 inhabitants. Such sum OF money
would assist materially i'll improving
streets, building schools or otherwise
bettering municipal conditions When
on the other hand property valued at
that amount is destroyed by fire the
nation is a permanent loser, for fire
waste is an economic loss.
Property valued at more than $780,
100000 has been added to the nation S
ash heap during the first eight months
OF the current year. This sum alone
would have provided homes for $4,000
American workmen and their families.
The business man accustomed to
dealing with figures will readily COM
prehend. what continuation OF such
reckless destruction Of property will
mean to the business interests of the
country. The individual should also
realize that this loss naturally increas-
es the burden which he has to bear
Until each citizen considers fire pre-
vention as a personal problem requir-
ing his own individual carefulness, the
elimination OF fire waste can never be
realized and this unnecessarily eco
nomic loss will continue
The first week in October was set
aside as Fire Prevention Week" and
an educative campaign was carried on
ali over the United States. President
Harding issued a proclamation endors-
ing the week and Gov. Hardwick did
likewise. Efforts was made to bring
to the attention OF the people of the
United States the terrible losses each
year and educate them toB be more
careful.