The Sneedville news. (Sneedville, Tenn.) 191?-19??, 1922-08-11
TAKING A CHANCE
tAA1CI.jI5 BIG TOLL
cARELEssNEss SHOWN TO aE RE.
sPoNsIHLE FOR MOST OF
FIRE Losses.
TENNESSEE is WIDE AWAKE
Commissioner Walter Sell Would MaRs
the State Fireproof and ASKS
Public's Aid.

Mr.. J. w Hedgepeth in the Memphis
Commercial Appeal, great Southern
newspaper, has written instructiyeiy
on the dangers OF Taking a'Chancs'
In the matter OF fires. There is one
problem. he says, now confronting the
people OF Tennessee, one in which al.
individually and collectively, are vital
ly interested, and that Is fire preyen-
ton. IL stands out most prominently
and demands the sane thought aud the
lest effort OF the entire citizenship.
Medical science has proved that it
il much easier TO. Prevent q disease
than TO combat an epidemic. IL this
IS true in the matter OF diseases that
affect tho health OF tho people, the
same line OF reasoning can be logical
ly applied TO the fire problem. Thus,
II 10 apparent to oven the average
citizen that 1t Is decidedly easier TO
prevent a fire than to control and
check a conflagration.
In tho past Tennessee, along with
other southern states. has suffered nu-
merous fires, many very disastrous
aud others less in SEQ. p"'which have
not been confined TO any given town,
city or community, but practically all
sections have been called upon TO pay
tribute TO tho fire demon.
There can be 70 dod ging the fact
hat caroles5neas has eXacted a toll
greater than any one thing in all his.
tory. II 10 responsible for 30 pc. cent
Of the fatalitie3 ana accidents OF less
serious nature In life and property
loss carelessness is the one big de-
mon of destruction" that stalks ebout
the business office, the factory. the
mercantile establishments, In the
shops. in the homes and on the farms
Nest accidents coulJe be avoided, IL
proper Precautions ysf6PAkel
Tonnasseo shouIaI b made as near
"fireprCof" ~ possible. To this end
Il beEoo every individual citizen to
guard IA u Scalously mis- own property
and III, property OF BIS neiShbors
Sttdy,tie habits of those abou: you.
n you detect Lad stovepipe, defec.
Two flue, electric wiring below tho
eti ndnrd or notice the reckless han.
ding OF gasoline, kerosene or other
highly inflarable oils or chemicals by.
anyone. cell the proprletor's atteaFsiai
to these facts. II he does not corrsst
them report him TO the authorities.
Some stores allow trash end waste pa.
ton some merchants pile up largo
amounts of sample cotton In the store
Some keep open CRATES and are not
careful to protect the Goals from roll.
Ing out when closing up at night Jan.
,tors are rather careless In the furnace
cooms. There are many other pieces
NJ careAssness INDUCED In which
ahocld be looked after. In this way
you will be doing tho community
great service IA well rs protecting
your own property ard safeguarding
your business against "a probable fire
There are hundreds OF fires or "un-
LaoWn origin." which. IL a thorough in
yostigation were made. In many cases,
would reveal the fact that someone
was to blame
Here Is one fact that wo can't
dodge: Every time fire occurs due |
io preventable cause the derellct il |
responsible for the destruc-
ton OF the property. He may be be.
yond tho arm OF the law. but in the
true sense he Is morally accountable
for the loss sustained
IL the people will cooperate with the
fire prevention department" Of the
state OF Tennessee and observe every
rule OF precaution. fires can be re-
ducod to a minimum and the wanton
waste OF property stopped. That dc
structive fires in the main can be pre-.
vented Is most gratifying But what
docs IL take to bring about this happy
condition?
Every individual cooperating.
Team work was q great dynamic
force during the war In successfully
putting the various drives over" III
would suggest that every town in Ten.
nossee organize a fire prevention
squad" whose duty It would he to CO.
operate with the state organization.
inspect suspicious buildings at close
intervals and report their findings aud
render whatever assistance possible
o propagate a system OF education
hat will eventually enlist tho service
II the whole community.
start q campaign OF publicity in
our town. Start q cleanup" cam
,aign. Organize civic league 10 you
ave no .ush equalization and set the
aides 20 ioin IN Make your town az
,ear immune against fire as possible.
nd IN doins this You Will have q more
,saltAfnl place In which TO live and
ring 20 light lofty beautiful" Ge,
he people 70 thinking and coon they
IN maturity become interested aud
-,ir, for bsstsr order OF things. Fires
Ne needless waste. Preserve your busi.
e.s and protect your property and
our town By AidinE IN every way q
an the millions Of dollars worth C.
rnste annually.