The Sneedville news. (Sneedville, Tenn.) 191?-19??, 1922-05-19
TAKING A CHANCE
EXACTS BIG TOLL
cARELEsS.zss 5HoWN TO eE RE.
sPoESi5LE FOR EosT OF
FIRE LOSSES.
TENNESSEE IS WIDE AWAKE
Commissioner Walter Bel Wcuid Make
the State Fireproof and Asks
Pubic's Aid.

newspaper, has written instructively
on the dangers of Taking a Chance"
in the matter of fires. There is one
problem, lie says, now confronting the
people Of Tennessee, one in which all,
individually and collectively, are vital.
| iy interested, and that is fire proven
ton. IL stands out most prominently
and demands the sane thought and the
hest effort OF the entire citizenship.
Medical science has proved that it
Is much easier to prevent a disease
than to combat an epidemic. IL this
Is true in the matter of diseases that
| effect the health of the people, the
same line of reasoning can be logical
ly applied TO the fire problem Thus.
II Is apparent to even the average
citizen that IT is decidedly easier to
prevent fire than 20 control and
check conflagrGtion.
In the past Tennessee. along with
other southern states. has suffered nu-
morous fires, many very disastrous
and others less in scope, which have
not been confined to any given town,
city or community, but practically all
sections have been called upon to pay
Tribute to the fire demon.
There can be no lodging the fact
hat carelessaess has exaeted a toll
greater than any one thing In all his
tory. IL Is responsible for 80 per cent
Of the fatalities and accidents Of less
serious nature. In life and property
loss carcios5pess is the one big de.
mon OF destruction" that stalks about
the business office. the factory, the
mercantile establishments, in the
shops. IN the homes and on the farms.
Nos, accidents could be avoided, IL
pruper i-ccautions were taken.
Tennessee should be made as near
"fireproof" as possible. To this end
IL behooyes every Individual citizen to
guard most zealously his own property
ard the property OF his neighbors.
study the habits OF those about you.
IL you detect bad stovepipe. defecl
tive. flne electric wiring below thu
sti ndard or notice the recls ioas Mani
ding OF gasoline, kerosene or. otherJ
highly inflamahle oils or chemicals by
anyone. call the proprietor's attention
to these facts. II he docs not correct
them report him 10 the authorities. |
Some stores allow trash and waste pa. |
per To accumulate. In tho cotton Sec
ton some merchants piic up large
amounts Of sample cotton In the store |
EnsNn hmm nd
careful to protect the Goals from roll.
ing out when closing up at night Jan
ltors are rather careless i'm the furnace
rooms. There are many other pieces
of careSssness INDUCED in which /
should he looked after In this way
you will be doing the community a
great service "a well as protecting
your own property and safeguarding
your business against a probable fire
There are hundreds of fires or "un-
known origin" which. IL thorough In.
ycstigation were made. in many cases.
would reveal the fact that someone
WAS to blame.
Here IL one fact that we can't
dodge: Every time fire occurs duo
10 n prcvcn;able cause tho derelict is
morally responsible for the destruc.
ton Of the property lie may be bo.
yond the arm of the law. but in the
true sense no If morally accountable
for the loss sustained
II the people will cooperate with tho
fire prevention department OF the
State Of Tennessee and observe every
rule OF p-ecaution. fires can be re.
duced Ia a minimum and the wanton
waste of property stopped. That de
structive fires I'm tho main can be pre-
voated IL most gratifyln But what
does il take TO bring about this happy
condition?
Every individual cooperating.
Team work was a great dynamic
force during the war IN successfully
putting the various drives over" |
would suggest that every town in Ten
nessee organize fire prevention
squad" whose duty 70 would be to CO.
operate with the state organization.
inspect suspicious buildings at close
Intervals and report their findings and
render whatever assistance possible
10 propagate system OF education
that will eventually enlist the service !
Of the whole community Z
start a campaign of publicity IN
your town Start q cleanup" cam I
pslgn. Organize civic league 81 you I
have no such organization and get the g
ladies TO toin IN. Make your town "a a
near immune against fire as possible. I
and in doir This YOU will have a more e
hsalt Afal placo In which to 1--we and a
bring 70 light city beautiful" Get s
he people to thinking AID soon they q
viii maturity become interested end 7
ACTIVE for hettsr order 81 th.arF. Fi--r a
are needless waste. Preserve your lusI b
ness ard protect your prcr,riy auf n
your town ~ a,dins IN eva-v s.v .a q
step me nillioas cf CELLAR ra-tr -
waste annually I.
The slogan: "A&-- Te-at..-, g-. ,
proof v