Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-02-25
SPEAKS IN NATIONAL CAMPAIGN
AGAINST The RED PERIL OF FIRE

J ent upon the tax value OF existing prop
| erty for their operating revenue. All
property destroyed is removed from the
tax duplicate and the amount which it
| would have produced in taxes Is levied
| as an additional burden upon the prop
erty remaining. Assuming the average
tax rate to be 4 per cent. the amount
| of taxes lost by the burning of property
in 1920 would be a per cent. of $780,
oOo.oo0) or s2o,00o,ooo. This is another
contribution which we all make to our
habits of carelessnness.
The greater reason for concerted ac-
ton in a campaign against waste, Is
shown in the excessive loss of life and
injury which results from fire. Cy care
full tabulation, We find that L. 900 lives
are lost and 1900 are injured by fire
in twelve months. Eighty-three per cent.
of these are mothers or children up to
and including school age. What a sac
rif1ce Of the unfortunate and depend
| emit What a commentary on our sys-
tenn Of neglected educationi The home
and the school must, by the above tab
ulation, be the chief neglected area Six
| ty-fve per cent. of the number of fires
take place In tn ehomes, while five
schools are on fire every day of the
year.
Training in Schools.
There is particular need for more
thorough and systematic training In all
our scnhools on the subject of Fire Pre-
| vention. Many states are inaugurating
such course upon the passage of legis-
lation fostered by the National Associ-
alton of Cridit Men last year. This should
be made national requirement and the
course intensified. This will prepare the
coming generation and, through their in
fuence, educate parents in myriads Of
homes.
A campaign Of education should also
be conducted among all civic bodies that
the presentation of the facts may arouse
our business men to concerted action in
the protection of industry. In many cities
where a continuous and thoughtful ed
vocational campaign has been organized
| losses of life have been minimized, and
fire losses decreased, in some cities
ranging from 100000 to $1,000 600.
The results obtained in those cities can
be secured in all, by the application of
business capacity.
Understand Insurance Contracts.
: There IS great need today for better
understanding of insurance contracts
: among business men. Contracts in
volving even small sums of money re-
ceive careful scrutiny while insurance
contracts involving millions are placed in
, the safe without even so much as a
casual perusal of the conditions of the
J contract which directly affects the as
sured or the cridit involved. It is esti-
mated that less than ten per cent. of
good business men can take time to ia
miliarize themselves with the essentials
of their system of protection or Coop
crate fully in making their property
practically safe
Coincident with the study of the con
tract referred to should be a thorough
survey of the property involved to as
certain; l The probability of a fire orig
mating. 2 Possibility of the spread of
/ fire 3 Exposure from adjoining proper
ties. The adequacy of private equip
j, | ment for extingushing the blaze
All these features are considered in an
analysis of the credit extended, Prom
er construction of buildings is of great
importance. Eighty per cent of our
fire losses is due to unprotected verti-
cal openings. Open stafrways and Gle.
vator shafts, lack of proper fire steps
Y unprotected windows. ffredoors failing
to operate; these and many other exist.
ing conditions contribute largely to :
t small fire becoming a confagration ant
are all possible Of elimination.
. Industry is dependent upon a large
: clientele of small dealers to whim credf
Q Is general eltended. The physical con
n ditions surrounding each property shoult
t enter into the analysis of the amount a
= risk. This is a field of extensive on
h portunity for fire prevention education
T II a man does not protect his business
: he IS not generally reliable credit in
!. vasement. If informed that his bushes
e integrity Is somewhat dependent upol
n his interest IN general plant housegeep
h ing, there will be a marvellous improve
Il ment In hazardous conditions.
Fire Protection For Industries.
Many manufacturers are at the pres
= ent time paying particular attention t
! the establishment of greater efficienc
!. in their plant fire protection c..
: in their fire protection. A weekly In
spection report Is being required by su
- perintendents, showing all hazardou
~ conditions in detail. Private fire depart
- ments are being organized in order t
attack and extinguish the blaze in ii
incipiency. Each department has It's ow
section Of the fire service under the ST
70 perintendent as fire chief, and Is divide
Of into three sections, namely:
er Fire fighters who have care of III
r private fire apparatus and who fight Ii
Is blaze.
n 2-Searchers, who are in charge Of e,
ID its and the safety Of women and me
e. employed.
e. 3-Salvage men whose duty It Is
p protect articles being manufactured fro,
ms waste.
of This is only the application of CORE
on business principles to Industrial mai
We facturers.
OF In conclusion, may we urge more col
certed action in the protection of o,
er helpless citizens in the homes and IL
t: schools. Seven hundred and eighty-niI
by women, in homes We're burned to dea-
last year. while endeavoring to cles
on small articles with gasoline They a
ms unaware that one gallon of gasoline u
is der proper conditions for vaporizatit
* has explosive effect equal to eighty-thr
ice pounds Of dynamite
II Forgetting to turn off the current
he the electric iron has caused exceeding
IS large losses IN homes. The chimn
ey Is one Of the most important parts in t
'or construction Of q home, yet we have
let everage loss 90 SIS, 100000 each We
g from the failure of citizens either in I
ar- building or maintenance of faulty Chi
he neys A Single roof Is always a gre
its hazard as It dries and awaits the fl
De- spark from a passing engine or bur
as Ing chimney. Homes should always
Is built as near q fire department depa,
1r- ment station as possible, and where the
So is amply supply Of water for use in
,ur emergency. All electrical apparat
the should be protected by a lightning
1T restor and fuse plug, to avoid loss
per from lightning and power wires
the Safety In the Home.
Each member Of the family should
taught the elements of safety in I
n home. how IN t11rO n fro h