The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-04-26
FIRE PREVENTION
DAY BIG SUCCESS
Great Interest Displayed in Project
to Reduce Number of Fires,
With Work Carried on in
Schools and at Meeting

Fire Prevention Day was an un-
qualified success yesterday, prob
ably due to the untiring efforts Of
Fire Chief Guy Asbury and MEM
bers of the local department, to-
gether with the presence of Gov
ernor j. G. Scrugham and Jay s.
Stevens, chief of the fire prevention
bureau of the Pacific coast, coupled
with a keen public interest prob
ably induced by the large number
of disastrous fires which have oc-
CURED here during recent years
and caused people to recognize the
ever-present menace Of fire to life
and property.
The day was started with ap-
propriate observance at the schools,
where Chiefs Asbury, Stevens and
Hawcroft of Reno, together with
the governor and other dignitaries,
impressed upon youthful minds the
danger of fires and methods of their
prevention, demonstrations being
made that the thoughts might be
properly driven home.
The public meeting at the Nixon,
held during the afternoon, was made
the occasion of presentation to the
local grammar school Of an Ameri-
can flag by Governor Scrugham in
recognition of unusual efforts in
spreading the gospel of fire pre-
vention, won in competition against
other schools of the state.
Fire Chief Asbury presided at
the public meeting, introducing
Chief Stevens, who told Of the
origin of FIRE prevention contests
four years ago and of their un-
questioned value in fire prevention.
He also told of the Ince cup which
is awarded annually to the fire de-
partment maintaing the best fire
record--a cup costing $1,000, two
feet tall, and which is filled with
silver dollars and presented to the
winning department each year. So
far it has been won by Anaconda,
Mont; Piedmont, Calf, and Port
land, Oregon, and Chief Stevens
said that from present indications
it would be won this year in Ne
vada, the race being between Reno
and this city.
Governor Scrugham presented a
large flag to the Winnemucca gram
mar school for efficiency in fire
drills and prize winning essays on
"Fire Prevention" taking occasion
to tell the story Of Old Glory, the
Oldest and best flag existing. Next
year, he said, he will give a flag of
the state of Nevada to the school
winning similar contest.
Gladys Tregaskis, star pupil of
the grammar school and writer of
one of the prize-winning essays,
accepted the flag for the school
with a clever little speech. Other
essay winners are Thelma Hanson
and Marguerite Selby, and these two,
with Gladys Tregaskis, were pre-
sented smaller flags as individual
tokens Of proficiency, together with
certificates of honor.
A salute and pledge to the flag
was followed by a short speech by
Principal McFadden, speaking for
the school.
The firemen's annual banquet,
held in Winneva hall last night, was
attended by members of the de-
partment and guests of honor, and
a feed fit for kings it proved to be.
Chief Asbury presided as tost-
master, calling upon Mayor Bran
don, who made the address Of well
come, taking occasion to touch upon
and thank the volunteers for their
efficient work and unfailing inter-
est which has resulted in the build
ing up of what has been recognized
as one Of the most efficient and
best equipped departments in this
western country.
Governor Scrugham went beyond
fire fighting and fire prevention
topics and told Of some of the
problems of state confronting him
self and the people of Nevada. He
touched upon the road building