New Britain herald., 1924-04-03
FIRE PREVENTION
 TROPHY COMES HERE
New Britain Chamber Of Com. meTCe Awarded Second Place

Mary l.. Curtin. secretary Of the
 Chamber Of Commercc, was notified
 today that the Chamber oi Commerce
 Of New Britain was awarded second
 place among all cities Of the second
 class in the interehamber fire waste
 contest for 1923. The results were announced today by Julius Il. Barnes.
 president Of the Chamber of Com-
 nerce Of the United States. and chair
 man Of the board Of judges. There
 were four classes. grouped according
 to population. New Britain being in
 the second class which included all cities in the country between 50,000 ard 100.0e4 population
 Early in September. the Chamber O. Commerce directors appointed a permanent fire prevention committee consisting Of Louis N. Young, chair man, S. NJ. Davidson, W. l.. Hatch and Johnstone Vance aud in order that the efforts Of all he organiza- tions in the city might be united 10 carry on successful Fire PreNcu- ton Week" the various organizations were asked to appoint representatives on this committee. The following members served: Norman Morrill,. Representing the insurance agents; W. l.. Hatch, Rotary; Miss Mary Tormay. Business and Professional Women's club; Mrs. Laurence Mouat, Woman's club; George Hildebrant. manufac- turers; Gus Winger American Insti- ute of Banking; c. r. Barnes. NJ. r. Souney and George Cans of the board or fire commissioners; W. :. Howe. Credits Mems association; Stanley II. Holmes. superintendent Of schools: Bernard G. Kranowitz. New Britain Reeord; s. NJ. Davidson. merchants: Ioseph Roche. Hartford Courant. and Ernest R. Dechant New Britain Her sid.
 This committee made plans for the distributing Of fire prevention posters general advertising and speakers. Ar arrangements were made to have fire men give talks and demonstrations in the various schools during tho week. The slogan of the campaign was Prevent Fire--Sare Life and Prop erty" An importan part Of the cam pagn was the very complete and com pfehensive report made out by the Chamber Of Commerce with the as- sistance of Chief ,Wiilianl J. Noble of the fire department, which gave to the judging committee Information re- gariing the number Of fires, the prop orty loss. the activities Of the schools along fire prevention and fire drill lines, activities Of the Girl and Boy Scouts, inspections made by tho fro department investigations necessary after fires and improvements made along building lines. automatic sprnk- Ter installations. etc.
 The gross fire loss for the past 5 l years. as given in he flre department records. was sG9a.e7n, the annual ], losses varying from s1i.eG0 in 1919 ,a ! sai4,s90 in 1918. The average an- nuai number Of actual fires was iss. ranging from o5 in 1920 to slS in 1929. with an average loss per fro Of si.0ie, high figure. Iiased on nn average population ef 59,b00 ihc sn- nual number of fires per i.6aH popn- l lation was s.S. a very low figure, and . tho average annual loss. per capita was s2.3j. which is q moderate figure. i
 The contest trophies. which were | se'crto1 from number of substituted . designs. are bronze plaques bordercd | with sterling silver. depicting an ap- propriate fire prevention scene and | suitably inscribed. Now Britain's prize will be awarded and will be one 1 of ihe features of the annnal meeting O. the United stai'cs Chamber Of Com m rec to he held In Cleveland in May.
 Tho grand pgize in ihe second class vns awarded foibe Chamber Of coui- fnerce of Hobokon. New Jcrsay. whici, showed reduction Of G7 per cent in fire legs compared with the average of the preceding nse years. and ille second prize 10 Long Beach, Cali fornia
 The first prize for cities Of inc first ciaFs went to tho chamber of Com nerce of Indianapolis. Indiana. The honor cities for this class in tho order named arc: Wilmington. Delaware: Oklahoma City. Oklahoma. and Mil- wankec. Wisconsin.
 The Hrst prize for ciiies or ihc third class was awarded to Dunnquc. Iowa. Chamber or rommerrc. Great Falls. Montana. Clarksburs. West Virginia and Burlington. Vermont. were named ss honor cities.
 Tho iirst prize for fourth cIass cities uas awarded to Rlytheytllc. Ar- kansas Billings. Montana. fl Eeno. Ol1ia homa. and Tusra ioosa. Alabama, were named honor ritics.
 Two hundred and tNo Cha rIbcrs of Commerce in i3 states participated in the contest conducted by 'hc National Fire Waste council The awards were made on the basis Of fire loss and ar- tivities looking t0 the prevrHti5I or fire waste. br a board of judges ron- sisting of Julius IT. Barnes and II. A Smith. chairman TT tbn jusurancp committee or thn National Chamber. and Gsoree ". Tooth or New York; Eugene Arms Q, Chraeo. and Frank lin II. Wentworth Of Boston. members for iiie National council.
 Marked reductions in fire vase are shown by Inc cities participating 1n the contest. For Hlt of fic cities Eui- mitting statistics tifr tt"r capita fire loss for the'y ysar was ss.2s. comparpd with m average per capita loss for the entire country for Is22 of s4.Ts. The winner CT she grand pria.. 1Io- boken. reduced t.le fire loss from aa average of is4e.224 for inc five gears from 1918 t0 1929 10 si51.V4i in 1928. This result Is attributed 70 fife nrW Ere code and 2 system of inspections by the fire department and auxiIiary work By pupils of Inc puiIic schools.
 Or tho cities reporting , per cent sbosed a reduction of property Ioss: @ per cent. a reduction in the nuln- ! Der Of persons killed. 25 per cent. ! rrIBtfi0u Co tnr number of prrsons a-. l..-.a. : q -.-- .----. ..t -....a.... s. :