Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-10-08
LIGHTNING RODS ON maine FARM BUILDINGS
ARE SO PERCENT EFFECTIVE, COMMISSIONER
Wilbur D. SPENCER Tells KIWANIANS

be used in the control of fires in
stoves. AS the women are the ones
VINO are at home the greater part of
the time, they should take particular
care IN this respect and should see to
it that their clothing does not come
too near the flames.
Fire losses are measured largely by
dollars and cents. While the number
or losses last year was about 20 less
than in 1915, the monetary loss was
ABOUT twice as large.
The speaker paid tribute to the fire
departments of Maine, declaring them
to be as efficient as in any part of the
country. He asserted that it is incum-
bent upon us all to look out not only
for our own property, but for the prop
erty OF others, especially if it is in
close proximity to ours.
Defective chimneys have been the
chief cause of fires. Owners of houses
and other buildings should make sure
that the chimneys are properly con-
structed and are free from creosote. 1t
is the province of local officers to look
after chimney construction by local
ordinances.
Farmers in some sections have to
guard more carefully against fires
and that accounts for their greater
prevention against fire losses. Re-
ferring to the value of lightning rods,
Mr.. Spencer stated that in Maine
the protection offered by rods is over
30 per cent, and this percentage has
been found to hold for the entire
country. In Maine during 1924, the
fire loss on unrodded buildings was
over 100000 and on rodded build
iyNCr
the farm section of Maine is rodded
to atsut 20 per cent. 1t is more
common to rod in Aroostook county.
The extent of rodding in Kennebec
county is about 20 per cent.
The cigarette offers the greatest
hazard and the danger from this is
increased by the fact that some
dealers report selling more cigarettes
to women than to men, the speaker
asserted. Women are more careless
with cigarettes. Cigars are not so
apt to cause fires for they do not
burn up with such intense heat.
The combining of oxygen and car
bon causes heat combustion and
thus the problem is to keep these
two elements apart. If we do that
we will not have trouble with fires.
Notices for the meeting, printed
in red ink, carried the picture of a
well trained municipal fire depart
ment fighting a conflagration. Wake
up. Help prevent fire! You don't
know how. Then come and find
out" This was the wording Of the
notices. Donald @, Burleigh was in
charge of the designing of this
sheet.
Other Matters at Session
Frederick H. owen, who presided
over the session at the request of
President Frank z. Mace, announced
that DIR. Warren B. Sanborn, a mem
Der of the club, who has been Sc
riously i'll, is now on the way to re-
covery and appreciates the shower
OF postcards sent TO him. Applause
followed this announcement.
I Chairman Arthur S. Merrill of the
kiWanian bowling committee an
nounced that IA members of the
club appeared for the tryouts last
week and that the team was to en-
ter its first contest in the league
last evening, the opponents being the
Augusta Press outfit. The members
of the Kiwanis team are: Bonney
Marston, Herbert l.. Merrill, Howard
Beale, Harold ID. Jennings and Cap
tain a. s. Merrill
kiwanians at the opening of the
meeting stood in silence for one min
ute in tribute to the late j. Francis
MacNichol, who was formerly mu-
sic director of the Augusta Rotary
Club.
Frank f. Smith left Thursday for
st. Petersburg, Fla, where he will
pass the winter.