The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1937-04-09

DEATH COMES 10 NEW LONDON

The appalling disaster in the school at New london.
Texas, IN which hundreds Of students persisted when an ex-
plosion, followed BY fire, destroyed q new S1,000000 build
ing. should bring to public attention an old and grave prob
lem protection for school children.
Regardless Of the cause of this ~oataclysm, It empha-
sizes the fact that thousands Of schools throughout the ma
ton, including some which are supposedly model plants,
contain hazards that may any day, any minute result
ia disasters equally great.
It may seem unbelievable, but schools still exist in
which the doors open inward Il fire broke out, panic
stricken children would pack against these doors, making
It impossible to open them. And when the flames were ex-
tnguished, blackencd, unacceptable bodies would be found.
IA other schools fie escapes are inadequate, OF are diff
ficult to reaeh. In others, heating plants are of poor con-
atruction or are IN bad repair. IN others, staifways are
narrow and are SO designed ard situated that q fire break
ng cut on a lower story would immediately roar up the
stair wells. fed by drafts. making it impossible for children
on upper stories to escape. They wouldn't even have 3
fighting che1re for life.
Yes. literally thousands Of schools contain hazards such
as these. Experts from fire preventative organizations have
often inspected relatively new school buildings and found,
to the astonisbment Of the proud board Of trustees that
they teemed with hazards any one Of which could cause
disaster and wholesale death.
Whatever the cause Of the New London disaster, It
should luake TIE people think and their thinking should
force expert inspection Of every school in America, and the
elimination Of any hazards found.
a MNUTEl
Don't leave ANAL children alone at home.
Tragedy after tragedy has been recorded where an I'M
tended child has been either killd or ~disfigured 1or life by
fire. A recSat case is cited By the Industrial Commission of
Wisconsin. A boy or four and his brother of six months
were left IN the house when the parents went visiting. The
boy pushed the baby buggy containing his brother too close
to the heating stove. "A blanket caught fire, and the infant
was fatally burned.
Other accounts tell Of fires started by children playing
with matches. IN still other incidents stove door is opened
or lids lifted off by the child and fires are started. Fatal
results have often followed the pouring of kerosene on a fire
by a eNld. All small children love play with fire, and no
precautions should be overlooked IN restraining them.
Parents should Immediately take two steps. First,
never leave your children alone at home. Second, do the
simple and Inexpensive things necessary to the elimination
Of common fire hazards. All fire places should be screened.
Clothes should be hung at q safe distance from pipes and
stoves. All heating equipment and adjuncts should be per-
iodicaIly inspected and overhauled. Continuous care should
be taken in handling and storing nflammable liquids. Waste
Of all kinds, such as papers and rags, should be disposed of
or stored IN metal containers. The wiring of electric appli-
ances should be checked occasionally - a frayed or twisted
ord can cause short circuits followed by fire.
Every minute a fire breaks out in America. Two-thirds
Of all those fires occur in homes. VIII your home be on that
List this year and viii you and your family be subjected
to q menace that may take life, due primarily to your own
carelessness2
THE PASSING OF SPITTOON
Recent figures gathesd from fifty-one cities of the
United States, and released by the United States Bureau of
Labor. show percentage increase in retail food prices from
1892 to 1896. az follows.