Farm Fire Losses Less Than Supposed

WASHINGTON, June 6.-Fire losses on the farms of the United States are becoming less from year to year, according to a careful study just completed by Arthur T. IJpson, of the technical staff of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association. While over a period of years there probably is a small increase in the total absolute loss, this increase lags far behind the gain in the value of burnable rvealth on the farms of the countrv. The annual farm fire loss appears to be a matter of eitimate and calculation, rather than statistical fact. The minimum estimate of the annual loss is $34,000,000; the maximum $92,000,000, with a probability that the actual loss is nearer the minimum than the maximum figure. Mr. IJpson's conclusions may be summed up as follows:

1. The extent of the annual loss from fire on American farms in recent years, based on safe and intelligent use of the accurate, partial data at hand, rvould if complete authentic statistics were available. be found to lie between the outside figure of ninety-two and one-third million dollars and the more conservative estimate of thirtv-four and one-quarter million; and there is much evidenie to indicate that the correct farm loss figure would closely approach the latter estimate.

2. But irrespective of whether.the annual loss on American farms is thirty-four millions of dollars or ninety millions, the loss itself is entirely too large, in view of the means at the disposal of public and private agencies for assisting the farmer, and of the farmer for helping himself, to prevent loss from fire; and an amount susceptible to and necessary of reduction for the rural economic welfare. The problern of reducing this annual loss to reasonable limits or to the ideal irreducible minimum is sufficiently great without considering the loss of burnable farm wealth to be the enormous fi1 'ure of $150,000,000 each year, as it has been publicly stat:d to be on several occasions in the past two years.

3. Fire loss increases both on American farms, and in the urban and rural districts combined, are growing less each year; in the latter this rate of yearly decrease is almost constant in the country as a whole, and on farms fast becoming so. This general situation exists in facb of the fact that the volume of building construction and amount of other burnabl : wealth is increasing annually, and that there

,rrlJtrJ ,, .,.".11 i,,,

is a great increase in fire risk due to the increases in the number of automobiles and out-buildings which usually take the form of garages, and in those attendant upon the more general use of gasoline, electricity, artificial gas, etc., on the farm.

4. Published statistics of yearly increases in urban and or rural fire losses, when the factors of increasing accuracy in collection of statistics and consequently more complete returns on fire losses, and the tremendous increase in valuation of total burnable wealth in the United States are taken into account, show that value of property destroyed by fire per thousand dollars of burnable wealth is considerably less than 5 to 10 years ago.

5. The greatest amount of farm fire loss in recent years has, aside from losses due to unknown causes, been the result of defective chimneys and flues, sparks on roofs, lightning, matches and smoking, and spontaneous combustion. The first, second and fourth are strictly preventable causes, while for reducing the loss from the third and last causes there are several effective means available.

6. Because of the fact that two-fifths of the fire loss on farms is due to strictly preventable causes, and that loss in recent years has been on the increase, the problem of bringing about a reduction in the enormous fire loss on American farms should be the less difficult.

7. Contrary to popular opinion, partial data at hand indicates that fires are no more and are probably less apt to occur in frame buildings than in those of other types of construction, a matter of significance to the farmer.

8. The prevention of loss of life by reason of fire on American farms is obviously the problem of first magnitude before all organizations carrying on any form of fire prevention activity for the farm. The results of the work of the National Fire Waste Council, now under way, in the form of collecting dependable statistics on fire casualties should serve in this work.

9. Much effective work in inspection, enforcement, public education, and statistic compilation along fire prevention and protection lines is being done by the State Fire Marshals or similar Departments in many statis, but with a few exceptions the greater emphasis is being placed on urban conditions. More work of this character should be done in the strictly rural districts in practically all states.

Warehouse Destroyed by Fire

Althor..^ re of the four big warehouses of the Los Angeles Paper lVlanufacturing Company was practically gutted by fire recently, causing an estimated loss of $100,000, according to officials of the concern, no damage was done to the rest of the huge plant, and the roofing mills and other units were reported in full operation the next day by N. L. Brinker, director of sales.

Mr. Brinker stated that the only solution to the mystery of the origin of the blaze that could be found, after a iarefril check, was that a few cans of paint stored in this unit of the plant, which adjoins the administration offices, had exploded by spontaneous combustion.

People in the neighborhood of the plant, which lies opposite Lincoln Park, reported hearing two heavy explosions shortly after midnight Monday morning. A few minutes Iater flames were discovered and the alirm was turned in.

Mr. Brinker praised the quick work of the firemen in confining the flames to the one warehouse and protecting the new administration building and the rest of the $1,000,0@ plant from destruction.

He said the loss is practically covered by insurance, and although the materials destroyed will cause some shortage in stock, orders are being filled as usual and the plant has continued.its 24-hour production schedule without serious delay.

The Los Angeles Paper Manufacturing Company is one of the veteran industrial concerns of Los Angeles, having been engaged in the manufacture of building felt, asphalt roofing and paper products here for more than 25 years.

Joseph Brown is president, Joseph Brown, Jr., is viiepresident, R. E. Brown, another son, secretary-treasurer, and N. L. Brinker, director of sales.