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Show FIRE IN 1930. During June, the fire loss in the United States was $31,818,266 $1,-787,397 $1,-787,397 less than in June, 1929. We have, however, nothing to be proud of, as this is the first month in 1930 in which such a decrease has been recorded. re-corded. The total loss for the first six months of the year was $242,339,-771, $242,339,-771, corresponding to $230,092,795 for the same period last year. In short, we have so far destroyed over 12 million mil-lion dollars worth of property more than in 1929. i It cannot be too often repeated the the United States has the most gigantic gigan-tic fire loss, both total and per capita in the world. Our carelessness in the matter of fire has become a national na-tional menace and a national disgrace. dis-grace. Every year we sacrifice thousands of lives and half a billion dollars in property values. And, at the most conservative estimate, at least 80 per cent of this waste is en-j tirely unnecessary. Two factors are responsible for the waste carelessness and ignorance. It is carelessness that allows us to drop cigarettes where we finish with them; let wiring go unattended; pile trash in corners, and the like. Ignorance Ignor-ance has bred the attitude of "Let the insurance company pay for it" as if insurance companies could pay losses without, in turn, collecting from policyholders! It should be thoroughly understood that every fire, whether or not the property is insured, represents a permanent economic eco-nomic loss that must be paid for, directly di-rectly or indirectly, by the entire community. Our fire loss will go down when American citizens take common sense precautions in their homes and place of business, and when they are no longer deaf and blind to the simple rules of fire prevention. |