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Show GY1TEII DISCUSSES PKIM DF FI Chief of Salt Lake Department Depart-ment Gives Some Very Interesting In-teresting Statistics. The Tribune has received a communication communi-cation from William II. Bywater, chief of tho Salt Lake City fire department, which will be read wtlh Interest by tho people of the city. Discussing fires, their cause and prevention, the chief says: I read with great interest In your Issue of this dato an editorial commenting com-menting on the fire loss of the United States and Canada for -the month of February of the present year, giving figures compiled by the Journal of Commerce and Commercial Bulletin Bul-letin of New York city. While I cannot can-not claim to be familiar with all the conditions prevailing In the cities sustaining sus-taining the lire loss auoted In vour article, my knowledge of the conditions condi-tions existing in our own citv convinces con-vinces mc that very much of this enormous loss could be prevented by the exercise of care and vigilance on the part of those owning the property prop-erty destroyed, I take the liberty of presenting figures showing values In property jeopardized In Salt Lake City by the failure of property owners themselves or their agents to take the proper precautions to guard against loas by lire. I have selected twelve fires from the. number which have occurred in Salt Lake so far during the present month in which the hazard amounts to a very respectable sum, viz.: Value of buildings involved. .?1S7,300 Valuo of contents involved.... 2S3.U0U Value Insurance involved 378,400 'Total SS4S.700 Fortunately the actual loss sustained sus-tained was very low compared with the amount at hazard, yet. the danger of heavy loss Is ever present. In each of the twelve cases I have selected I am fully assured that the lire waa the result of neglect on the part of persons In charge of tho property prop-erty to take the proper precautions to guard against such a contingency The number of firos which are duo to causes beyond the control of the occupants oc-cupants of the buildings are very few as compared with the number which could be prevented bj- constant vigilance vigi-lance nnd care. The principal cause of fires which havc occurred In this city is carelessness In allowing accumulations accu-mulations of inllnmmable rubbish such as waste paper, greasy rags and waste, ashes, etc., on and about tho premises. I shall be very pleased indeed If the people of Salt Lake will give heed to the warnings given from time- to time by those who have given the subject of fire -prevention a great deal of consideration, such authorities as former Fire Chief Crocker of New-York, New-York, who declares after a quarter of a century of investigation of the causes of fires In the United States that fully SO per cent of the rlre3 occurring oc-curring in this country could be prevented pre-vented by keeping all premises clar at all times of Inllammabie rubbish and taking such other precautionary measures u.h will readily present themselves to the minds of those who will give the subject the consideration to which it Is entitled. .uIl.lcl, "f .Ule work r Sfllt Lake City s fire department Is performed along the lines of fire prevention. Upwards Up-wards of 450 Inspections of business premises are made each month, and its members arc ready at all times to advise on how to "prevent lires and offer such suggestions on the sub-Jeot sub-Jeot as experience has proven to be of value. |