rrrAl-rMr .
Nebraska State Volunteer Fire
men's Association
President, George Howe, Fremont.
i":rst Vice President, II. A. Graff, Seward.
Stond Vice President, Jacob P. Hoffman, Ord.
Secretary, E. A. Miller, Kearney.
Treasurer, Fred Alexander Scottsbluff.
Heard of Cnnlml? ITarrv llnnur EVamtnt tI.J.n,.. . Tw nV.
ring, Seward; E. W. Parkhurst, Lexington; Ray Frost, Stan- 5
ton; Thomas Jeffrey, North Platte.
A department devoted to the interests of the volunteer firemen
of the state of Nebrasak.
g Edited by Lloyd C. Thomas,
PUBLICITY COMMITTEEMEN
Albion 11. E. Hallstead.
Bertrand C. H. Frakes.
nioomfield Harry Henatsch.
Franklin Alvin Bloedorn.
Gothenburg Arthur Johnson.
Howells Frank Luxa.
Kearney E. F. Winn.
Neligh Jay Ames.
Lynch A. C. McFarland.
Hampton Alvin Gaussmann.
University Place Leslie A. Thomas.
Fullerton John C. Chapman.
Ulysses B. S. Ogleeby.
Fire departments thnxout the state wen? generally successful
hi securing what they asked for at the spring elections although at
several points the voters denied them the buildings or equipment
asked for. "We fail to see how any intelligent body of voters enn
refuse to grant a fire department the proper equipment to light fires
with or the proper quarters in which to house the department. .The
volunteer fireman risks his limb and life to save property without
pay. , He certainly deserves proper equipment to fight fire with.
If your department wants new equipment or new quarters and
it will be necessary to have the vote of your town to secure them,
we would suggest that the campaign for next year's election be
started without delay. A lire department can surely mould public
opinion in their town within one year. Show your citizens through
your newspapers why you should have the equipment or the quar
ters. Then keep at it for the entire year. AVe predict that the re
sults at your next election will be perfectly satisfactory.
We are in receipt of a copy of the Proceedings of the Thirty
Second Annual Convention of the Association, held at Columbus on
January 20, 21 and 22. The book is the best we have seen of this
nature and certainly shows careful and painstaking work on the
part of the secretary, K. A. Miller, of Kearney, and of the print re
who published it, II. A. Wcbbert, of Kearney. Members will do well
to spend some spare time going over the proceedings. Much in
formation of interest can be secured from it.
a
It seems rather hard tt get interest aroused in a tournament
for this year. Perhaps many towns fail to realize what this would
mean to them. The appropriation granted by the association to the
town which takes the tournament will go a long ways towards .de
fraying the expenses. 'A tournament brings, many visitors to the
town taking it and is a paying proposition in every way, if properly
advertised. We would suggest that some of the towns in the eastern
ptrt of the state take up the matter with Harry Houser, chairman
of the board of control, Fremont, Nebraska.
We are much gratified at the attention given this department
by the different fire departments thruout the state. It is our ini.-n-tion
to visit a number of the departments during the summer and
discuss matters of interest with them. Notify us when you expect
to have your smokers or gatherings during the summer and we will
try and be with you. Nothing arouses more interest in a volunteer
fire department than a good smoker' at which you can invite your
business men and your city officials. It will make them take interest
and show them that you have a live department.
"Cigars and cigarettes carlessly thrown away caused 132 000
fires during the past year in the United States," says Fire Commis
sioncr Robert Adamson of New York City. Many of the fires with
unknown origin are doubtlessly caused by lighted cigar and cigarette
stubs which are carelessly dropped or thrown away.
The Nebraska State Fire Prevention Association are preparing
to furnish this department with bulletins and special articles. The
good work done by these people should be recognized by all depart
ments. They keep in as close touch as anyone, inspecting as they do
practically every business building in the state each year or oftener."
FIRE PREVENTION
SPEECH BY MIX; ELL
Deputy State Fire Commissioner
W. S. Ridgell, at a recent gathering
of wholesale and retail merchants,
apoke on fire prevention as follows:
Mr, Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men: This department 1b in both the re
tall and wholesale business. We are
wholesaling fire prevention and re
tailing fire protection, and we want
every one of you retail merchants to
put in a good stock of fire' protection,
in fact enough so that In case a fire
should start while you are in your
place of business you would be able
to control it wittfout having the fire
department to turn on the water.
We are wholesaling fire preven
tion and want every retail merchant
in the state of Nebraska to stock up
to the limit, and will say there is no
limit. Your stock of fire prevention
will never get shop worn and you
will never be compelled to sell It at
a loss.
We will absolutely refuse to give
the sale of these goods to any one
merchant in a town, but will insist
that every merchant carry a full
stock. These goods we sell on year
ly payments and will guarantee that
provided the merchant keeps Els
store, basement, back yards stocked
up, and see that your clerks keep the
stock in good condition, that at the
end of the year you will find that
you haye made a larger profit on
Fire Prevention goods than any oth
er that you cary la stock.
Fire reduction la., great, progres
sive, forward stride: Fire Destruc
tion Is a tremendous, wasteful, back
ward fall.
Retail merchants should see. to It
that their premises are kept clean
and free from fire hazards.
They should not Vow waste and
KK9X2
state publicity chairman.
Neligh Jay Ames.
Ord O. P. Cromwell.
Verdi gre H. H. Bruce.
Overton James M. Pullen.
Schuyler F. W. Shonka, Jr.
Snyder Geo. W. Meyers.
Stroraaburg Al Westenlus.
Tilden R. O. Whitney.,
; Departments are requested to for
ward names as fast as publicity man
is appointed.
rubbish to accumulate on their prop
erty. Why save In your back room,
basements or back yards, that which
you have caried out of the main
room of your store because you want
ed to throw It away as useless? Why
keep combustible material around
that you never intend to use or util
ize for any purpose again? Why not
haul It away to the public dump, or
if your town has no public dump,
haul it away from any building and
burn it PURPOSELY YOURSELF.
This Is much better and safer than
to wait until the rubbish pile takes
fire ACCIDENTALLY, ITSELF, and
bu,rns and destroys your property,
and perhaps your neighbor's.
The spring season is now at hand
when everyone, business men as well
as housewives, will begin their annu
al spring cleaning. The winter's
cold and snow accumulates a lot of
rublsh and waste. In cleaning It out
of your premises do not throw it
where It will be a private or public
menace. If you want to burn it your
self, choose a CALM day for this task
it Is criminal carelesnes to start
a bonfire on a WINDY day. Watch
the fire closely until it is burned out.
Then. AFTER IT IS BURNED OUT
AND THE FIRE DEAD, throw mat
er on the ashes to be sure before you
leave it that the ashes are not even
warm.
Too much precaution cannot be
used in controlling bonfires.
We would further suggest that
you retailers In the future pay more
attention to your electric wiring. See
that no wires touch the wood, and
never hang an electric wire or cord
over nails, hooks, or any metal.
Where your wires run thru the cell
ing or wood partition, you should
see that they are protected by por
celaln tubes. See that the wires do
not hang loose but have theta sup
ported by porcelain bridges every
five or six feet, so as to keep your
wires, at least one Inch from the
wood. When it Is necessary for you
to rewire your place of business or
when building a new building, you
should have jour. electric wires put
In conduits.
You merchants should take this
matter up with your town councils
and see that they have all new wir
ing Inspected by competent men, as
at least CO per cent of the men doing
electrical work In the towns of the
state are Incompetent, and should
not be allowed to put 1 nthis work,
thereby endangering not only your
property but the property of the en
tire community.
Gasoline and. Kerosene are' dan
gerous explosives and ahould always
be treated as such. Great care must
oe used in handling and storing
them. So highly explosive Is gaso
line, that the only safe way to store
it In large quantities Is in safe, un
derground tanks, where the gasoline
can be run Into the tank thru a pipe
and pumped out as needed thru a
pump. This is not only the safest,
but the most economical way to
store it.
Under the Fire Commission law of
Nebraska it is a misdemeanor to
store or keep on hand gasoline In
any quantity, exceeding five gallons,
unless It is burled in safe under
giound tanks. When gasoline is
kept in quantities of 6 gallons or less
It may be stored in metal cans paint
ed red. It is best always to keep ev
en the 5-gallon can In an outbuild
ing. Kerosene or coil oil must be stored
and bandied with care. While gas
oline gives off a highly explosive va
por when exposed to air. it quickly
evaporates and disappears. Coal oil,
when spilled upon the floor, leaves
an oily, moist spot for weeks, and if
a match should drop on this oil soak
ed floor, a blare would quickly start.
Employes should be impteBsed
with the fact that you will not toler
ate careless habits In your store.
Smoking should be absolutely pro
hibited. If you see an employe throw a
match carelessly away, right then is
the time to reprove him.
Your supply of matches should be
kept In their proper places, and not
thrown anywhere about the store.
Advocate the use of Safety match
es and sell them to your customers
at every opoprtunity in place of the
Parlor match.
Several states have alerady passed
laws prohibiiing the manufacture,
sale or use of the dangerous Parlor
or "strike anvwhere" niAtch VV
, would recommend to the retail mer-
I . k ' 1 . I .
iun ui irurHBKa mai iney iaxe
the matter up with their representatives-elect
of the next legislature and
try and have a law passed for the
state of Nebraska that will do away
with the sale and use of the danger
ous Parlor or "strike anywhere"
match.
Upon receiving a supply of match--es
we would suggest to merchants
that they place them In a mettil re
ceptacle in a safe place where mice
and rats cannot set hi thm
As an advertising scheme we sug
gest that merchants purchase a sup
ply of metal boxes suitable to be
placed upon the walls in homes, and
then request their customers to place
or tack these boxes up in a conven
ient place, and OUT OF THE
REACH OF CHILDREN.
Last year in the state of Nehmnka
there were 68 Ures caused by "child
ren and matches." and there were
56 other fires caused bv "rarifaa.
ness in different ways with matches,"
ana prooaoiy 20 per cent of the 368
fires reported as unknown were caus
ed by carelessness with matches mak
ing a total of KNOWN causes by
matches of 124. and a nrohnhln tntal
of 200 fires caused by "carelessness
with matches" last year. These fires.
wun proper precaution on the part
of the retail merchants, could be
greatly reduced.
Fully '70 per cent of the Aroi
which occur not only in Nebraska
but In the United States, are du tn
carelessness. .Take for exanmle. the
number of fires occurring from care
lessness and reelect In thta aim
during the past year, and you will
readily see that most. If not all of
mem. could have been avoided if
due cae anu precaution had been
used:
Hot ashes carelessly thrown ....22
Bon-fires .... j;
boys smoking i
Stop left out of chimney hole ... 2
Curtains blowing against lamps or
candles g
Lighting fire with coal oil 4
carelessly thrown cigar or clj;ar-
eue siuos oe,
Filling gasoline stoves while light-
Ing, etc ni
Cleaning clothes with gasoline .. 5
Cleaning bed with gasoline 5
tiectric wiring defective 16
Lantern in barn 5
Heuting oil on stove ., 3
Pipe lighted in coat Docket . '
Durnlnu rubbish carelessly 4
Overturn ceil stoves and stoves with
no protection underneath ..i.31
Stove too close to wall , 8
Stove pipe hole filled with rags or
paper
Stove pipe run through wood roof
or partition j$
Hanging clothes too near a. itnv a
Smoking in bed 4
wost or these ores, if not all of
them, could have been prevented If
due care and nrecautinn hat- koon
exercised. Carelessness and irrespon
sibility on the part of our citizens Is
me cause ror most of the enormous
fire loss sustained bv this rnuntrv
and it is only by practicing constant
ly ana ever exercising care and pre
caution wherever fire dangers exist
that we can hope to reduce this ap
palling loss to the minimum.
You understand that whenever
your community suffers a fire loss
that you as business men and citiz
ens must pay that loss, as the insur
ance companies are but the collect
ors and distributors, and you must
pay them their expenses for collect
ing and distributing and a reasona
ble profit as legitimate merchant
One of the many explosive prod
ucts on the market la the "naptha"
stove polish. This polish is very In-
flnnimahl Th mnnnfunlnrnr km.'
tects himself by putting a caution on
each can, not to um the m.II!i when
there Ih a tire In the Move. House
wles frequently overlook this cau
tion, and the result Is many fires,
with severe Injuries from this dan
gerous article. Retail dealers can
refuse to handle and sell this ex
plosive article, or they can. at Irost,
discourage Its use by advocating a
non-inflammable stove polish.
Every store should be equipped
with good Fire Extinguishers. All
clerks should be taught how to use
them In case of fire. Be sure they
are good extinguishers approved by
the National Board of Fire Under
writers. Keep the aisles of your stores
clean from obstructions. Always
have an aisle or passageway In your
basements. In case of fire this
makes It easier for the firemen to
get through to fight the fire.
Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
must go hand in hand, the one al
ways working and on the alert to
prevent fires, the other always ready
to work when called upon. The Fire
Preventor must be an Indefatigable,
an everlasting worker. He has al
ways tasks to perform. The Fire
Fighter Is like the soldier, he may
rest a great deal of the time, but
must be ever at his post of duty to
await a call for help.
Fire Prevention is a wonderfully
wide and worthy subject to work up
on. It is of greater necessity and
more Importance than Fire Fighting.
If the retail merchants in towns
where they have a paid secretary
would appoint him to make a thor
ough inspection of the business
houses of the town at least four
times a year (we will furnish blanks
ror making these Inspections free of
charge), you would note a reduction
of your fire losses locally In a very
short time. We will assist you In
every possible way to compel busi
ness men, when they refuse to exer
cise due care and caution, to keep
their premises- free from fire dang
ers. STATE NEWS
At Ord the bond issue for a new
city hall lost by only twelve votes.
The firemen were much disappoint
ed. Water bonds and electric light
bonds carried but the city ball bonds
loBt. The plans were for a building
40x70, with aropl room for the fire
apparatus and a fine assembly room
with ail modern conveniences.' This
department, at their last regular
meeting, ordered suitable markers
for the graves of deceased members.
The department has a fine band.
"Quick work on the part of the
Osmond Vol. Fire Dept. saved from
destruction by fire the power plant
of the local electrlo light company.
Two lines of hose and one chemical
sufficed to extinguish ' the flames
which enveloped the entire interior
of the building and threatened to
destroy the entire plant. The cause
of the fire is unknown, hut It la
thought to have started from an ex
plosion of gasoline vapor In the air
from the Ignition spark on the en
gine." The Neligh fire department en
joyed a very pleasant evening on
April 11th at the home of Geo. Fer
guson, the chief. Games were the
principal amusement. At twelve o'
clock a fine three-course lunch was
served, which always takes well
with the firemen. They extend a
vote of thanks to Mrs. Ferguson.
Schuyler Department Notes
. On April 11th, at about uve-thirr
ty, p. m., the fire department was
called out to extinguish a fire at the
J. R. Overturf reslednce. The fire
caught In the roof, evidently by a
spark from the chimney. Very lit
tle damage resulted as the depart
ment responded very quickly to the
alarm and put out the fire before
it had gained any headway.
The Schuyler Volunteer Fire De
partment would like to hear from
some of the other departments using
wooden water mains, or that have
replaced them with permanent
mains and their experience relative
to the length of time that the wood
en mains wll last. Schuyler has
the old wooden mains which fir n-l-out
tvnty-two years old and tle-t-fore
w-uld like' some inf jrai;ulf..
irom other towns regarding treir
water m !.
On Tu.'iliV even Inc. Mart-h !:i-
the fire i'purlment came very miu-
ly oeing es.;ed out to extinguish a
fire in the home of w nu-.
The fire, which ahnWH v.,.
dence of being incendiary, was start-
tru o) pouring Kerosene on the stair
way ana an doors leadlnir tn th
stairway being closed. The fire
couia get no draught and therefore
smothered itself. Mr. Howe and
family were away at the time and
did 4iot learn of the attempi until
""j rtuurneu nome some h. . lat
er. Mr. liowp has suffered .t num
ber of losses from fire In me Just
three years and all of Incendisrv or
igin and this fire like all the t.rrs
was evidently started by the same
party.
On Monday, April 6th, the regu
lar monthly meeting of the Schuyler
Volunteer Fire Department was held
which proved to be a very enthusi
astic one. Nine new members were
enroled on the department books.
The proposition of installing a bet
ter system of locating a fire after
the alarm had been sounded, was
discussed. One system considered
was the Installing of a private tele
phone from the power house to the
city hall which would give Immedi
ate and uninterrupted service there
by assisting materially in exactly lo
cating and distinguishing any fire
which might occur. The President
appointed the folowlng committee
to take the matter before the city
council: Chief Severyn, Chairman;
Joseph J. Kublk and H. C. Smith.
The proposition of holding the
State Firemen's Tournament along
with the Colfax County Tournament
was alao discussed but on acount of
the Inexperience of the Schuyler de
partment In regar dto holding tourn
aments, It was decided that a com
mittee should be apointed to get
dnta from the different towns having
experience along that line and re
port at the next meeting. The fol
lowing are on that committee: C. C.
Watts, Chairman; Joseph Severyn,
Jr., Joseph J. Kublk and II. K. Klo
eppel. . . ,
The annual meeting Is held on the
first Monday In May and the consti
tution and by-laws call for an audit
ing committee of three members ap
pointed by the President one month
previous to the annual meeting to
examine and audit the books of the
Secretary and Treasurer at least one
week previous to the anual meeting
and report In writing at the annual
meeting, and the tui
members were appointed: Geo. F.
McKeneie, Chairman; E. E. Buresh,
Vice-Chalrman; and W. It. Luns
burg. After a general discussion,
the meeting was adjourned until
Monday, Moy 4th.
At a meeting of the Bloom field de
partment on March 25th, nine new
members were taken in, making in
all thirty-three members nearly all
of whom are young active members,
very capable of meeting all demands
necessary. At this meeting the de
partment was again divided into
three companies: Hose No. 1, Hose
No. 2. and Chemical. The Area am
so few in our locality that we hardly
ever get a cnance to try anything
new on them, owing to the consist
ent work of our fire chief who la
always on the Job with his Dutch
cleanser.
The Fullerton department elected
officers at their annual meeting. The
new officers are: Chief, Earl Bald
rldge, President, Marsh Castle; Sec
retary, Guy Ralph: Treasurer, John
Russell; Publicity Man. John C.
Chapman. After the meeting a fine
oyster supper was served.
The Kearney fire department will
have regular fire drills once each
month. These wll consist of a run
with the fire truck, coupling on, and
using the ladders. The department
has purchased new helmets' with
which they will be able to enter gas
filled rooms. These were paid for
by the city council.
The council had intended to pur
chase one helmet but the argument
presented that If the man with the
helmet should enter the burning
building and anything occur either
to the helmet or to his person, it
would be impossible for a second
member of the department to enter
the building in order to rescue him.
Wtth the two helmets two men can
enter the building and work togeth
er where many times one man could
not handle the work, especially If
the heavy water hose had to zbe car
ried into the building.
With the purchase of the helmets
he department will now be in a
position to fight any fire which might
occur in this city. The chemical at
tachment of the truck has proved to
be Invaluable and has saved much,
property from beln vater soaked.
With the helmets It will be possible
to save more property than before,
because in many cases the firemen
could not enter the building because
of the gas, and consequently the
water had to be turned on to ex
tinguish the fire.
The University Place denartmont
have received a new secretary's book
irom jonn Martin 01 Fremont. They
find it very useful and recommend
it for use bv all rienartmenta Ttist
have an air whistle completed and
in working order, having just instal
led a new electrical device for open
ing and closing the air valve.
The Geneva Fire Department was
unable to secure the new building
for housing the fire aoDarattia and
served the following notice on the
mayor and cjty council:
"Moved, that the Geneva Volun
teer Fire Department hereby give
notice to the mayor and city council
of the city of Geneva, Nebr., that
thirty days from this date, April 8,
1914, we will hand in our resigna
tion as a body as members of this
organization, the said resignation to
take effect immediately on its re
Do You Say
"Uho Arc You?"
When yon Lave made a
telephone cull and the
erson responds, or when
yon are answering the tel
ephone, why not at once
fmnonttce who you aiet
When you answer th
telephone, say, for exam- .
pie, "Atlams & Company,
Mr. Adams speaking.".
The old way of shouting,
"Hello!" is inelegant and
rather rude, and fortunately-
is fust becoming
obsolete.
Tell Viho You Are
Say who you are, at once, when telephoning.
That' the courteous, up-to-date method, elimi
nating abrupt aud meaningless tpiestions, get
ting right to the point, and starting the conver
sation the correct way.
The Smiling Voice Is the Winning Way.
NEBRASKA
ceipt. Y'ou are hereby requested to
give notice to the citizens of Genera
that they may take the necessary
steps to organize a new fire depart
ment. ' In connection herewith ire
wish to extend to those citizens wh
so cordially supported the efforts to
vote bonds wherewith to build a city
hall and the proper housing of the
city's fire fighting -apparatus as well
as those who have so earnestly ami
cordially supported this departments
gratuitous Work of fighting flree
within the city in the years past.
Seconded snd carried unanimous
ly. Signed by the
GENEVA VOLUNTEER FIRE
DEPARTMENT,
By Joseph Ertel, Secy."
NEBRASKA STATE
. 4 , FIRE PREVENTION
ASSOCIATION MXI.kTO
1. W. B. Dudley, Chr., Wayne
1 S. A." Fowler. Central City
: J. F. Dais. Tekamah
E. D.. McCall
H. J. Henderson
2. Fred Sebold. Chr., West Point
J.- L-' Thorburn, Minden
W. H. Elbourne, North Bend
. A. G. Evans
John Shlckley
3. J. It. Casebeer, Chr.. McCook
C. E. Seirken, Falls City
P. K. Walsh. Fairmont
Chas. Caldwell '
J. A. Rice
4. W. S.. Harding, Cbr., Friend
J. K. Morrison, Auburn
O. W. Chapln, Plattsmouth
W. C.- Lyle
C. R., Klgas
f. ,(; V. . Hendrlckson. Chr.. Hart
ington H. 11. Miller, St. Paul
R. F. Howe, Hold re (te
F. ..M. Pond
E. S. Freeman
C.'E. Babcock. W. I. Dallas. Chas.
Krueger, C. C. Martin, E. M. Schoen,
W. H. Steele, Columbia Fire Under
writers are not placed on any of
these committees. If the chairman
does not get the co-operation of hie
committee, he Is at liberty to call
upon any of the above for assist
ance., The Executive Committee requests'
that the chairman of committees ad
vise the Secretary stating the dates
for each and every inspection, and
it is the wish that all Inspections
should be made not later than May
15th. Inspection tickets and whea
slips are sent out. further Insula
tions as to the method of handling
inspections will be supplied.
None of these towns are very
large nor the work very heavy, and
we earnestly hope that the membeas
will take hold Immediately and de
the work . assigned. Copies of this
bulletin have been sent to all mem
bers. NEBRASKA STATE F1RB
PREVENTION ASflOCMTlO.
J', M; PMNM', secy;
IlKJ HESI LTS FROM FAIOl'
Build silos, milk cows, raise hogs,
grow corn and alfalfa, uBe your head
and work, are the essentials to suc
cess on a Box Butte farm according
to E. Gregg, an eastern' farmer who
settled six miles south of Alliance
three years ago.
Mr. Gregg brought forty-six Hoi
stein cows with him. He started to
milk as soon as he got located and
has been doing it ever since. His
cream check has averaged 8130 for
each month since he came here. Dur
ing the year 1912, he sold nearly
$1300 worth of hogs, lit the year
1913 be sold nearly $1600 worth.
He ht.s over fifty pigs at the present
time far roved by seven sows. He
raised all the corn he has fed his
bogs during the past two years and
in addition to raising enough to fill
the sllo that he erected soon after
he came. '
lie' has disposed of twenty-four of
the cows that he brought with him
ana an me steers ana at tne present
time bas'a herd of eighty-seven good
Holstein cows.
TELEPHONE COMPANY