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WINNETKA WEEKLY TALK, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1922 . Municipal Column Edited by the Village Manager Is This Efficiency? Fire Prevention Week as desig- nated by proclamation of the gov- ernor of the state should remind us that America's fire loss has reached the proportions of a national calami-. ty and we are becoming a criminally careless people. Burning four or five hundred million dollars' worta of property every year has ceased to be a matter of no concern. Our increas- \ ing fire loss stands as a serious in- dictment of the American people. Our 1921 fire loss means that five hundred million dollars' worth of natural and created resources are wiped out of existence. There is a prevailing opin- ion that fire insurance companies in some mysterious way make good our loss by fire. The proceeds of a fire in- surance policy may reimburse the in- dividual for the loss he has sustained, but no amount of money can restore a burned structure. When a fire oc- curs everybody loses. The only answer which our conutry makes to its ever increasing fire loss is to add largely to its insurance premiums and to its fire departments, both in men and equipment. Today our fire departments are recognized as the most efficient in the world and well they need be. American travel- ers to foreign lands are prone to make rather uncomplimentary and facetious remarks with regard to the anti- quated fire fighting equipment main- tained by the European cities, en- tirely overlooking the fact that, while we have been busily engaged in in- creasing the efficiency of our fire fighting equipment, the American pub- lic has been even more busily en- gaged in increasing its' careless habits. We are today confronted with the lamentable fact that our country, with all its wonderful development and fire fighting force and equipment, has an annual fire loss of almost $5.00 per capita, whereas the foreign coun- tries with antiquated fire fighting equipment, but with careful habits, reinforced by severe personal liabili- ty laws, have an annual per capita fire loss ranging from 11 to 60 cents. The depletion of our resources by fire is in itself an exceedingly serious matter, but the seriousness of the financial loss is greatly exceeded by the seriousness of our loss of life due to fire. Our 1920 figures show that 15,219 persons were burned to death in the United States and 17,- 641 were serious injured. Eighty-two per cent of the dead and injured were mothers and children, and 92 per cent of the fires that caused these tateli- Tv ties were the result of carelessness or negligence. Carefully prepared sta- tistics indicate that approximately 80 per cent of all the fires occuring in the United States are preventable. It is high time that we turn the spotlight of publicity on our fire loss, make a careful study of the causes of our fires and map out a carefully prepared campaign of education, to the "end that the right-thinking peo- ple of this country may understand the seriousness of our fire loss and take proper steps to cut this loss to a minimum figure. This campaign of education should be followed by the enactment of rigid laws covering per- sonal liability for preventable fires, and these laws should be enforced to the letter, so that the irresponsible or evil-minded citizen will be com- pelled to eliminate preventable fires. It has been truly stated that a man who has a preventable fire, picks the pockets of his neighbors, either through a medium of fire insurance or an unjustified use of the public fire department which all' must support. It is equally true that the fire depart- ments are not maintained to protect a man from the results of his negli- gence. When he calls upon the city in any such case he should be made to pay for this service. No civilized country should expect its firemen to risk their lives in fighting fires which are easily _preventable. In many of the foreign countries, a man who has a fire must prove to the court that he KIPPY DANCE Saturday, October 21st Music By DR. WATSON ADMISSION 75c WINNETKA WOMAN'S CLUB was in no way responsible for the fire or he is subjected to a fine and the loss of his insurance. The time must come when the United States will enact laws covering personal lia: bility for preventable fires. The per capita fire loss in Winnetka during the year ending March 31, 1922, was $2.21, based on a population of 8,000. While this is considerably be- low the national average, there is still room for improvement. The Fire Department is making a strong effort to lower the loss for 1922-23 by con- ducting routine fire prevention in- spections, particularly in the busi- ness districts of the Village. A con- siderable portion of the time of the Chief of the Fire Department is de voted to this work. In addition, the Village recently distributed 1,500 copies of a circular of the National Fire Prevention Association, entitled "Clean Your Chimneys," giving prac- tical suggestions for avoiding un- necessary chimney fires. 'YOUTHFUL MARINERS STAGE BOAT RACES The Skokie school Yacht Club has accepted a challenge from the Yacht Club of the Frances W. Parker school, Chicago, to a competition and racing match. The challenge was accepted last Wednesday. The match will be held, if present plans are carried out, in the swim- ming tank of the New Trier High school. In addition to the races be- tween the model yachts that the boys have built there will be close compe- tition as to design and rigging of the boats. Although the motor boats will probably race in the New Trier tank it will be necessary to hold the meets between the sailing vessels out of doors. All of the yachts that will appear in the competition have been designed and constructed by members of the Yacht club, seventh and eighth graders. The Skokie Yacht club is one of the most prominent organiza- tions of the school. John West is 'commodore of the club, Walter Neu- bacher is vice-commodore, and Ariel Jewell is treasurer. Community Players Offer "Mrs. Bumpstead-Leigh" Playgoers of Winnetka are antic- ipating with keen pleasure the forth- coming appearance of the Community Players in the interesting three-act comedy-drama, 'Mrs. BumpsteadLeigh,' to be produced at Community House Thursday evening, November 2, at 8:15 o'clock. The Players of the Community Drama club are prepared to give Winnetka an evening of genuine en- tertainment upon the occasion of this production. Of particular interest at this time is a contemplation of the excellent cast of characters now rehearsing for the play. Those assuming prominent roles are: Mrs. H. P. Clarke, Mrs. Davies Lazear, Mrs. Luther Barber, Mrs. Louis Sherman, Mrs. Walter Johnson, Miss Helen Davis, Mr. Coran Davis, Mr. L. L. Buchanan, Mr. Ralph Var- ney, Mr. Humphrey, Mr. Harold Gil- son and Mr. Vernon M. Welsh. Woman's Forum to Hear Democratic Candidates The Illinois Woman's Forum is to give a luncheon at the Arts club, Chi- cago, Monday, October 16, in honor of the Democratic candidates for Con- gress who will give the addresses at the meeting. Those interested may secure in- vitations by communicating with Mrs. Frank R. Fuller, Indian Hill. Shrubs, Evergreens Perennials Grounds Planted Satisfaction Guaranteed Cut Flowers GREENWOOD NURSERY * "A. STACHEL, Prop. 290 Greenwood Axe., Glencoe Phone 155 OL EN NO B MRS. 0. SPEGEL MISS A. SANDVALL HN | | . « The New Service a. - We will fit your Children's Shoes and Rubbers in your own home » " We carry a full line of CHILDREN'S and WOMEN'S - » HOSIERY, also make KNITTED GARMENTS, n ® SWEATERS, CAPS, SCARFS, etc., =" | | to your measurements - m Phone Win. 1475 545 Provident Avenue 3 » " A \] LAKE FRONT HOME WINNETKA One of the most attractive lake front lots. Many beautiful trees. Size 150x500 feet. Think what this means--nearly 2 acres of the choicest residen- tial property near Chicago. Think how Chicago is growing. Think how Winnetka is developing. It is difficult for even the man of great vision to fore- see the future value of this property in the years to come. Certain it is that the value will be many thousands of dollars greater than at present. There is a very comfortable home on this prop- erty. There are ten large light rooms, four baths and a modern heating plant. Just the place to live in until the cost of building recedes. Then build your permanent home back near the water's edge. In valuing this property only a very nominal fig- ure was placed on the improvements. Price $65.000 McGUIRE & ORR Established 1894 Winnetka Office 541 Lincoln Ave. Phone Winnetka 672 Chicago Office 69 W. Washington St. Phone Randolph 2981 MAGAZINE AGENCY. specials: Saturday Evening Post, WILLIAM A. HADLEY Home Journal. Renewals and new Subscriptions to all Magazines solicited. Our Country Gentleman and Ladies' 913 OAK STREET Phone Winnetka 323 Winnetka - RR RR LR LR RL RR RRR RRR RR RR RRR RRR ERAT AL LH HH HH LE FL HF ER RAR RR FR ER RR LR ER Rh The Home of The 'Well Groomed Car Our Service is unexcelled, Our Storage is reasonable, Our Mechanics are thorough, Our Location is central, RICHARDSON'S GARAGE 724-30 Elm Street Winnetka PHONE 25-841 By way oi Apology-- We did not anticipate any such sponta- neous response as greeted our efforts to establish a bureau of roofing service. The delays occasioned by the volume of in- quiries received--coupled with the details accompanying the launching of a new enterprise--did not permit us in the past week to render service as promptly as we desired. Delay in installation of phone services forces us to apologize further to those who were unable to establish con- tact through this source. You will find us now, however, promptly and completely at your service. Teiephone Roofing Service Bureau 364 Ridge Ave. at Lake St., Wilmette E. J. KEIL H. A. McCANNA Welch's Cafeteria Wilmette -- is busy all the time Why? Because We give you quality in the food--and our place is nice and clean. Utmost care is exercised in the preparation of the food--What more could be done? Your Patronage is Appreciated Dine Today the Cafeteria Way