IS Ll'MP.I'.R A CIvUMI'.? 



(I |!t 



(Hit. There are some sprinkler failuies, 

 in both fire proof and timbered build- 

 ings, due to defects of construction or 

 to accidents which cripple the equi])- 

 ment. hut the actual experience of fire 

 loss in thousands of sprinklered tim- 

 bered structures, carrying hundreds of 

 millions of insurance, is below one j^er 

 cent. As these buildings are mainh- 

 factory buildings, housing inflammable 

 n^aterials and operating machinery, all 

 of which contribute enormously to the 

 hazard, the record is a phenomenal one, 

 and the case is proved in favor of the 

 reasonable use of wood in structural 

 work. The great majority of fires start 

 in contents or equii)ment — not in the 

 structure. If all buildings were prop- 

 erly sprinklered, and the sprinkler 

 equipments properly maintained, there 

 would be no spreading fires, and conse- 

 quently no conflagrations. 



The fads of wired glass and metal 

 trim and furniture would be relegated 

 to the scrap heap, and buildings would 

 be livable and beautiful and economic, 

 and life and property would be safe 

 from fire. 



But that is the extreme. 



It is not necessary or desirable to go 

 that limit. It is only necessary to pro- 

 tect congested areas and values and 

 occupancies, leaving the small and mod- 

 erate hazards to the control of a fire- 

 fighting force of moderate, though 

 ample, size to subdue it. 



This condition can be established in 

 any city in a short time, and without 

 adding any burden not already borne. 

 It is what I have called "Normalizing" 

 a city — that is to say, reducing its haz- 



ards to a iKjrmal size, so that any pos- 

 sible loss would fall within the limits 

 of a profitable relation between cost of 

 construction, maintenance, protection 

 ■.\u(\ loss without disaster. 



We have no (|uarrel with those who 

 seek by fair means to sell competing 

 materials. We have no quarrel witli 

 those who seek by fair means to en- 

 lighten the public to a due sense of its 

 responsibility for fire waste. We have 

 no c|uarrcl with those who seek .to bring 

 ihe jniblic mind to a state of careful- 

 ness and caution in the matter of fire 

 hazard. 



We do not urge the exclusive use of 

 wood for all purposes. 



We do not object to reasonable re- 

 strictions upon unfit methods of con- 

 struction or use of materials. 



We do have a right to denounce a 

 false propaganda, which, to serve its 

 selfish ends, defames us and our indus- 

 try with reckless and unjustifiable mis- 

 statement of facts, and by playing u])on 

 the prejudices of the uninformed and 

 gullible portion of the public. 



We perform a service to the public 

 and to the great number of persons who 

 are engaged in collateral and related 

 industries when we do so, as well as to 

 cur own great host of citizens whom 

 we are proud to call our "fellow lum- 

 bermen." 



Wiiat we need is an unbiased and 

 competent investigation and report, un- 

 der the authority of the National Gov- 

 ernment, which will ascertain and dis- 

 close the facts in an adequate and trust- 

 worthy manner. 



QUEBEC'S LUMBER RESOURCES. 



'J lie timber resources of Quebec are oioruious, though yreatly diminished in past years 

 by forest fires. The privately owned timber lands comprise about 6,000,000 acres and are 

 able to supply 500,000 to 1,000,000 cords of zvood per aiuium for years to come. The Island 

 of Anticosti alone is able to produce 80,000 to 100,000 cords per annum for years, a good 

 portion of ■which, hoivever, zvill probably be converted into pulp in the near future, as a large 

 mill is now in process of erection there. Pulp mills are also in process of construction in 

 other parts of tliis district, so that the pulp industry, especially in this district, is hmiud t(> 

 zvitness a great boom in the near future. 



