76 BULLETIN 801^ U. S. DEPARTMEI^T OE AGRICULTURE. 



be cut in an emergency but will not be tampered with ordinarily. 

 Permission for closing a valve must be obtained from the person 

 responsible for fire protection whenever this is possible. In any case 

 the closed valve should be tagged conspicuously and a notice of tha 

 fact kept filed in the office during the entire time such valve is 

 closed, in so far as this is practicable. Never have both sources of 

 water suppl}^ cut off overnight; when making repairs, provide a 

 temporary connection. 



Fire doors should be closed at night and when not in use. There 

 should be occasional tests of sensitive closing devices for fire doors 

 and examination to see that fusible links are not painted or white- 

 washed. 



Oily waste should not be allowed to accumulate, as it is a potent 

 source of fire. It should be placed in a closed metal can kept near 

 the press for such waste. There should be no loose cotton on floors 

 or platforms. Conspicuous signs reading " No smoking " must be 

 posted and the order strictly enforced. No loose matches may be 

 permitted about the warehouses or premises. The premises must be 

 kept cleared of dry grass, weeds, and all kinds of loose rubbish. If 

 buildings or platforms are elevated, the space under them should 

 be closed in to prevent such accumulations under them. 



The management should avoid leaving cotton exposed overnight 

 as far as possible. When storage in open yards is unavoidable, the 

 bales should be separated into units not exceeding 3,000 to 5,000 

 bales with a clear space of 200 feet or more between such units. The 

 use of fire walls for dividing such areas is of little value unless the 

 area is covered by a noninflammable roof as fire brands and sparks 

 will be bloAvn over the wall. 



Employees should follow up passing locomotives near areas of 

 unprotected cotton to see that no sparks have started small blazes. 

 All ashes which are removed from boilers or heaters should be wet 

 thoroughly. The watch service should be checked up frequently 

 and made very thorough, 



SELECTION OF THE WAREHOUSE DESIGN. 



Selection of the design, type of construction, and forms of fire 

 protection for the warehouse must be made with a knowledge of 

 the business conditions existing and to be anticipated. This in- 

 volves the answer to five questions: (1) During what portion of 

 the year will the warehouse normally be filled to capacity and 

 during what portion of the year will the capacity be only par- 

 tially utilized and to what extent? (2) Will the deposits of cot- 

 ton be withdrawn in large or small lots — by individual bale orders 

 or in solid blocks? (3) Wliat will be the number of yearly "turn- 

 overs," or changes in the individual bales stored? (4) Will cotton 



