76 BULLETIN 801, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF 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 the 
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 supply 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. 
Oity 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 blown 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) What will be the number of yearly "turn- 
overs," or changes in the individual bales stored? (4) Will cotton 
