Bastrop Advertiser and Bastrop County News (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. [123], No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 11, 1976 Page: 3 of 14
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Bastrop (Texas) Advertiser. November* 11. 1976
PI*.)
Washington
Report
Tips To Protect Rural Homes From Fire
J.iUaehctie
grams were started in the
past two years.
This fact may seem odd
because all indicators point to
the bet that we need more
houses, and we need to
the housing construction
fortunately has not suffered
the housing slump as has the
rest of the nation, but we
have felt the* effects of the
recent problems Cuing the
housing industry.
There are some very
disturbing statistics that can
be cited detailing our housing
problems. One shows that the
American family can no
longer afford to own a home.
The average home cost
$25,900 in 1968. The 1976. the
average home cost $43,000.
In our urban areas, the
average figure is much
higher. Eighty percent of the
American families cannot
afford to buy at these prices.
Other statistics show the
employees and the manage-
ment people in the housing
industry are suffering, which
in turn means problems for
the rest cf the economy. The
latest figures show that
housing starts have fallen to
their lowest levels since 1946.
This means that nearly 20
percent of the construction
workers nationwide did not
have jobs in 1975. The figure
still hovers around 16
percent.
The 94th Congress did
address this problem, and it
was hotly debated. For
example, in the tax code,
Congress tried to provide
initiatives for people to buy
houses, and Congress reject-
ed any tax law changes
affecting the home mortgage
deductions.
A major lull was vetoed
because it would have been
too costly.
The Congress did pass a
law that authorized the
Department of Housing and
Urban Development to pur-
chase $10 billion worth of
home mortgages.
Another bill, S.848, in-
creased loan guarantees on
mobile homes and increased
the *"■" guarantee limits for
multi-housing projects since
mare and more urban
families are living in condo-
miniums and co-ops.
but the fact is that we still
have a housing crisis, both in
terms of the individual
looking far a home and in
terms cf the industry. It is
important that we develop a
simple, but comprehensive
federal housing policy, and a
steady flow of credit to the
housing industry. This must
be done before embarking on
any big; expensive federal
housing construction pro-
en THE WATER PTCSSUME 0« YOU* - * 8MDEN
U6H MWSSUME TO HEACH THE ROOF OFFERS THE BEST
a locked can am «m '
■ m ■
STARTS
November 11-24
Tremendous Saviags
ON
FALL mb WINTER
MERCHANDISE
HMVUH
HfipPvi
-Truly i
■id is die man who
60,000 fires burned homes
nrf UnH throughout rural
Texas during the first two
months of this year. A Texas
Fewest Service estimate
based on a statewide survey
of volunteer fire depart-
ments, this amounts to one
fire for every 2,500 acres. If
you're a rural landowner that
hasn't b«-en affected by fire, it
may not be long before you
are.
These figures point out
that rural fires are more than
a menace, they're a fact.1
Light construction of homes,
'*ck of water, flammable
vegetation surrounding such
homes, and inadequate fire-
fighting equipment all con-
tribute to the problem. The
Texas Forest Service assists
and trains some volunteer
fire departments through the
Rural Fire Defense Program,
but many other rural
communities are still ill-
trained and equipped to fight
fires. In spite of these
problems, a few precautions
can reduce the hazard > of
rural fires.
"Water, water every-
where, but where is it when
you need it?" is a common cry
of volunteer firemen. Lack of
water is a serious problem in
fighting rural fires. The old
well house is probably the
most available source of
water, but can it be of value
in fighting fires? If your
pump puts out more pressure
than a squirt gun, the answer
is yes. The next time you've
got your garden hose out, aim
the nozzle toward the top of
your house and turn on the
water fuIL If the stream of
water hits the top of the
house, you're in good shape.
If it doesn't, you'll be in
trouble for more than getting
the clean windows wet.
Speaking of the garden
hose, take a second look at
yours. Is it coiled neatly,
hooked to the faucet with
nozzle available and ready for
use? If yours is like many
folks', tied in knots, full of
holes, and fifty feet from the
nearest faucet - it won't do
much good in an emergency.
Most pumps run off of
electricity nowadays. Look
sometime to see where the
power line runs to the pump.
If the line runs from your
house or other buildings,
think of what would happen if
the fire you were trying to
extinguish were in that
building. Power would be lost
. * the pump, and you'd be
looking for the old water
barrel. A power line run
on separate poles to the
pump house is a safer bet.
After the fire department
arrives, they often need more
water to extinguish a fire
than they're carrying. Ponds,
streams, and stock tanks are
sources of water. The easier
the access to this water, the
quicker they will put the fire
out. Help them out ahead of
by providing access with
good roads and gates to the
nearest source of water. A
locked gate is like a picture
window. You can see, but
you've got no way to get
through. If your gates are
kept locked, provide a key to
your local volunteer fire
department. Taking precau-
tions to have adequate water
means quick defense against
fire.
On a more positive note,
let's look at some measures
that will help prevent fires. A
common cause of fires in
rural Texas is careless
trashburning. Sure, burning
trash may be the only
practical way of disposing of
it in the country. Especially if
your county doesn't have a
Umffill for garbage disposal.
But all too often trash is
burned carelessly and ends
up burning the "back 40" - or
worse. You wouldn't water
your lawn during a rain-
storm. Likewise, there are
times to burn your
trash than during windy, dry
weather.
When there is more trash
and dry vegetation outside
the trash barrel then inside,
you're for trouble.
Keep the area around the
trashburner free of flam-
mable materials. Do the same
thing around the house or
other buildings. Dry shrubs
and grass, and highly
flammable trees such as
cedar or yaupon, can ersily
spread a brush or grass fire
to a house or building if they
Smrtliville Airman
Made Lieutenant
Wichita, Kansas: The son
of a Smithville couple has
achieved the rank of first
lieutenant in the U. S. Air
Force.
Lieutenant Barry C. Bo-
gart, whose parent* are Mr.
and Mrs. E. M. Bogart of 801
Mils, is a KC-13S Strato-
tanker co-pilot at McConnell
AFB, Kansas, and serves
with a unit of the Strategic
Air Command.
The lieutenant, a 1970
graduate of Smithville High
School, received his bache-
lor's degree in 1974 from
Texas A&M University,
where he was commissioned
through the Air Force
Reserve Officers Training
Corps program. -
Lieutenant Bog art's wife.
Carol, is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. G. L. Johnson of
14702 Bramblewood,
Houston.
YOUR 1976
If you're not already covered by a retirement plan, open
an IRA account at Austin Savings before December 31st.
Deposit up to $ 1,500.00 without having to pay income
taxes on it. And then watch your insured savings earn tax
deferred interest, compounded daily, for higher yield.
Call the experts at Austin Savings before December 31st
and say you want to "Retire Rich" and save on 1976 income
taxes. But hurry, time is running out.
AAu^TUl SAVIN6S
im huc
We're the largest jecause we work harder for more people.
are too dose. Sparks from a
flue or a chimney might catch
this type of vegetation on
fire.
These are a few sugges-
tions and precautions to
protect homes. Detailed
information on fire safety can
be obtained from local fire
departments. Your active
support of volunteer fire
departments will make rural
Texas even safer from fire.
Are Honored
On Thirtieth
Annrnnaiy
Mr. and Mrs. Baykxn
Jacobs were honored with a
surprise dinner on their 30th
wedding anniversary, Satur-
day evening. November 5, at
the Macedonia First Baptist
Church cafeteria, given by«
their daughter, Mrs. Patricia
Matthews of San Antonio.
Mrs. Matthews was assisted
by Mrs. Itasca Sampson. The
menu included turkey with
dressing, ham, and all the
trimmings.
The tables were decorated
for the occasion with burning
red and green candles, pearl
glassware, and fruit in a large
decorative ceramic bowl,
belonging to Mrs. Etta
Henderson.
Lime punch was served
from an antique crystal bowl,
in antique eupa, which were
part of an antique collection
belonging to Mrs. Arretta
Jackson.
Guests for the dinner were
relatives, including their
pastor. Reverend C. A.
Williams, Mrs. Alice Wil-
liams, Miss Sylvia Tarver,
Mrs. Etta Henderson, Mrs.
Mary Ann Wallace, Mrs.
Itasca Sampson, Mrs. Julie
Faye Manning, and Mrs.
Willie Lee Manning of
Houston, Theodore and Mag-
gie Alexander, Henry Cahon,
Jr., Mrs. IsabeD Meshack,
Mrs. Inez Staples, Mrs.
Jeanette Powell and Mr*.
Arretta Jackson.
Mr. and Mrs. Jacoba are
members of Macedonia First
Baptist Church. Mrs. Jacoba
is president of Mission I and
general president of aO
mission auxiliaries of the
ehirch. She is a licenced
beautician. Mr. Jacobs ia a
retired carpenter and plum-
ber'* helper.
\ —Mary Ann Wallace
SENIOR CITIZENS
VWT AUSTIN
The La Grange and
Bastrop CCA Senior Citizen
Organization had a picnic in
Zilker Park in Austin. They
also visited the flower garden
center at the Johnson
Libr**"*
DANCE
American Legion
Hail
smithville
Sat, Not. 13th
Music By
Mid-Night Owls
Time 9.1
LADIES
SPORTSWEAR
!/> OFF
BLOUSES a
VALUES TO flCOO
V\ OFF
ONE GROUP
90 :
$12
PANTS
10% OFF
All Lodtw
SWEATERS
$11.00 TO «MA0
20* OFF
*"■? iffy«M. I m I
1MM
COATS ,
Ml
ft
Vafaaa $10.00 To $78.00
-.-jr
OFF
bobbie brooks
Jr. Sportswear
Pants $24.. Vest $18.
Blouse $18., Skirt $21.
Jackets $39.
V* off
men's leather look
J AC K E TS
Reg. $S&00 To $45.00
15% off
Sedgefield Wrangler
Men's Jeans
And Jackets
one group
Vx PRICE
'■S r\.
: t h
S
ladies
SHOES
entire stock
m $13.00 T $34.00
m
Men's Leisure Shirts
VALUED TO $30100
NOW $888
ill
®7,
Mann Jeans
ALUES TO $13.00
V$ OFF
Boy's Track Shoes
$6.00 VALUE
<3
BLANKETS
$•100- 3SJ0- $*00
Va OFF
ASSORTMENT OP
Bath Towels - Hand
Vl MICE
FREE GIFT WRAP
J. Fox Dept. Store
1005 Main St
K
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Standifer, Amy S. Bastrop Advertiser and Bastrop County News (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. [123], No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 11, 1976, newspaper, November 11, 1976; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth391059/m1/3/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Bastrop Public Library.