Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-04-28
MAfHal assurance against
TIRE ON bs:fld:mgs.
By those who were 3D.

posed 10 this philanthrcpc institution, has been
held our, that if large FIRE was TO happen at
Norfolk, 1t would ruin the members Of the 50 CT
ETY.. Now there has great hrc as possibly
could be expected. taken ilace--ard including the
several FIRES which have occurred in Berkeley,
Frederick, Spotsylvania, Louisa. Prince George
and Gloucester still one Quota, that is. one pre-
MUM the same paid on entering is sulhc lent to
req enish the funds: this shews that what thcy
advance is faiIacious. Notwithstanding ths en-.
ormous destruction at Norfolk, the society has
funds enough 10 pay every one Of the sufferers;
and the Quota which the members pay now, forms
complete fund TO answer against future losses
which may insure hem for many Years to come,
perhaps tor ever AS the insurance is increa sing
the funds will be strong, thar great losses in
decd must happen before another Quoa be ne
cessary-thc interest will be so considerable that
it in a few years no great losses happen. it will
augment the funds rapidly, independent of the
new insurances which no doubt " i'll be made
The society has been extraordinary unfcrtu-
nate; if all the houses in the state had been affect
ed in The same ratio it would be a, the rate Of
upwards Of 5000 houses per annum in this state.
Now as il is well known, that OH an averape
throughout The state hardly than fifty build
ings per annun burn---ths shows that This s,ci-
ely has in the most extraordinary manner been
afiiided; therefore il is REASONABLE to hope thar
in future the losses will not be so great as they
! have been, but that they will he much less. AS
the system is now, and will be better understood
the insurance no doubt will keep increasing /,
is dcyouuy TO be wished that the people would
rise en- masse and insure ali (Which in time they
WHY; there being upwards OF four hundred
thousand buildings III thi. state, the contribution
would then be mere triGe, perhaps not more
nan ten or fifteen cents for each house per an
mum. On an average of years haroi, more than
one out OF every ten thousand houses is yearly in
this state Destroyed by hre-thcn so Is the insur-
ance increases, the funds augnien, as ore 10 thir
ty three and the risk increases only as one 10 ten
thousand.
SoNe complain of paying Quota, but thew
ought to consider tina; we cannot always prevent
hres, and that their own houses might have been
Included. Notwithstanding the enormous and
extrSoi binary losses, cannot the great hard
ship complained of-when a man who owns a
brick house iii the country, worth one Thousand
doilarf, who entered in the beginning of the in
surution, paid on entenng nine shillngs per hun.
dred dollars, then he has been insured going on
nIne years, of course at the rate of one shilling
per lOO dollars year fer the Quota he paid is
or will only be absorbed by the FIRE which hap-
pened last February when abroad it would have
cost him upwards of Fifty fur shillings during
that period Then taking even the premium, and
Quota together makes il only three per cent.
when abroad he would have pad 9 per centum
and how much more pleasing is it that We keep
the money here, and succour cur unfortunate fei.
low citizens. Considering the dreadful calamity
which ragged a. Norfolk, whereas he tender heart
who would not cheerfully contribute TO aid those
unfortunate people, and the more so when by that
contribution they do charitable .a, and secure
at the same time their own property
w. F. Asst.
Richmond, April %. 1904.
" I,be Printers an ibis state zpiH no doubt in
seyt ibe abOve in their papers jor The inflammation of
toe PH!ic at large and tbe members Of tbe society N
particular