Smyrna times., 1875-10-20
Losses by Fire.

Losses Dy flr6'
AT the two insurance conventions which |
recently met in New York city, the heavy |
losses which the people of tho United
States are continually sustaining by fires
formed a subject Of discussion. A COM
parison with European losses of this kind
has frequently been made. There are
different sources for this calculation, and
the results do not entirely agree; but
whichever way it is reckoned, the percent
age of property lost by fire in this country
| is at least five times greater than in
Europe. Our inferior methods of build
ing and far more constant use of pine wood
are doubtless chief occasion for this
enormous difference. There are other
causes of nearly equal Importance. But
the essential point for the public to OBJ
serve is, first, that the great excess Of fires
in this country proceeds from causes that
are preventible; secondly, that the losses it
inhicts fall on the whole community, and
make every man, woman and child in it
poorer.
The large proportion which fires of in
cendiary origin bear to those strictly acci-
dental, is not suspected outside of in
surance companies. Even they in the vast
majority of cases can only suspect, while
they are paying the losses. The evidences
, of incendiary attempts that find their way
; into the courts, and the instances Of actual
detection in arson are probably only a
} trifing percentage of the whole. Yet the
severity with which the laws are enforced
) in these cases has u marked influence in
diminishing the frequency of the crime,
while mistaken leniency of juries or
. Judges increases it. A study of the statis-
: tics which insurance companies compile
l reveals some curious facts that can only
+ be explained upon the theory that incen-
+ diary fires are numerous. Thus it is OBJ
Y served that five-year policies cover twice as
< many losses in their first as in any succeed
n ing year. This looks as though the excess
c in the first year was of policies deliberately
It taken with view to burn the premises
II insured. In periods of business depression
e when it is difficult to sell merchandise at a
9; profit, the daily list of fires steadily III
d creases. If at such times the money
o market is stringent the increase becomes
d very marked; but if one or two leading
s, merchants fail the number of fires suddenly
d diminishes. This is explained on the sup
y. position that when men see no other way
N out of their difficulties they take to burnin.
n H,,4 g fni1t,roc
re or general, there is not much disgrace anC
a great deal less risk in the alternative O
bankruptcy.
" The loss by an incendiary fire is usuall
is much greater than by one not Intentionally
to caused. In the one case accident deter
be mines whether valuable property shall
as burned; in the other, careful measures ar
10. taken to secure the destruction of tina
IS which has been esteemed at least wort
,ly insuring. The necessity of concealing tn
he fact that the premises were set on fir,
us causes the criminal to arrange matters S
he that the flames shall gain good headwa
on before they are detected, in order to bur
ne up all traces of his guilty act. Where I'll
er, property insured i'll worth very much lie
sh- than the insurance, a thoroughly destructi1
he fire, involving total loss, is requisite to hiC
to the real state of affairs. There are full
ant the average chances that the flames w
his communicate to adjoining premises al
uld occasion damage by fire and water, pl
ere that which the incendiary endeavors
uld make as speedy and thorough as possib
ept He is a fool for his pains if he doesn't NAL
oto- a big fire. 1t is estimated that not lC
no than three-tenths of the losses paid by {
] insurancecom panies thus arise. Puttingt
the figures together, we may estimate that o
red of every 800 lost by fire, $50 is about
of much as is fairly due to the chapter
IONS probabilities; $50 is the work of the incC
zen diary, and $50 is the result of defect
bed, building, the storage and use OF intiamn
oto- BILE articles, and sheer carelessness Il
would not be expected in any other cot
try. The superAuously heavy loss enters il
old, and adds to the cost Of everything we u
two wear, drink or eat; it adds itself to the
pack pense of living, and helps to make hG
owd times harder This is matter of inter
two to the public, but not TO the insuraI
re o companies fires that do not burn up
the town, really benefit the underwriters,
long giving them more business and enabl
here them to charge higher rates.
Let it not be supposed, however, that