New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-14
point we shall have made long stride 'o""fu
administrative reform.
LOSSES BY FIRE.

ollv sustaining by fires formed subject OF dis
cussion. A comparison with European losses
of this kind has frequently been made Ihere
are different sources for this calculation anu
the results do not entirely agree; but WHICH
over way it is reckOned, the percentage Oh
nroperty lost by fire in this country Is ut least
five times greater than in Europe. Our IN
fcrior methods of building and far more con-
slant Use of pine wood are doubtless "a
chief occasion for this enormous difference
There are other causes of nearly equal import
ance. But the essential point for the public to
observe Is, first, that the great excess OF fires IN
this country proceeds from causes that are pre-
ventible secondly, that the losses 1t lnlcts
fall on the whole community, and make every
man, woman, and child in it poorer.
The large proportion which fires OF lncen-
diary origin bear to those strictly accidental, Is
not suspected outside Of insurance companies.
Even they in the vast majority OF cases can
only suspect, while they are paying the losses.
The evidences of inccndiary attempts that
find their way into the courts, and the
instances OF actual detection in arson are prob
ably only triling percentage OF the whole.
Yet the severity with which the laws are en-
forced in these cases has marked influence
in diminishing the frequency of the crime,
while mistaken leniency of juries or Judges
increases it. A study of the statistics which
insurance companies compile reveals some
curious facts that can only be explained upon
The theory that inccndiary fires are numerous.
Thus il is observed that yc-ycar policies cover
twice as many losses in their first AS in any
succeeding year. This looks as though the
in tIa frat of lplIbpr-
ately taken with view to burn the premises
insured. In periods Of business depression,
when it is difficult to sell merchandise at a
profit the daily list of fires steadily increases.
If at such times the money market is stringent
the increase becomes very marked; but IL one
or two leading merchants fail the number OF
fires suddenly diminishes. This is explained
on the supposition that when men see no other
way out of their difficulties they take to burn
ing their goods but if failures are prominent
or general, there is not much disgrace and
great deal less risk in the alternative of bank
ruptcy.
The loss by an incendary fire is usually
much greater than by ole not Intentionally
caused. In the one case accident determines
whether valuable property shall be burned; in
the other. careful measures are taken to secure
the destruction of that which has been esteemed
at least worth insuring. The necessity of con-
cealng the fact that the premises were set on
fire, causes the criminal TO arrange matters so
that the flames shall gain good Roadway before
they are detected, in order to burn up all
traces of lis guilty act Where the property
insured in worth very much less than the m
surance, thoroughly destructive fire, involving
total loss, is requisite to hide the real state OF
affairs There are fully the average
chances that the flames will communicate
to adjoining premises and occasion damage by
fire and water. plus that which The incendary
endeavors to make as speedy and thorough as
possilLc He is q fool for his pains if he
does MT make big fire. 1t is estimated that
not less than three-tenths of the losses paid by
insurance companies thus arise. Putting the
figures together, we may estimate that out OF
every 500 lost by fire, 500 is about as much
as is fairly due to the chapter of probabilities;
$50 il the work of the nccndiary, and $50 is
the result OF defective building the storage
and use of infammabe articles, and sheer
carclessness ihat would not be expected in any
other country. The superfluou3ly heavy loss
enters into and adds to the cost of everything
we use. wear drink Or eat it adds itself to
fines harder. This is matter of interest to
the public but not to the Insurance COM
panies fires that do not burn up half a town,
really benefit the underwriters, by giving them
more business and enabling them to charge
higher rates.
Let it not be supposed, however, that so
large a percentage of inccndiary fires indicates
an equal proportion of dishonesty among in
IL
surers. Perhaps not one in hundred OF those
Who insure ever has any experience OF fire; but
if he does his appreciation Of Insurance suddenly
rises. A recent instance may serve to illustrate
this. A worhingman in Brooklyn had by close
saving brought together enough to build Il
little shop "of his own 1t cost him more
than he had calculated to build and stock it
| end when a neighbOr sent 10 him the agent of
an insurance company and advised him to take
policy, he became indignant. 1t seemed he
said as If everybody wanted him to pay out
some more money. The neighbor took
kindly interest, however, and pressed the insur-
ance. The policy was issued, the money to
pay for it being borrowed of the friend who
urged it, A week afterwaTd the adjoining
premises took fire one morning, and the new
shop was burned to the ground before the first
stream of water could be turned on When,
shortly after the fire, the amount OF his policy
for the total loss was handed to the penniess
workman. his neighborly friend and the insur-
ance agent were standing by. He turned to
them with tears in his eyes and said, not irrev-
ercntly, :" Ii seems to me if the good God
sent you to me and made you force me to
:" take that policy of insurance"
| EFFECT or THE ONO ELECTION on GOLD.
The question will perhaps he asked, how it