, 1876-02-07

We print this morning a roYiew OF the fires
in Chicago during tho yenr 1878. 1t will be
scon TINT tho aggregate losses during tho
twelve months ending Jan. 81, 1876, WINS
only Sl57,000, Of which moro than half, or
Soso, 600, was in WAHL's gluo factory in Feb
ruary last. OF this total loss, but $217,000
was covered by insurance. Tho property on
which these losses occurred WIS insured for
$t,80t, 900, but tho portions destroyed which
wcro insured at all only embraced 92l7,-
OUO.
The aggregate insurance in tho City Of Chi
cago il probably in the neighborhood of
s2o0, 1000, 600, aud tho receipts thcrofrom
5000, 900. Tho insurab1o property, includ-
ing stores, warehouses, factories, dwellings,
md othor buildings and their contents, havo
valuo npproxir,atlng TINT of tho land.
Much Of this escapes taxation, and henco tho
land bears generally moro than Its propor-
ton Of tax, because It is oil visible aud is
moro roadiy asscsscd. The total taxes on
this property are probably S3,0o0,ooo. Tho
property insured III this city pays
probably rs much for TINT insurance
rs tho same property pays for tazcs,-
stato, city, county, and other purposes, that
is to say, about S3,000,0o0. Regarding in
earance premiums as o tax, tho public aro rs
Interested in having low rates Of insurance rs
in low taxes. THO figures given Of tho losses
by 1re in Chicago furnish their own common
tary. The insurance busineas in this city in
1875 was ncnrly NIL clear profit, and in this
respect was moro 80 thnn in any other great
city Of tho United states. Thero hRs been
| during tho Inst six months an abatement in
| tho rntes of insurance, but thoro Is room for
still further large reduction.
! Tho City of Chicago has done much within
tho Inst two years in providing proventivea
against fire and means to extinguish it. The
distribution Of water by minis and immense
feeders, by reservoirs aud inexhaustible Tanks,
has been on the largest scale. There is no
part Of tho city where thero is
not an abundance Of wator. In July
noxt tho second water-works will 10 in
operation, and tho two 1alo tunnels vii
contribute supply such as is furnished tt
no othcr city in the United States. Whor
these second works aro in operation, SO com
plote will bo the water supply, and 30 suf
ficiont tho mcana provided for it's use il
case Of fire, TINT it mny be safely assu1nes
TINT no fire can hnre moro than very limite'
sweep. Even In tho southwestern part Q
tho city, whore tho lumber yards and IL
framo buildings aro thickost, tho mems 0
extinguishing fire will bo such by ncx
summer as to give positive assurance TINT thcr
can DO no extended oonAagration. It is con
sidered TINT these new works, when in op
grafton, will DO equal to any demand for tn
extinguishnent OF fires, no nntter how o
under what circumstances they mny originate
Had there boon such mems at hand in 1871
even tho fire. Of TINT yenr could havo boo
arrested and confined to tho locality where
originated.
Under these circumstances, Chicago is d
ready field Of ripo harvcsta for ins11l
anoo men; and in tho near future, with il
completed arrangements for preycntiyes au
projections against fro, this will bo the mos
profitable insurance district in the countr,
and therefore justifying great reduction {
| rates to tho minimum standard Of BafctY,