Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-12-08
Letters From the People.

MIR. EDIToR-I have always felt a
great interest in the county and State
enterprises, ventilated from time to
time through the columns of your pa
per, such as our public road system and
the like, but one interest Of vast i'm
portance to your readers seems to ha. e
been overlooked to which desire to
call their esp cial attention. I alude
to the subject of fire insurance and the
protection at present afforded to our
citizens against the devouring element.
Tie theme appears to me to be particu-
larly appropriate at this time the atten
ton of ON people having been recently
directed to ecnnomic questions, by the
discussion OF The subject of tariff dur
ing our late political campaign. Much
WAS then said as your adeIs are aware,
about excessive taxation and the nects-
sity of riddlng ourselves of the cOmbi
nations aud trusts that existed to the
detriment and injustice OF the great
body of The people. Enough WAS SAID
surely to cause every tux payer TO think
soberly Oh the subject and to inquire
now that we have come back again to
our business avocations and employ
ments. If some relief cannot be afforded
us..and TO your correspondent none his
been more suggestive than relief from.
the trust which exists in tie shape OF
fire Insurance. Can we insure at BITTER
rates and lave better protection against
LOGS or damage by fire are surely ques-
tions to which no tax payer can be in
different. l assert that our property
can be insured at less than one-half the
present cost by organizing a mutual fire
a ssociation and CAL uron our citizens
therefore, to do so, and keep in their
midst the enormous sums Of money paid
annually to foreign fire insurance CON-
panes. In this connection, for the
purpose of giving your readers an idea
of the large amount which is being pain
yearly by them FOR fire insurance, beg
leave to state that some months age I
had occasion to write to the president
of one of the companies which is draw
ing so heavily upon our people FOR fire
insurance, and in response to the qnes-
ton, "IIow is Your Company dHing2"
replied. ''ve'y velour net profits last
month were $20.0oO-or annually in the
aggregate about $40, 600. rs it strange,
in view of the fact, that the stock of
the company is alta premium from 25 to
40 per cent? And is it not time for our
people who contribute largely to the
amount,t to stop and inquire if they can
not insure at less cost, and besi(les keep
! their money at home In the manner pro-
posed? The plan of insurance advoca
ted is surely Il practical one. Similar
organizations in successful operation in
Worcester and Somerset counties, Nd,
for more than 90 years have done-more
than 81 100000 Of business. paid all
losses and have handsome sum in
hand for future liabilities. Can we
not do as they have done and thereby
rid ourselves Of the present runous
rates of insurance? The writer begs
leave to state further, that he has in his
possession all the Necessary data for the
organization ola MUTUAL Fire Associa-
tion in Accomac and N Northampton and
WILDE glad to correspond with anyone
interested in the matter.
ACCoTIN.
TemperancevilIe, Dec. LIST.