Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-03-06
OBSER VER,S NOTES.


zens, have paid out for the past
twenty years as premiums to Fire
Insurance compaties? And then,
look back over that same space of
time and see how small and few the
losses have been. We have been
looking the subject up a little lately
and find that there is paid annually,
to the various Insurance companies
represented in our city, an average
of fola' thousand dollars as prem
iums. Multiply this by twenty and
you have the sum of eighty thousand
dollars that have been sent from our
city in the twenty years. From the
best resources obtaiuable we com.
pute that the losses paid in that
time have not exceeded ten thousand
dollars But some one suggests that
because we have been so fortunate
in the past is no proof that - will
have the same luck in the two saore
years to come. True Aud yet, why
not? Our business houses are sub.
stantially built, with good, large fire
fiues. Our resident property is in
like manner, well protected and in
general isolated from its neighbor,
so that our risks are especially good
and safe; and with the precaution
Of the past it is no Wild assertion
to make:-that we have faith that
the percentage of loss for the next
decade will not exceed that of the
past. If so, what is the necessity
of sending out Of town so much
money to foreign companies when
it may be kept at home? The fact
is: that country towns and cities are
made TO pay for the hazardous risks
of the larger cities. What may be
said of this city is about equally
true of the towns and cities of Iowa,
Lafayette and Grant counties. 1t
is a long time since any very dis
astrous fire has occurred in this
territory Why not, then, have a
home company for southwestern
Wisconsin? Get together repre-.
sentative men of Lancaster, Platte.
vile, Dodgeyille, Darlington aud
this city, and organize stock com
pany as provided for by the laws of
our state, and we have no doubt that
if it be put upon firm foundation
and ofiicered by men of integrity
and standing in their respective
counties that it would be a grand
success, and one that would furnish
insurance at cheaper rate than is
now being required. Who will take
the initiative step in this matter?
N##
What has become Of that Mer-
chants Protective Union established
by our merchants some time ago?
Don't you remember a fellow came
along and after collecting three
dollars from each firm, swore us all
in and put us under oath never toI
sell to a dead beat, and gave us a
recipe how to tell one when we saw
him? And then how fororn the
dead beats Of our city looked as they
perceived the blue prospects before
them? We were to meet once
Ionth to compare notes and report
those who had "saIted" US We each
started out with a good long black
list, and for a while IT looked fine,
but somehow for the past six or
nine months nothing has been heard
Of our organization. Isn't'it about
time to elect officers? Can't we get
together and do something good
oyster supper wouldn't 60 very bad
anything to wake us up and keep
the institution alive. The organiza-
ton can be of great service in pro
noting many things Of value to the
business interes cf our city. It's
whole duty is not that OF kicking
The oroadside II a dead beats pan
1t should have other mo-
Lives and be the leading spirit in the
Of any enterprise that
will build up the town and increase
trade. Mr.. President! where are
you? Wake up. and call meeting
WANTED Good young men with