The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-01-12
PLAN FOR RELIEF.

This office receives many appeals for
help from brethren who lose property
by fire and stock by disease.
At present there is no we'll defined
plan to alleviate this distress in the Al
lance. Several very excellent plans
have been published III THE PROGRESS
SIvE FARMER. We think the problem
has been solved and some plan will
soon be adopted. At present it depends
on voluntary contributions. Many Al
liances neglect to send anything while
others do more than their share.
There must be a system and then it
will be one of the best insurance con
Germs in existence. We have suggested
what might be called a pro rata con
tribution. If there be a loss by fire of
five or six hundred dollars by any
brother, then the Zoo Sub-AIliances
could each send IS cents from their
treasury. The brother would be paid
back his loss and the Sub balances
would never feel the Is cents paid out
III Ol1lS way. LII CCloC VI q 1OoS VI 1IO1CC
worth one hundred dollars, each ALI
ance could send 5 cents. These small
sums would BE- a great help and no AL
lance would feel the amount.
Some have suggested that losses be
estimated and that only about half of
the actual loss be paid. That would be
better than nothing, but we think at
least two thirds of the actualloss should
be paid, if not all.
Wardsville Sub-Alliance, Chowan
county, has suggested that every mem
Der be required to pay in addition to
his regular quarterly dues, five cents
per quarter to be sent to the State Sec
retary-Treasurer to be kept as a fund
for paying these losses. No doubt this
could be done, but that sum would
hardly be sufficient to carry on the
business. Other Alliances have ex-
pressed themselves in favor of one plan
or another.
It will not do for each appeal to be
sent to the Sub Alliances, for the post
age would amount to more than $40
each time. If every ub-Alliance takes
the State Organ, the appeals could be
published and each Alliance could re-
spOnd. But in this way, in case of a
small loss, the postage would be almost
as much as the contribution. Hence
| Wardville Alliance and others who
think the same way have evidently
struck nearly or quite the best plan.
Let the members each pay in addition
to their regular quarterly dues 10 cents
each for this fund. Any member fail
ing to pay will not be entitled to help
from this fund if his own house burns.
In this way for 40 cents a year each
member would be insured against loss
by fire, disease among stock or loss by
storm to the amount of $500 to 81, 900,
or whatever the limit be fixed at. This
is the cheapest insurance ever known.
Wehave not the machinery of the regu-
lar insurance cOmpany-no officers or
agents to pay.
If any one can think of a better way,
| go ahead and get it up. 1t is highly
important that this matter be system
lied as soon as possible. Let each
County Alliance discuss the matter in
their meetings this weekand then have
their Secretary to state their decision
briefly through The PROGRESSIVE
FARMER. This is of great Importance.
Another plan would be for each Sub
Alliance to contribute say 81 each, or
if necessary 50 each for this fund.
County Alliances could also contribute
SIS or sic each. In some respects this is
the best plan of all. Discuss it.