The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-01-14
LOUISIANA.
CARELESS HOUSE OWNERS.

CARELESS HOUSE OWNERS.
Men who VIII Not Take the Palms to
Read Their Insurance Policies.
A gentleman who had been out of the
city for several months called at the
which had issued his policy the other
day to see about renewal. The clerk
whom he applied to happened to know
him, and was aware that he had been
away for time.
II passed your house the other day, Z"
he said to the gentleman, and noticed
that it was all shut up"
YES" replied the other carelessly;
II hired cottage at the shore for the
summer and took the servants along"
'Who took charge of your city
house?" asked the clerk.
''Why, nobody. / simply had the
doors and windows securely fastened
and W emit away.
Let me see your policy" said the
clerk.
After examining it he handed it back
to the man.
''Did you ever take the trouble to read
it?" he asked
''No can't say that did,"
swell, then, just let me show you an
interesting clause"
The clerk pointed to the following:
This entire policy, unless otherwise
provided by agreement, endorsed here
on and added hereto, shall be void
If building herein described,
whether intended for occupancy by
owner or tenant. be or become vacant
or unoccupied, and SO remain for ten
days"
THAT MEANS" he added, ''that if
your house had burned during your
absence you would have lost your in
surance."
Great Scott" exclaimed the man,
angrily, what must man do, stay at
home?"
mo. that isn't necessary; but he must
either have somebody guard his prop
erty or else make some arrangement
with us There is good sound reasons
for that condition, which appears in
most policies If the house is deserted
and small fire is accidentally started
the house is likely to burn down;
whereas, if somebody is in the house
the chances are that the fire will be ex-
tinguished before it has done much
damage. When people go away for
few weeks only we usually allow them
to leave their houses untenanted, but
they must notify us and get the permits
sion in writing, or we won't be respon-
sible. Where people go away for
months the same privilege is rarely ex-
tended"
Probably very few New Workers. know
OF the clause quoted above, and yet it
appears in most fire insurance policies
Nearly every company will allow
policy holder certain amount of free
dom from restraint, but a good many
circumstances are considered before a
company will make itself liable for
damages to an untenanted house. If
the house is in good neighborhood, or
has burglar alarm wires, or is located
In very public thoroughfare, the COM
pany considers the risk less than if the
neighborhood is poor or deserted, and
there is little chance of fire being de-
tected until it has gained great
strength. There are probably hun
drcds of tenantless houses in New York
during every summer. and their owners
have no idea that their insurance would
be forfeited in case of fire during the
time they are vacant
The same rule applies to country
houses. and yet many of the finest and
costliest summer houses of New York
ers are simply fastened up and left
vacant during the winter. OF course
special arrangements can always be
made whereby the insurance will not
be forfeited for non-tenancy.-N. Y.Sun.