The Portland daily press., 1895-02-07
MORE ABOUT INSURANCE.

MORE ABOUT INSURANCE.
The way to reduce fire insurance rates in
Maine is to have fewer fires. That is the
conclusion reached by Representative
Hutchinson of Auburn, and as a result he
has framed the bill he Introduced on Mon
day. Mr.. Hutchinson says there are many
things which may be done while building
is in course of erection which. while they
do not add materially to the cost of the
structure. greatly lessen the danger iron
lire. For instance if pieces of wood are
fitted at top and bottom between the Jo1sts
in partition, they will for long time
hold ire in that part of the wall where 1t
may originate. and prevent its spread all
over the building before its discovery. Mr..
Hutchinson tells of fire in Lewiston
whore thu fire, which started behind the
plastering over fire place, did not break
out until they hal climbed up the wall,
reached across the ceiling between the floor
timbers and eaten their way into the story
above. Cut off between the timbers in
partition and floor would have held the fire
until it had broken out near the point
where it started, when it could have been
e1tinguished after doing only trIf1ng dam
age. Many fires as everybody knows are
due 10 carelessly placed stove tunnels, 10
improper receptacles for ashes, etc. Now
it is Mr.. HutcLinson's idea that these evils
will continue until there is suitable sys-
ten of inspection to prevent them. In his
way Mr.. Hutchinson provides that each
town and city of over 1000 Inhabitants shall
appoint building inspector, who shall
have the authority to enforce regulations
as to tue methods of erecting buildings and
the safeguards to be afterwards adopted.
He would have for instance the right to
com pei the placing of cut-otfs In partitions
and floors, to see that chimneys were
properly constructed and. in buildings al
ready occupied. to require changes if the
location of stoves or furnaces or any of the
heating and lighting arrangements. were
likely to cause fire. From the decisions of
the inspector. appeals would he allowed to
the municipal officers. The bill limits the
inspectors field of operations TO the thickly
settled parts of a town or city. In the small
er places, the inspectors would naturally be
men " no have other business. Large cities
might find it advisable 10 employ man
who would give his whole timo to the work.
The bill makes only the requirement that
inspectors shall be persons skilled in tie
art of building. The bill will be fayerably
reported by the insurance committee. II
may not pass the legislature. but it will
certainly call attention to one reason foI
high insurance rates. Mr.. Hutchinson says
he is satisfied the Insurance companies are
not getting rich from Maine risks. The
premiums are high because the losses are
many, but people will not generally take
precautions in building until the law intel
yenes. A ase in point is that if a man who
declined to have cut offs put in the walls of
a new house a. an additional expense of
only ten dollars because it would not make
his insurance any less. Perhaps that one
| case would not have reduced the rates, But
4 the general adoption of such a preoaution
would do SO.
| M MANy THINGS
|
o'ii ~ ~ ~ "
leu"' ~
Aineitoah oaarahlee 'onpans' n"mos
a. W .on' -
- .-N go
4aeA.'n -,
a. a '"in'nAs' Ao a,'1 ~ ~ 80
aIAe +" .oi ~, 70 na s -
III ior'ian". Ape eoi'panS 40 ap'Ao1 4ee'' "
ese 90 su4e.. ~ piSons' eolpoi ms
eoun.ies' o''ios' to''s'' !"4ses So A-'s - !
SASS honh - liz hi,;tn - snr ,,erson or
persons conditioned upon the performance
| of any trust; also upon bonds to indemnify
against loss any person or persons who are
| responsible as surety OF securities, upon
a written instrument or otherwise, for tn e
faithful performance by others OF any
trust, Office or duty, and in any case where,
by law or otherwise, two sureties are re-
ouired upon any obligation which this COM
pany is hereby authorized to assure. this
company may act as sole surety if so &C
cepted or approved by the court or magis-
trate named as the obigee in the bond: also
to guarantee the payment of stock and
ertifcates of aceumulative indebtedness
O! corp orations, exceptions those doing
purely mutual association business
The capital stock is to be $3.50. 600 and the
company may not commence business until
500, 900 has been paid in. The capital stock
may be increased to sum not exceeding
81, 600, 600. The corporation must keep on
deposit with the secretary of state sum
equal to ten per cent OF Its capital STOCK