The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-06-12
TORNADOPROTECTION
Insurance Agents Say Customers
All Want 1t.
The Propcrty-Owning Public lis BE-
coming More ExcitabIe over
the Inronds of the Terri
BILE Twistcrs.

When the rude winds of approaching
summer blow fercely and black cloud
looms in the skies insurance men hang
out banners which inform the prop
ertySwning public that tornado in
surance will be written for considera-
Ftion. In other words, the men Of risks
and premiums will protect you from
loss occasioned by a twisting, whirl-
ing storm commonly called a cyclone.
Do the people Of Chicago indulge in
this kind of protection?
Most certainly they do, says the Chi
cago Chronicle, and to a much larger
extent than one would suppose who
has lived long in this city, where tor
nadoes have not SO far devastated any
district. To-day a trip down in La
Sale street will convince any skeptic
that tornado insurancelis a local com
modify, for the companies have already
commenced to offer it to all and sum
dry. In these days of atmospheric ex-
citement it is the odd man who does
not wear an extra sheet to his policy.
which gives him assurance that his
goods win not be irretrievably lost if
scattered all over Cook county and
part OF Michigan by "twister." AT
the worst he can get the value if enough
of him remains to form a reasonably
entire collector.
"Do our customers take out tor
nado contracts?" said leading agent
the other day. ''Indeed they do. In
fact, we write great deal of this kind
of insurance. There are two kinds of
contracts. One is supplement to the
usual policy merely and is taken outin
what is called the cyclone season. This
is at hand now. 1t embraces that por-
ton Of the year between the severe
storms OF early summer and those Of
the late fall. These contracts usually
run for six months.
"But OF late years new kind has
been prepared. Some of our custom
ers, feeling that if thing is a good
thing they cannot get too much Of it,
asked for protection from windstorms
which would run exactly with their
fire policies. They wanted it for the
whole year or longer period. This was
easily adjusted, for the companies real
ly have no liability Of loss in half of the
year in this region. In fact, / never
knew a windstorm to do much damage
in Chicago. We issue tornado con
tracts at the rate of two dollars on
each $1,000 for one year, five dollars for
three years and eight dollars for five
years. The contracts run with the reg /
ular policy, the only difference being
the added premium for the added pro
lection"
"What proportion Of your custom
ers seek cyclone insurance."
"The bulk of them now. You see, they
have grown accustomed TO it and take /
out the whole thing at one time. For
merly customers would wait until they
read some account Of a bad storm some |
where while at breakfast. This ac-
count. backed mp by a wind furry aud
ugly bla.% cloud. would stampede
them 10 tl> insurance offices to take
out the summer contract. Tt was really
laughable at times TO see dignifed men,
in hot haste be, ,suse Of sudden nervous
ness, bundling into insurance Offices out
Of breath, but eager to beat the Storm"
This statement received ample cor
roboration all along the street. No !
agent would 60 50 far as 70 express the
opinion that any lurking danger Of a
severe windstorm threatens The city.
But all agreed that in recent years.
with - mnpB disasters in citjes there
toiore i,nmans from such tisitations.
gene7al ppeasiness without protection
has sprung 20. This has grown no such
an extent thar fhe rayiuent Of the add
ed cost for The added clause in the f,oi-
'cs is row commop ibinr.