The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-05-24
INSURE AGAINST ToRNADOES.
Chicago Agents Are Now Doing q
Large Business in This Par
ticular Line.

When the rude winds of approaching
summer blow fiercely and black cloud
looms in the skies insurance men hang
out banners which inform the prop
erty-owning public that tornado in
surance will be written for considera-
ton. In other words, the men of risks
and premiums will protect you from
loss occasioned by 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 insurance is a local COM
modify, for the companies have already
commenced to offer it to all and sun
dry. In these days of atmospheric eX-
element it is the odd man who does
not wear an extra sheet to his policy
which gives him assurance that his
goods will 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 d 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 q supplement- to the
usual policy merely and is taken out in
what is called the cyclone season. This
is at hand now. 1t embraces that po1--
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 a new kind has
been prepared. Some of our CUSTOM
ers, feeling that if a thing is good
thing they cannot get too much of it.
asked for protection from windstorms
which would run exactly with their
fire policies. They wanted il 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 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-
tection.'
What proportion of your CUSTOM
ers seek cyclone insurance?''
The bulk of them now. You see. thew
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 bad storm some
where while at breakfast. This ac-
count, backed up by a wind furry and
ugly black cloud, would stampede
them to the insurance offices to take
out the summer contract. 1t was really
laughable at times to see dgnified men,
in hot haste because of sudden nervous
ness, bundling into insurance offices out
of breath, but eager to beat the storm"
Bhis statement received ample cor
roboration all along the street. No
agent would go so far as to express the
opinion that any lurking danger of a
severe windstorm threatens the city.
But all agreed that in recent years,
with so many disasters in cities there
tofore immune from such visitations. a
general uneasiness without protection
has sprung up. This has grown to such
an extent that the payment of the add
ed cost for the added clause in the poll
icy is now common thing.