The Bourbon news., 1902-06-24
COURT HOUSE FIRE.
Actions Of Insurance Companies
Cause the People to Think.

GAOOAOHS vi INSURANCE OOul DduIeS
Cause the People to Think.
Last year, when the gang was yell
ing, and fires were coming most every
day and the Firemen Fraternity Com
pany was in trouble, the people became
little skittish and some of them al
lowed the Old Line agents to persuade
them to leave the Old Reliable Hurst
Home.
Well, the Hurst Home pulled through
last year and paid her debt amounting
to $4,000 with two calls, one 40 cent
and one 60 cent call or ata total cost of
one per cent. Profting by past expert
ence the officers determined never
again to fall into such a trap. They had
a right to restore to the reserve fund
money formerly used from same and
they determined to use these rights and
so arrange the business of the company
as to keep clear of debt. and while a call
less than one per cent. might have car
ried them through 1902, it would not
put aside money to run the company for
6 or - months, and in order that such
be done, the reserve fund must be re-
stored
The greater portion of the company
had long advocated this policy and vixen
the officers proposed to adopt it, they
heartily approved. of the measure. Some
had been frightened during dark days
and fled to the Old Line Companies in
order to be sure how much they would
have to pay.
Then came the eye-opener. The court
house of Bourbon county burned. It
had cost $135,O0O and was worth about
100000 the day it burned aud had in
surance in nearly every company doing
business in the county and the total of
all policies was but $5O,OOO or not ex-
ceeding half its value
People naturally suffered as the loss
far exceeded the insurance, and as Bour-
bon county was able to care for itself
there would beno trouble. Alas, how
oft the unexpected come. Instead Of
prompt payment, these companies offer
ed the county $50, ,O00 when it had for
years paid onS50, ,0OO. and now the county
is hehtine tbapi IS the Csszrt Of A ppeaIs.
If they will do such thing with Bour-
bon county, what about single indi-
vidual? Again it was supposed the
rates on this building were very low,
but if we pay on $50, 900 and receive but
$4,000 we find the rates almost doubled.
Calm and deliberate people are weigh
ing the situation. They say the Hurst
Home for 12 years has been in our midst
ard never yet paid total for less than
the full value Of the policy nor ever Of
fered to make such a settlement. Again,
the average cost for dwellings, stock
barns and tobacco barns, and all for
ten years, was but 744 cents on the
hundred, and at no time and at no year,
has it exceeded 81 on the hundred; and
this for protection against fire, tighten
ing and wind. Moreover, the payments
were either tri-annually or semi annual
ly while for one year the rates of old
line companies are $3.50 on stock barns,
81 .25 on wood dwellings and $3.50 on
tobacco barns for fire alone and mora
when a storm or tightening policy is
added. And all this must be paid at
least a year in advance and after a fire
no one can guess the result. It may be
100 cents on the dollar, may be so cents
and possible a law suit.
It is no wonder Mr.. R. w. Alexander,
of Millersburg, the agent of the Hurst
Home is being solicited almost daily, to
write insurance for the very best people
on the very best property.
''You may fool all the people some
times and some, all the time but you
can not fool all the people all the time. y
(24jan1t)