The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-15

their limits. have carefully sluoiea
this subject. and bel eve the adoption OF
the plan proposed would greatly dirnin,
ish the great loss by fire. and wouio
do good. not only to the public. put 20 g
the Insurance comPs nies as wen. 80
statistics show that the annual nre io ..s
OF this country Is enormous. ana IL IS u Nl
In large measure to fneffic ent fire protec-
ton. and to fraudulent fires, Whcn arr
encouraged because the insured can Goun.
upon prejudice against insurers away
as a factor In their favor whenever suct'
fire occurs. II the public became q ca
Insurer with the compan es, us ,ll.e,es.
would eliminate the FISK OF ir az ..arnu
fires and would develop greater ellclehoy
in the IRE departments, both 10 preNIn ~
the occurrences OF fires and to extlnsulsh
such as do occur.
In brief. my plan was this: Buiioans -
and improvements upon real es.a.e az
assessed for taxes separately iro.n s ene
ground itself. and usually assessor .a
below actual value. Whatever, 'ne IA
sesstnent. fire tax should be iaia. slau =, =
as to character of the structure anu 10
location, and collected as are other taxes.
and the proceeds set apart 10 ioritl .
fund to Indemnify against loss ana y
provide for more efficient IRE depart
ment Tho owner could eHect lnsus siIi ~. :,
besides with Insurance companies CIV. n1
III this event the city would oe
insurer with such companies. ms WIN.
ca,,se reni estate owners to have their
buildings and Improvements hssesseu q. a. q
fair valuation and would ensure hlS heF
degree of public precaution against iiLes.
The .ty could, OF course. protect l.s 90. :
by reinsuring in the companies. wiz NJ
would have the exclusive teio upon a.
contents of buildings and as 10 stiuG ~
themselves would be co-insurers VIII .l.'
or u
ever m can, would be Insured py tne S.'
without policy, simply by Its existence,
and. saw. for three-foul tbs OF us assesseu
valuation, SO that no owner cou'u 80
be entirely without insurance IRON ~
Eetfulness or lapse. The revenues Al SIC s,a..'
from this fire tax would be KePt hoe ~.
lutely apart and devoted excius s,,' So
paying for losses. for better r. ia sar ,rerni.
preventing and fighting fires, lor p.e
inns paid for reinsurance and TO accu1nu,
latA a fund to meet any great loss. E,y
this plat1 the public and Insurance. Som
panies become partners with mutual 40
vantage to BOTH and a consequent leessn-
Ing Of loss by fire and great cneap .a,ar'
of the ever Incl easing and almost n.o :.
able burden Of rates which tne .nsu -
companies impose and collect from tns
prudent public, while the careless any
the vicious add to the risk ana efea.s
many losses which should be avoided.
OF course. in 80 brief an article can.
not develop my plan as nave worries
it out. prepared a paper ana seet
some years since to several OF tns mas.
zines, but i. IVES returned by the ea.sos.
with the regret that 1t was not expeoien y.
ia publish 1t, while each one admltteo Ine
article was we'll worth publication. II.
deed,.a great writer on economies "too .
me upon letter head which named mn Il
as pies. dent Of one Of our largeet NJ.
companies, suggesting that ! nag pe.eH !.
drop the matter, as 1t had oeen ueo - =,
Switzerland and proved failure. ~
plan has never been tried IN SWltaeFtan ~
nor elsewhere, and If Germany can sue
cessfully insure lives, am sure we "a.
insure buildings. presented u careluiis
drawn bill TO our Legislature some year :
ago. but 1t was pigeonholed as chln'eric-al
renew the subject by the above suE
gestion. and invoke to It's consld etat. %
Especially the great insurance compuhies
ii am convinced that the plan IS p.a a.
! ticable and Will be Taught WIN soou :, =,
: The public, to every individual, 70 everl
4 insurance company Mr. barrow artAcp
4 makes me ask space for the above.
Yours truly
JAMES p. HARRlSON-
Danvi1te. Va. Nov. 9. 1907