Omaha daily bee., 1905-02-19

have been wasteful, crmlEaly so, in much
they have done As n nation our lands
and forests have been lavishly misused,
squandered our mines have been reck-
lessly worked, our great natural resources
drawn upon as if they were inexhaustible,
and only today are we beginning to
awaken to the necessity of outstanding
them for the morrow. So with our build
ings. We have been stupidity trifling with
them, spending great sums in lavish decor
alton, in beautiful establishment of loose
Jointed, flimsy debile, evanid skeletons,
and the result is that our annual ash heap
has assumed stupendous dimensions.
Fires and Fire Protection.
Every one has built as cheaply and as
fiimsily as be dared in the hope that his
property would escape fire, and he has
Joined in gamble with the insurance
companies on that hypothesis, forgetting
that losses suffered by others react upon
the entire community, himself included,
and enhance the prices of everything TO
everyone, even the insurance for his pro-
lection. The way we have been doing Is
much like that of the rotously inclined
individual who deliberately sets out on Il
drunken debauch, but takes a detective
along with him for his protection. OF
SpuiSe ne mas to pay the ueteCtlNe a good
fee for his services. So do we pay our
insurance protectors a good fee. Obviously
the wiser course in both cases is to ar
range matters so that we do not need the
protector Perhaps a few figures Will
illustrate better than words what our fire
debauch costs us; prior to 1904 for a good
many years our losses ran from $4,000, 600
down, but in 1904, in these United States
or America s23O,0O0, 900 worth of property
went up in smoke Now, then, assuming
that nearly 20O,OO0O0O were given back to
the sufferers by their insurance protectors
these latter companies had meanwhile
taken in something over $5C0OOO,OOO In
premiums that year to cover that loss, and
we are assured that though but one dollar Of
every three taken In goes back to the In
sured, there is still mighty little profit In
the business, and we have also paid out
also during 1904, something like 500 OO0,-
900 in the maintenance of fire department
protection. Owners have also lost trem-
endously in the way of rents during the
rebuilding process after fire, but tenants
have had to pay rent elsewhere, therefore
that is not a total loss, as in other cases.
but nevertheless on the basis of rents
people having to move into smaller and
makeshift quarters-the actual shrinkage
Of rental returns for the year must be
something like $4O,OOO,OOO, Figure up the
total and note the value of the ash pile.
The Remedy.
The cure is simple. Build better build
ings. The insurance companies do not
demand it," say you, "the reduction in
premiums doesn't warrant It," AS time
goes on those who heed this advice will
prove themselves masters of the situation
and the only people who will have satis-
factorily solved the problem with profit TO
themselves. Insurance companies are not
in business for their health alone. While
many look upon them as more or less
charitable In their activities, IL can be
safely predicated that when there ceases TO
be profit in the process underwriting
will also cease. AS centers OF population
become more densly settled and built up.
so, In spite Of the eNpensiyOly maintained
fire departments. fire loAyes increase, and