The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-03-16
In Ohio Alone Cost About
$283, 544
GOOD LIGHTNING RODS
Would Prevent Many Build
ings From Burning
Reports Show Losses From Light
ming for 1905 Two-Thirdsas Much
as From all Other Causes

During last summer 213 buildings
we're burned by lightning in Ohio;
in 1905 there were 100 and in 1904
there were 1873 The property loss in
1906 was $3.50 5li.
Clippins from about one-third
or the newspapers of the state
showed only five barns struck with
out being fred, while So houses were
struck and not fred The thunder
bolt seemed TO prefer, where 1t
lis convenient, to destroy life rather
than property.
"Why should the farmer go to the
rod when insurance will protect
him from loss by fire from light
ming
There are two reasons. First: In
surance will protect him for so per
cent. OF the possible loss, and In
Ial. SO the farmer can have no in
surance protection O n20 per cent. of
tne value of the building. He us
ually carries 800 to 5000 on grain
and hay, but takes out no short term
policy to protect his newly garnered
cop at the time at which sweating
hay is coaxing lightning to the
fun barn
Second: What the farmer gets
flom insurance comes out of the
premiums or assessments his neigh
bors pay. If rod saves the barn
the only loss is that of Providence
who was long charged with all
lightning accidents.
Another thing, u rod will pro-
tect other premium payers near
b! for house in burning from
lightning may fire the buildings of
neghbors. The greatest authority
OH insurance, Mr.. +. G.. Moore,
says: Lightning causes many fires
which could be prevented by good
! lightning rods.
A LOSING BUSINESS.
. During last year no fire insurance
company doing large farm business
In Ohio got enough premiums on
barns to pay losses on them.
Reports of the farm mutual COM
!panies of this state for 1905 show
THAT their property loss from light
ming was two-thirds as much as
from all other causes combined.
In reply to an inquiry about a
lightning fire the secretary of a
mutual company having $5,233, 900 at
risk said: In my seven years con-
nection with this association as an
officer we have not had one loss to
la rodded building by lightning"
An insurance company which
ranks in the frs. half dozen In
amount OF insurance carried on farm
I, buildings in Ohio in circular to
agents says, that losses from light
ming in the United States have in
creased Ave per cent. year for the
last 10 years; that 1t is unfair to
! insure barns at the rate for dwell
| ings; that higher rates on barns
and stock are o necessity; that a
proper rod or conductor will reduce
II not proven loss from electricity;
! that rates on country buildings not
so protected will be advanced and
the time is not far distant when
,all companies will charge a higher
rate on unro1ded property.
BARN RATES HIGHER.
4 In another circular TO agents a
joints company states that in
its last 500 lightning losses not one
was rodded,
\ The United States agent Of one OF
the three largest foreign companies
doing farm business says, "'rhe day
OF the old fashioned lightning rod
man has passed, Science, as now
developed, clearly indicates how
property and lives may be safely and
nexpensively protected against