Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-03-17
PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING
A Properly Constructed Lightning Rod Is
Recognized as a Safeguard by
Insurance Companies.


Are you familiar with, or have you
given any thought, to the utility OF the
lightning rod in the protection of your
family and property; and has it ever
occurred to you that in protecting your
from the hazard of fire caused
by lightning, by applying a good rod to
your buildings, that you are making
your insurance risk one of ''gilt edge"
class? Your attention is invited to a
few very important facts in this con-
nection.
In the first place, the merits of a
good, efficient and properly placed
rod, cannot be with impunity
questioned. The rapid pace at which
men are awakening to the realization
that the danger from the electric storm
can be guarded against in this manner,
is truly wonderful. The man who has
been privileged to witness an exempli-
ication of the thunder storm, by
Messrs. Dodd & Struthers, and their
absolute protection against it, will
never again feel secure in an unrodded
building, unless he be one who is ruled
by superstition. 1t is not presumed
that man would spare reasonable
expense to project the lives Of the men,
bers Of his household, and in doing this,
he is throwing safeguard around his
property, that is surely deserving Of
special consideration when 1t comes to
insurance.
The Protected Mutual Fire Insurance
Association was organized for the ex-
press purpose of giving the protected
risk the consideration it deserves.
There is one county company in the
state of Iowa, The Sac County Mutual
Fire Insurance Company, whose risks
at the last report we have, are 60 per
cent rodded, and 40 per cent unprotect-
ed. In nine years, the company re-
ferred to, sustained loss of but % by
lightning on the 60 per cent of rodded
property; while during the same period
the 40 per cent of unrodded risks cost
its members IS, 900. 90 for loss by light
ming. Is not this most wonderful
showing in favor of the lightning rod?
The Protected Mutual insures only
risks that are protected by good,
efficient, and properly placed lightning
rod, and stock in pastures with ground
wires to fences-thus embling this
class of risks exclusively into one asso-
citation.
When one stops to consider the adj
vantage the protected risk has oyer the
unrodded risk, The Protected Mutual
at once suggests the solution Of the
problem of the correct classification Gf
rodded property, as it certainly does
not belong in companies that take any
and all classes, which compels the pro-
tected risk to help reimburse the loss
of the unprotected one.
Some certain companies have made
slight reductions in their rates in favor
of the protected risk or buildings that
were rodded, but it is only slight COM
pared with what it should be, as too
much reduction along this line would
necessarily increase the assessment too
materially of other risks, and besides,
the proposition of expense could never
be equalized as it should be.
In the matter of ground wires to
fences, The Protected Mutual guards
againt the danger of loss by lightning
to live stock in pastures, as it takes
only risks that are provided with
ground wire to fences, as provided by
its bylaws. We have the best of argu-
ment in defense of this proposition, in
the mere fact that all telegraph and
telephone companies ground their
wires. Statistics show that the larger
per cent of losses in companies insuring
live stock, is due to lightning.
We want all who have properly rod
ded buildings, to join with us in maxi
ing The Protected Mutual large asso-
citation, which will be composed Of the
best class of risks on earth; and we
want all those whose buildings are not
rodded, but who believe, or can be con.
vinced by logical argument, that well
constructed lightning rod properly
applied, is protection to life and
property, to qualify by providing them
selves with such lightning rod, and in
sure in an association whose risks are
all preferred.
The Protected Mutual has been but
recently organized. 1t is the only one
of its kind, and has an unlimited field
among those who have been convinced
of the utility of the lightning rod, and
is destined to be an association noted
for low expense to its members, and an
association with extremely light losses.
Will you be among the early members?
Should any information be desired
concerning the lightning rod, and its
uses, a letter addressed to Professor
West Dodd, Des Moines, Iowa, will re-
ceive courteous reply. From scien-
tific and practical standpoint, Professor
Dodd is unquestionably the best author
ity in the United States, on lightning,
its cause and effect. Any questions
concerning The Protected Mutual will
be cheerfully answered by the secret
airy, w. D. Forbes, Des Moines, Iowa,
or A. Smith, Cresco, Iowa.