The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-08-17
ALMOST A MILLION
FIRE LOSS IN
VERMONT
Increase of Nearly a Third
During Past Year
ONE FIRE CAUSED $4,000
Capital of Vermont Accident Com
pany at Rutland Impaired by
About $4,000

Montpelier, Aug. BE. II. Deavitt,
State Treasurer, and Guy w. Bailey,
secretary of state, issued today their
annual report as insurance commits
sioners of Vermont for 1908. The re-
port contains about LOO pages. The
total loss by fire insurance compan-
les in Vermont in 1908 is shown by
this report to be 1871 $3.50 against
S645, 1858 in 1907. TIE Richford
elevator fire was the largest single
loss and was upwards of $3.50. 900.
The second big loss was $125,O 900 at
Richmond. There was total of
l,5ft hires and the total loss from de-
fectiye chimneys was Sf20,925.
The reports of fire loses transmit
ed to this department in accordance
with section 4,779 of the public stat
utes by the insurance. companies at
the time the fire losses are adjusted
Indicate, as heretofore, a much larg
er fire loss tdan the figures reported
by the companies in their annual
statements after deducting reinsur-
ance. These figures for the past
year amounted to $1,11S,5l5 The re
port of losses paid filed by the com
panies in their annual statement
shows only $764,5S2.92 as paid during
the year 1908. A part of the differ
ence can be explained by the fact that
the losses in connection with some
large fires occurring in the last
months Of the year were not adjusted
and paid until the year 1909 so that,
while the figures are included in the
fire statistics published in accordance
with provisions of 4,779 of the public
statutes, the payments will not be re-
ported by the companies until the
annual statements for the year 1909
are furnished.
Inaccuracy of Location.
The attention of the commissioners
nas been directed to the fact that
companies are not always particular
in reporting the fire losses adjusted
and sometimes instead of stating the
place where the fire occurred, the
residence of the owner of the proper
ty is stated. This has resulted in
some localities showing a larger fire
loss than has really been expert
enced, and the attention of the com
panies is here called to tae situation
so that more care may be exercised Ia
1.-THE future in reporting these Stats
tics and attention is particularly
called to the fact that the cities of
Barre, Rutland and ST. Adams are dis
tinct municipalities and do not in
clude the towns of Barre, Rutland
and St Adams. respectively. With
these suggestions it is hoped that
these statistics may prove more re
liable
In this connection the commission
ers visa to call attention to the
causes and origin of fires, as shown
by these reports. During the last
year before, 249 fires out 1,2SS origi-
mated In the same way. In 1908 the
amount of fire loss from this source
was Sl2O,2S2 in the figures of 1907.
Greater Precautions Needed.
These figures, however, suggest a
chance for Improvement along the
lines of inspection by companies and
greater care in the maintenance of
buildings by the owners themselves
Owners Of property cannot expect
now insurance rates if they maintain
their property in a hazardous condi-
ton and property owners who do
maintain buildings in safe condition
have a right to insist that more
thorough inspection and higher
standard of maintenance be required
by the insurance companies them
selves.
b TIE amount of business written by
life insurance companies in 1908 ex-
eeeded any previous year and on De
cember 81, 1908. the people of Yer
mont carried S60,736645.02.
The commissioners criticize the
Vermont Accident company of Rut-
land in certain transactions which
leave an impairment of its capital of
about $4,000. They state in their re-
port that they intend to proceed in
accordance with the law and present
the situation to the court of chancery
if the Vermont Accident company
does not at once make good its loss
of capital.
During 1908 the fees received from
foreign insurance companies was
$l61 1850 and the taxes to June 80,
1908, under the corporation tax law
amounted to $1,174,342.64.