The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1910-12-16
$34,223 81

As heretofore, the greatest loss was on
Barns, and the cause of the fires were In
most cases reported as unknown. II 10
safe to assume. however, that most barn
fires are due to smokers and the careless
handling Of lanterns.
There were three fires OF supposed In.
cendiary origin. In one case, through
the help of the State Pire Marshal. the
guilty parties were discovered and prose.
cuted.
The loss on Dwellings, was principally
due to Defective Plues and Chimneys.
Overheated Stoves and Coal Oh Lamps
Much attention has been given to the In.
specton OF chime 70 and stove pipes. and
several new risks have been declined he
cause of faulty construction and arrange.
ment. The Compauy'a experience shows
that poorly constructed chimneys and
improperly located stove pipes, while
perhaps cheap In the beginning, In the
end prove most expensive to both insurer
and Insured
The damage from Lightning was com.
paratively small. The Executive Officers
have been frequently asked whether
light ming rods were a protection, and
whether lower rates would be given " hen
rods were used. The Company makes
no lower rates on buildings so protected
because no reliable statistics have ever
been secured to Justify reduction. We
can only say that the argument Of the
Lightning Rod Agent sounds plausible
and II may be safer to have buildings
rodded. We do know, however. that
poorly insulated rods or rodding allo wed
to get out Of repair are worse than no
| protection.
The FIRE caused by a gasoline engine
was due to the location of the exhaust
pipe near woodwork. This oversight
cost the Company $4,000.
Defective Electric Wiring 10 given as
the cause Of two fires. the loss on which
amounted to over $4,000.
The carelessness Of smokers leaving a
lighted cigar or cigarette 10 a public hall
| over store caused n loss Of over 81. 800
In the list Of causes Of fires the one that
would seem to have the greatest posi-.
bilities resulted In the smallest loss
While burning may be a most effective
way OF breaking up a hens nest In n
barn or stable. such methods are Meth, r
recommen ded nor approved by the Com.
pany. The small loss In this instance
can only be due TO that Providential
oversight which 10 said to take care Of
small children. inebriates and lunatics
Because Of this classi6cat On II 10 thought
best not to mention the sex Of the nest
burner.
The only securities purchased during
the year were 81 500 Of Bel Air Water e.
Light Company Bonds. and 1900 Of
Hazard Wharf Company Bonds Both
Bonds bear five per cent. interest and
were bought at par.
As funds are now available the Finance
Committee will doubtless make some IN
vestrnent within the next month
Circumstances have required that the
work OF the Inspector and the Adiustor
should be combined. Mr.. Mccormick
has been filing both positions for the
past two years. The plan has resulted
10 greater efficiency without Increase Of
expense to the Company.
II Is the Compsny's object to furnish
Fire Insurance to its members at the
lowest possible cost. BY furnishing in.
surance we do not mean merely the de.
livery Of an attractive looking policy
and the collection Of q small premium
therefor. The price Of the policy 10, Of
course. an important Item, but the true
test Of an Insurance Company 10 the kind
Of settlement with the assured when a
fire occurs. In adjusting losses the Har.
ford Mutual never takes advantage Of
mere tecbnicalitiss. but endeavors to
carry out Its contract 10 spirit a. well as
In letter.
We are sometimes met with the state
ment that other Companies write Insur
ance cheaper. We have never been told
that any other Company makes fairer
settlements Of fire losses.
For details of the Company's opera
tions during the past year attention 10
called to the attached report Of the Sec
rotary and Treasurer. and to the report
Of the Inspector. The more the figures
are studied by the members the better
satisfied they will be as to the Company
condition.
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD DALLAM.
President.
The secretsry's report 10 the statistical
statement Of the Company and will be
duly published.
The Inspector says;
rewith submit to you my sixth an.
nual report Of work done from December
!, 1909, to December 1, 1910
During this time have made 1903
] special inspections, adjusted "a losses