The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-05-12
With $i7O,45O of Property
Endangered in 1910, Act
ual Loss Was s. 4,O88, or l8
Gents per Resident.
LOWER INSURANCE
RATES DEMANDED
State Inspector Here to Ad-
wise Officials and Mer-
chants-Fire Code to Be
Considered by Council.

The fire loss per capita In Richmond
for 1910 was IS cents. lower by 81
cents per capita than that of Marion.
the nearest rival. The heaviest loss
per capita was at Evansville. $5.14.
Other per capita losses in the state
were Anderson, $1.55; IT. Wayne.
: so; Hammond. 8 80; Lafayette.
: "a; Muncic. si.72; New Albany,
: 81; South Bend. $i.29; Terre Haute.
4l.19; and indianapolis. $1.1S. These
and other figures pertaining to fire
losses are contained In the annual re-
port Of the National Board OF Fire
Underwriters. received on Friday
morning. by Ed Miller. chief Of the
fire department.
Richmond's total fire loss for the
year was $4.OSS, one of the lowest
losses In many years. The number
Of alarms was unusually large on the
other hand. According to the insur.
ance report there was $l70.450 worth
Of property endangered In the various
fires of 1910. On the damaged proper
~ there was s62.710 insurance.
On the strength of the low fire
loss In Richmond. coupled with the
large number Of alarms. proving there
by the efficiency OF the department,
the board of works IL already investi-
eating the possibilities of lowering Of
the insurance rate for the city. Il
now stands ~ high ~ the rate In
other similar populated towns. and the
board thinks that II IL too high. The
building code ordinance, which will re-
quire better system OF building. will
also have to do with the lowering Of
the Insurance rates. II will be con.
sidered by council at special session.
inspector 20 Recommend.
The board OF works has written to
the state insurance inspector to come
to Richmond. for the purpose OF ex-
amining the public buildings. The
duty OF this official IL to recommend
changes and repairs that can be made
In the buildings so that the insurance
rate will be lowered. Some time ago
the board considered the proposition
OF Atwood Jenkins, a local insurance
agent, who offered to contract with the
city to manage It's insurance for five
years. His compensation was to be
half the saving In premiums to the
city, which might be incurred by his
recommending changes at the public
buildings. to lower the insurance
rates. The proposition was refused
finally.
Probably the official who takes the
duty OF building Inspector. II the Com.
mercia; clubs measure is put through
by council. will be the fire chief. the
board considering that he is the pro-
per official. inasmuch as he already
acts In this capacity to certain de-
gree, and also serves as smoke In.
spector. This last officer. 1t might be
said. has no duties and will not have
until the smoke nuisance Is enforced.
The building inspector will be direct
ed to become familiar with the In
surance rates and rules. II Is said. SO
that he may be able to recommend
improvements to the various buildings
OF the city that the insurance rates
may be lowered.
undsr~ritsr's Report.
The Underwriters insurance report
showed that there were so fires in
the United States during 1910. the
damage of which was more than $780,
900. The million-do;lar conflagra.
tions follow: Peet Brothers Manu-
featuring Co.. Kansas City. $1,000, 900;
forest and lumber mills, at Marinette
WIS.,, 3l,?O0.0OO: Wallace Idaho. hall
the town. $1,000.OO0; Keppendesk &
O'Ncil Shoe factory, Cincinnati
e1.750.000: Norris & Co.. meat pack
ers. Chicago. $1.000.000.
The fire loss for the so big blazes
was $??.5S2.0OO The total fire loss
from 1866 to 1910 Is estimated at ST.
OOS,S16,l35. This tremendous loss Is
more remarkable when II Is consider
ed that the fire departments OF the
United States are the most efficient
In the world.