The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-08-12
LOWER INSURANCE RATES
Other Towns Can Get Reductions as Easily
AS Did Canton, ~.


Business men who want lower lire
insurance rates should profit by the
lesson recently taught number of
merchants at Canton, H. These had
their rates cut almost in two by the
removal Of frame rear building
which had connected four brick build
lngs on the public square, making it
practically certain that a fire starting
in one would communicate to the
Others On the two smaller buildings
the reduction was 53.4 per cent and
652 per cent. and on the larger 80. 8
per cent, while on the contents tho re-
duction was within or per cent OF
as much.
The modern system OF schedule rat
ing credits risks with their good points
and charges them for their defects.
This enables the owner to secure ma
terial reductions by making reasonable
improvements. The Canton mer-
chants had been told that they could
get lower rates If they would remove
the frame exposure IN the rear, but
they took no action Because the shed
always had been there they assumed
that it always had to be there But
Cantonshas an up-to-date council. which
appreciates the need Of reducing the
firewaste of the county and lowering
the conflagration hazard OF the town,
aud 1t started in by passing building
ordinance. This made 1t possible TO
condemn the frame building as dan
gerous fire breeder, and IL was prompt
ly removed. In consequence the bust
ness district of Canton has been freed
from serious menace, eight business
houses are paying very much lower in
surance rates, and they have found
! that they can get along just as well
without the old she'd There are risks
in this town, and in every town in
Michigan, that can get the sans safety
and similar reduction in fire cost by
merely reducing the fire hazard. 1t
should not be necessary to wait for
building ordinance, as was the case in
Canton, before business men act for
their own benefit.
The risks affected at Canton were
brick mercantile buildings fronting on
the public square. A two-story frame
warehouse in the rear, 45x35 feet. made
them communicating. Similar condi-
TOMS can he found in almost every
town. Its removal permitted the rat.
ers 60 divide them into three separate
and distinct risks A dry goods store
at No. 81 got reduction ia building
from 81. 81 to 81. 13. or 1915 per cent,
and on stock from 81 Is to 81. 40 or $3.50
per cent. picture store at No. 10
had its building rate reduced from
81. 81 to 60 cents, or Co., per cent, and
ITS stock rate from 81. 90 to Sl.06, or
81, per cent In anoter location the
removal OF frame store building
which endangered two adjoining and
communicating brick buildings through
unprotected window opening gave
reduction of 1872 per cent on buildings
for four tenants and on stock ranging
from 1872 per cent to 1874 per cent.
On these six buildings the average re.
duction was 4l.5 per cent and on the
twelve stocks OF merchandise 30 per
cent
Our business men should learn from
these examples that they can get lower
rates OF insurance and safety for their
business by reducing their hazards.
The insurance companies TT the rate
to the risk II the hazard il increased,
the rate goes up; II 1t Is reduced. 1t
goes down. In a sense the property
owner Gan make his own rate. Many
of the improvements for which liberal
concessions are given should be made
anyhow, in the interest OF public safety
and the reduction OF the lire waste.
Values of nearly $500. 900. 600 year GO
up In smoke in this country, most OF
il due TO carelessness. and the proper
ty-owner pays the bill in his insurance
rates The way 70 yet lower rates Is
TO have less losses Frame. sheds in the
rear OF business blocks are not the only
sources of danger, hut IL there are such
fire breeders IN this town they should
be removed Tho reduction ia rates is
well worth while, as the Canton bust
ness men found TO their surprise, but
the municipal and general benefit Is
even more important. for the change
may prevent conhagration some day