The Sentinel=record., 1913-11-16
ABOUT INSURANCE.

Some time following the recent big fire in this city the insurance com panies made A survey of the local field. and decided that unless certain | requirements were met, Hot Springs | would not be a good field to continue business in, The local agents, in close touch with affairs of the companies they repre- sent, sounded a sort of warning. and immediately bestirred themselves toi help remedy the conditions lacking, SO that the insurance business might be held intact
 There was furry of interest, some remedies were proposed and discuss ed, but not enough has been accom- plished to assure the property own CTS of this city that they can in the future receive the protection necos- sary to he situation
 In this connection one fact must not be lost sight Of, viz Hot Springs might be denied insurance protection which would be the worst blow of all that this year of misiortunea has brought
 If fire insurance protection were withdrawn from Hot Springs the re sort would be heralded as an unsafe resort to the visitor and the facts would be there to back up he dam aging reports. Certainly thai woul, he calamity not second to any w' have received
 Another thing. The insurance com panies in making demands to protec their interests, are probably selfishl, inspired, but why should not the eft zen and property owner have th' same selfish interest?
 When the insurance companies de mana protection against fire the, are making a demand that serve every owner of real or personal prop erty az well.
 The insurance companies lost $2 100000 in the fire, What did the prop erty owners lose? Didn't the prop erty owners Of Hot Springs lose al equal sumg Will not the tax books an another year show shortage il realty and personal valuations of al most an equal sum that the insurance companies lost?
 So. the demand of the insurance companies is but the demand of pro tection that every citizen and prop ety owner anywhere in the worlc eunects to receive. and protection that must not he denied the visitor
 Some of the demands made by tht companies have been compiled with Some strengthening has been done ir the fire fighting forces New mef have been added More hose ana other light equipment is ready for iti work.
 But there is other equipment neces sary-and the city has not the price How are We going to meet the situa ton? This is not an argument re'e tive to policy That sum uaues sary to get at least one more auto truck, to eqnip the aerial truck. ant to sustain the fire department T' to guarantee payment for more fire plugs, ani to require the public util ities company to lay the size of mains exacted-all must be forthcoming rom some source, regardless of every Issue now before the people
 Think this situation over and do moi aet it drag until the patience of the companies is exhausted and the basi ness is withdrawn IL is not bluff Hot Springs has not been . good risk Hot Springs is not good risk now Insurance Is based on hazard Busi ness is business f flo ings cor finues to be an indifferent risk, after all the history of the past, certainly Hot Springs can be dropped from the ledger of this and that insurance com pany until there is q panic among the companies, and all protection is lost.