The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-11-05
INSURANCE RAISED
MADISON RATES GO UP ON
BUILDINGS IN BUSINESS
DISTRICT.

ed from the survey made by /. j. Peet
and III. f. Hasford for the General
Inspection company, of Minneapolis
They find that for the business dis
trict of the city the rates are gen
orally higher. In one instance rates
have risen Is per cent, many of 4 X
per cent. and the greater portion GO
ing up 3 per cent or more in the five
years since the last survey was made.
This excessive rise of insurance rates
cannot be from fear of aerial raids.
and cannot be laid to the administra-
ton.
AT the time of the submission of
the former rating book the inspec-
tion company accompanied it with a
| letter. They stated that Madison
had enjoyed a fire record as good as
any in the state. There had never
been any disastrous fires. But the
condition was one of pure luck. The
conditions were ripe for a fire which
would warrant the insurance rates
imposed. and which would prove
their laws governing figuring rates
of risk.
That was five years ago. No dis
astrous fires have occurred Fires of
small proportions have broken out.
but the surrounding conditions have
been such as to materially assist, at
least not to hinder, their speedy sup
preston. No fires have broken out
in intensely cold or dry weather with
strong wind blowing the flames to-
ward any inflammable buildings
Such condition might go on indefi-
nitely, but the immutable law of
| average will eventually return, and
when ii does Madison will wake up
with a start. The conditions favor
able to fires five years ago have not
been improved, and in the careless
ness of apparent security the city has
become even more careless, until con-
ditions wait only on the elements for
something which will cost property.
and possibly lives.
The season for fires is now at
hand. AT this time of year the
weather is dry. buildings are dry and
all herbage is dry. Sudden cold
weather causes the hasty erection of
stoves and burning of light material.
Prevalence of high winds and the
difficulties of fighting fire with freez-
ing pipes all combine to make the
season one of peculiar hazard.
The individual has much control
over the risk in his own place of
business. The fire inspector has
much authority in inspecting and re-
porting conditions for both the pro-
lection of the individual and his
neighbors. This matter has been sin
x1.x L. "A
ly through the false security of
lucky circumstance.
For a city of the size of Madison
the fire equipment is inadequate, ii
is said. There are two chemical en-
gines. both of which are designed to
be drawn to the scene of the fire by
man power In the night or in times
of mud or snow these units of equip
ment take much time to reach the
district of the fire. This, il is said,
has not much to do with the risk in
the resident portions of town. that
being more largely governed by the
isolation of the property generally.
but the slow method of getting to
the scenes of fire and the absence of
adequate water systems make il
owning the property which is burn
ing.
But whatever the cause. the rates
have advanced. And they do not ad-
vance rates without cause. And the
lcause must be a combination of lack
of adequate equipment and the con
dition Of inflammable property with
in the district affected And both
these conditions must be amenable
to improvement. And the city COM
mission is in position to improve the
conditions. And the improvement
would cost money. And ii is simply
a choice of paying for the means OF
Improvement in taxes or in the high
er rates imposed. And the choice
should be easy to make in view of the
fact that in many instances the rate
has advanced nearly per cent. and
there is no likelihood that the higher
taxes for better equipment would
amount TO that rate.
On the business streets of Madi-
son there are blocks of almost solid
wood buildings The buildings them
selves are a menace, some of them
are partially or almost wholly
wrecks. In addition TO the dangers
of their outside exposures, the back
premises and conditions inside ag
gravate the condition and raise their
insurance rates. There seems to be
no way of getting at this without of
ficial inspection, by man who will
attend to the work and enforce his
decisions-if there is any law which
can be invoked in the matter. 1t il
not only for the protection of the in
dividual himself, but for his neigh.
Dor as well.
Following the fire of last winter
there was strong talk of getting Z
power truck of some description. But
the fire apparatus remains the same
with the added depreciation of {
summer of use in street work. The
partially destroyed property on ths
; corner of First street NE remains il
wrecked condition, though ii ha:
been considered in council repeated
: ly. 1t is declared to be a menace