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Show The Cost Of Fire Insurance A recent editorial in an eastern newspaper stated that "the cost of everything from popcorn to locomotives loco-motives has come down, but not the cost of Insurance. . . . fire insurance in-surance rates go up." As a matter of fact, anyone who takes the trouble to look into the matter will find that fire insurance insur-ance costs have decreased over a long term of. years even when other prices were going up. In 1905 the average rate per $100 of Insurance was $1.1679; in 1912 it had dropped to 90.08 cents; in 1931 it was 73.29 cents. This decline testifies to two things. The efficient management of the stock fire Insurance companies com-panies and the beneficial results of their "public service" work. For years these companies have maintained a corps of engineers who. are experts in safety methods for preventing fires. The work of these men has aided aid-ed the public by bringing about safer conditions in many sections, resulting in fewer fires and less destruction of life and property. In addition, the average cost of stock fire insurance has dropped 30 per cent below the 1905 figure. Undoubtedly there are towns and cities where the cost of fire insurance has increased because conditions were so hazardous that the burning ratio mounted steadily. steadi-ly. In the final analysis every individual in-dividual is responsible for the cost I of fire insurance because that cost is determined by the fire losses. When the nation is peopled with citizens who are careful to avoid .causing fires and when the major-j j ity of buildings in existence are so constructed that they will resist re-sist flames, the cost of fire insurance insur-ance will decrease still further. |