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Show THE NATIONAL BONFIRE Fire loss in Kansas City for 1922 was $9.1 7 per capita, nearly twice national average of $4.75 per capita. Great Britain's los3 per capita was 72 cents. The question is often raised as to the reason for higher or lower fire insurance rates in different cities and in the foregoing figures we have the answer. The National Board of Fife Underwriters has for years been collecting data on every fire loss reported by a stock fire insurance company in the United States. The National Board his nothing to do with making rates or in any way operating the affairs of insurance companies. It simply collects and compiles irrefutable facts on fires and makes this information in-formation available for any person in the country. The result is that the making of fire insurance rates is not a matter mat-ter of guess work. If Kansas City permits greater fire hazards Yvithin its borders than does Omaha or Chicago, its insurance rates will be higher than cities which eliminate to the greatest extent the possibilities of fires. No fire is too small to escape the records of the National Board office if an insurance loss is paid on it. The result is that every town in the United States has its fire history recorded. Not only that, but the National Board surveys every city of any size, makes a chart of the city showing the possibilities for fire, provisions for fighting fire, including water system, fire departments, etc. This work is done gratis to the city and every assistance offered fire departments or city officials in pointing out how to better protect the city with the idea of eliminating fires and reducing rates. With such assistance offered, it is a marvel that so many cities fail to avail themselves of it and continue year after year to pile up staggering fire losses. |