Fire Insurance Statistics, Census Report of. [See Insurance Statistics, Census Report.]

Fireman's Fund Insurance Company of San Francisco. Organized May 1, 1863. Its present officers are, D. J. Staples, president; W. J. Dutton, vice-president; Bernard Faymonville, 2d vice-president and secretary; J. B. Levison, marine secretary; Louis Weinmann, assistant secretary; Stephen D. Ives, general agent. Its capital was originally $200,000, increased in 1865 to $500,000. In the Chicago and Boston fires the company paid about three-quarters of a million of dollars, at which time its capital was temporarily reduced to $300,000, but increased in 1880 to $750,000, and again increased in 1886 to $1,000,000, at which figure it now stands. Its assets January 1, 1894, were $3,111,490, with a re-insurance reserve of $1,143,458, and a net surplus of $733,068. This company is the largest American company organized west of New York, in capital, assets, surplus, and income, and does the largest business on the Pacific coast (its home field) of any company operating there, American or foreign. Besides its Pacific coast department, which reports to its home office, it has a central department with headquarters at Chicago, where it is represented by Thomas S. Chard, who has looked after the company's interests in his field for the past twenty-two years. Its eastern department reports to Charles W. Kellogg, manager, at Boston, Mr. Kellogg having represented the company in that field since the department was formed, nine years ago.

Firemen's Insurance Company, Baltimore, Md. Organized 1825; capital, $378,000. F. E. S. Wolfe, president, H. L. Riall, secretary.

Firemen's Fire Insurance Company, Boston, Mass. Organized 1872; capital, $400,000. T. W. Tucker, president, H. C. Short, secretary.

Firemen's Insurance Company, Chicago, Ill. capital, $250,000. G. F. Harding, president, A. C.

Organized 1867; Collins, secretary. Firemen's Insurance Company, Newark, N. J. Organized 1855; capital, $600,000. J. H. Kase, president, C. Colyer, secretary.

Fire Patrols, Association of Superintendents of. [See Association of Superintendents.]

Fire Patrols, Protective Departments, and Salvage Corps. The fire patrols of the United States are a monument to the enlightened self interest of the fire underwriters. They have made them what

they are, and, in nearly all cases, they support them. The interest that they have in the preservation of property is certainly a great incentive toward efficiency, and it is probable that, no matter whether city governments undertake the control and maintenance of the salvage or not, insurance companies are likely to augment any action of cities toward the preservation of property from fire loss to the fullest extent. New York city was the pioneer in these organizations. In 1839, a number of fire underwriters of New York established a society that was known as the "Fire Police." Although it had no charter the society was recognized by the city authorities as a useful institution, having for its function the protection of property, and in cases of fire its members were given certain police powers. The efficiency of the municipal police, however, soon rendered this part of their activity less important than the protection of property against damage by the element, and they then gradually became known as the "Insurance Patrol." The act of May 9, 1867, incorporating the New York Board of Fire Underwriters, gave that organization the power to establish the present efficient fire patrol of the city of New York.

These organizations exist in the cities of Albany and Auburn, N. Y., Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Chicago, Dayton, O., Denver, Grand Rapids, Kansas City, Louisville, Lowell, Memphis, Milwaukee, Mobile, Newark, N. J., New Orleans, New York, Omaha, Philadelphia, Providence, Reading, Pa., Rochester, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Worcester. They are established by law, and, as a rule, are maintained and controlled by the local organizations of fire underwriters. [See Baltimore Fire Insurance Salvage Corps, Boston Protective De partment, New York Fire Patrol, Association of Superintendents and Captains of Fire Patrol.]

Fire Prevention, Schools to Teach. In April, 1893, Albert A. Pope of Boston wrote and distributed a brochure in which he advocated the establishment of schools or colleges in large cities to teach scientific methods for the prevention and extinguishment of fires. Two of the greatest economic questions now before the people were, Mr. Pope said, the improvement of our roads and the prevention of destructive conflagrations. He said:

In such a college a course of instruction should be devoted to that which relates to the prevention of fires and the best methods and materials of construction of fire-proof buildings. Particular attention should be given to the study of fire-escapes and methods and appliances for removing persons from burning buildings. Then the student should be informed as to the best apparatus to be placed in buildings and used before the engines arrive. Students should be taught the chemistry of fires and how to scientifically fight conflagrations. Instruction should also be given in explosives and in the proper methods of blowing up buildings, and in every way students taught so that they may be competent to serve as heads of fire departments and instruct subordinates. Such a college should be conducted under discipline similar to West Point, and all fire departments should be semi-military in their character. I am of the opinion that firemen should be enlisted in the service for a term of years in a similar manner as men are enlisted in the army, and in event of disability or death the city should provide pensions, in like manner as pensions are now granted by the government for military services.

Fires, Investigation of Causes of, by the Coroner Plan. At the annual meeting of the Fire Underwriters' Association of the Northwest, at Chicago, October 8, 1891, Mr. C. C. Hine presented his plan of fire inquests by coroners as follows:

In the prosecution of this scheme it will not be necessary to create new offices and additional expenses, but merely to enlarge the powers and the field of duty of the coroner now in office. The law must compel him to examine every fire, large or small, in any sort of property burned within his jurisdiction, for the purpose of ascertaining its origin and cause. He must have the same powers as in cases of death, to impanel juries, to enter premises, to appoint assistants, and to do or cause to be done such things as may be necessary to ascertain the causes of fire. He must make a full report of each case to the county clerk, or some other county officer, and monthly or annually, to report to the auditor of state, who shall collate and publish the fire statistics so acquired, particularly in regard to the causes of fires that might have been avoided by better police, better building or otherwise, to the end that property may be saved, and

the future fire-waste diminished.

In cities where there are fire marshals or other officers charged with duties in connection with fires, it must be compulsory that they investigate every fire for the ascertainment of its origin. If it were known that every fire was to be officially investigated for the express purpose of ascertaining its origin; that a public officer had power to enter upon and examine premises, empanel juries, send for persons and papers, examine witnesses under oath, and that he would do it, incendiary fires would be diminished, if they did not practically cease.

Although bills embodying the features of this plan were introduced in several legislatures (in those of Arkansas, New York, Michigan, and Texas in 1893) none have yet been enacted into laws. Commissioner Hollingsworth of Texas made a special effort to secure the adoption of a law in that state, and the heads of a number of insurance departments have earnestly advocated it in their annual reports.

Fires in Principal Cities in 1893, Statistics of: The following table, exhibiting number of fires and insurance thereon in principal cities of the United States in 1893, was compiled from a statement prepared by the committee on statistics of the National Board of Fire Underwriters: