It Is believed, will do more to reduce
accidents than any other method pos
sible. Mention la made here of this
matter to call your attention to what
Is being done elsewhere.”
The report shows that during the
calendar year 1925, Insurance com
panies in the District collected a total
of $22,319,845.29 In premiums and paid
out $6,619,897.88 in losses. The cor
responding figures for the previous
year were $19,687,322.68 In premiums
and $6,518,884.88 In losses.
An Improvement over the preceding
year In the percentage of fire losses
to premieums Is shown by the report.
In 1924 fire premiums amounted to
$2,234,029, with losses of $871,674, giv
ing a percentage in losses of 39 per
cent. For last year fire premiums
amounted to $2,521,798, with losses of
$847,686, or a percentage of only slight
ly more than 8.3 per cent.
“The District of Columbia enjoys
very low fire insurance rates, owing
to the fact that w# do not have any
large Industrial or manufacturing
plants found in other cities, and
further, because we have wide streets
and up-to-date, well equipped and
efficient Fire Department and po
overhead or dangererous electric
wires In the congested section," Mr.
Baldwin said. "With the Installa
tion of the proposed new high-pres
sure water system in the more haz
ardous sections there Is no reason
why fire Insurance rates should not
be even lower In the District."
The superintendent expressed re
gret that a new insurance code was
not enacted at the last session of
Congress, but expressed hope that
the various groups would get to
gether before the next session opens.
