THE FIRE LOSSES OF 1881.

THE FIRE LOSSES OF 1881.

RECENTLY we printed an extended list of the principal fires that occurred last year. It was a formidable array, and excited much comment from our contemporaries. This week we present tables showing the fire losses of 1881, by States and Territories, and also a table exhibiting the losses of the past five years in the United States and Canada. These statistics are compiled by the Insurance Chronicle, of this city, which has made a business of so doing for a number of years. In these tables no fires are noted where the damage was less than $100; nor is it claimed for them that they are accurate, for, in the absence of any system for gathering these statistics officially, the press of the country has to be relied upon largely for reports of fires, and no person can possibly have access to all that are printed. Hence many fires occur that are not included in these tables. Indeed, it is not probable that more than two-thirds of the total number of fires find record in the Chronicle tables. But they are, nevertheless, more nearly correct than any other'compilation made, and are largely used by underwriters as a basis from which to make calculations regarding their business. It gives us pleasure to recognize the enterprise and care displayed in these tabulations and to acknowledge the service they have been to us at various times.

The total loss last year, as recorded in these tables, amounted to the enormous sum of $81,280,900. If to this added the number not reported. and those ot less than $100 damage, of which no record is made, and the total will be swelled to considerably over $100,000,000. As a matter of fact, the general estimate of underwriters fixes the aggregate annual losses by fire at about this latter sum. New York State leads off with the largest losses, the amount reaching nearly $16,000,000. This was to be expected, for that State possesses a greater number of large cities, abounding with large, highly inflammable buildings, containing enormous values in comparatively small areas. Pennsylvania follows with $7,015,800, to which Philadelphia contributed liberally. Ohio comes next with $4,846,200, which was the aggregate of losses in that State. Illinois lost nearly an equal amount with Massachusetts, there being but $200 difference between them, the former losing $4 741,000 and the latter $4,740,800. Missouri, Indiana and Michigan ran almost neck and neck, the latter coming in ahead with $3,718,300. California came in also with over $3,000,000 in losses. Texas and New Jersey lost over $2,000,000 each, while eleven other States come in with more than $1,000,000 each. Even such new States as Colorado, Nebraska and Nevada show losses that are by no means inconsiderable, representing an amount of wealth that can illy be spared from our pioneer communities. This apportionment of losses among the States gives something of an idea of the cost of fires to individuals, and it only requires familiarity with the number of citizens in each State to ascertain what the cost of annual fires is to each individual. But taking the general propositition [that the 'population of the United States is 50,000,000, and the fire losses $ico,000,000, we have a tax of two dollars per capita on every man, woman, and child in the country. To go still further, and divide the losses among the voting population, and we have about ten dollars of fire tax laid upon every voter. The positive pecuniary interest every individual should have in preventing fires becomes thus apparent. The wealth consumed in these fires is the product of the industry of our people, who must not only lose that which they have created, but must tax their energies to replace it. It is a fearful waste, as unnecessary and wanton as it is cruel. The science of fire prevention needs to be invoked to reduce our fire losses to the minimum, and this science lies simply in foresight, carefulness and vigilance.