442 The Ohio Naturalist. [Vol. XV, No. 4, 



August 3, 1914. 



CIRCULAR LETTER. 



Dear Sir: — This letter is being sent to a large number of Mutual Fire 

 Insurance Companies in the United States with the hope of being able to 

 compile valuable statistics as to the efficacy of lightning rods on farm 

 buildings. 



The answer will be considered confidential and the only matter pub- 

 lished will be averages from a large number of reports. The information 

 collected is to be used in the preparation of a paper to be read at the Sep- 

 tember meeting of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies 

 in this city. Therefore please give the questions early and careful attention 

 and make the answers just as complete as possible, even at the expense of 

 some labor. Very respectfully, 



J. Warren Smith, 



Professor in Meteorology. 



QUESTIONS In Year . Average in 



1913 1912 5 years 



1. Total number of farm buildings 



insured by your company 



2. Total number of farm buildings 



burned from any cause 



3. Total buildings struck by lightning 



4. Total struck, only damaged 



5. Total struck that were burned 



6. Of those struck by lightning how 



many had lightning rods 



7. Of those struck and damaged only, 



how many had rods? 



8. Of those burned b}^ lightning how 



many had rods? 



9. Please give total risks on farm 



buildings. 



10. Give total claims paid from all fire 



loss on farm buildings. 



11. Give total claims paid due to 



lightning. 



12. Give total paid due to lightning on 



rodded buildings. 



13. Do you make any reduction in rate 



on rodded buildings? 



If you have had any cases where rodded buildings have been burned 

 or damaged b}^ lightning kindly give any information that you may have 

 as to the kind of lightning rod, when put up and whether in good condition. 



Name and address of Company 



Date 



