42 UNITED STATES - INSURAXCE AXD THRIFT 



time of listing property for assessement each year, are required to inquire 

 of the party assessed how many acres of crop such party may wish to in- 

 sure for the year, informing him that as a premium for tliis insurance a 

 payment of 30 cents for each acre insured must be made. As originally 

 enacted, the law had fixed the rate for insurance premium at 20 cents per 

 acre of grain insured, but the experience of the first two years indicated 

 that this rate was too low, and it was therefore raised to 30 cents, as above. 



The assessor is required to fill in the forms for all such insurance agree- 

 ments, to collect the 30 cents per acre with an additional half cent per acre 

 as an application fee, and to forward these forms and moneys to the county 

 auditor, who files the applications and turns over the moneys to the county 

 treasurer. 



The insurance is in force and effect from the time of filing the applica- 

 tion in the office of the county auditor until the grain is cut, but in no case 

 later than September 15th of each year. 



On the 1st of June, July and August, the county auditors make a list 

 of all hail insurance applications filed with them, and forward same to the 

 Department of Hail Insurance at the State capital, Bismarck. 



Meantime, the county commissioners at their April board meeting 

 shall appoint for each county a competent resident to act as official adjuster 

 of losses and damage caused by hail to any crop insured under the act. 

 The State Commissioner of Hail Insurance must be notified by the county 

 auditors of such appointments which only become vaUd on receiving his 

 approval, and he has power to remove or discharge any such oflicial adjuster 

 for incompetency or neglect. 



It is the duty of these official adjusters to adjust losses or damages 

 caused by hail to crops within their districts insured under the act. 



When any party thus insured has sustained loss by hail he promptly 

 notifies the Commissioner of Insurance, who directs an official adjuster 

 to visit the place and estimate and adjust such loss. In so doing it is his 

 dut}' carefully to inquire into the conditions of the crop before the loss oc- 

 curred, as to whether it was poor, medium, or good, and if he deems it ne- 

 cessary he has power to call witnesses to testify as to the said condition, 

 and he shall make his estimate and adjustment after ascertaining the con- 

 dition before and after the loss occurred. In estimating the loss the adjuster 

 shall allow as damages the proportion which the crop as damaged bears 

 to the crop if no such loss had occurred. If the total value of the crop in- 

 sured be less than eight dollars per acre then in case of total loss the insured 

 shall receive the total value thereof ; if the loss be partial he shall receive 

 that percentage of value which the loss bears to the total value of the crop 

 insured. If the value of the crop be more than eight dollars per acre, the 

 insured shall receive that percentage of the maximum of eight dollars which 

 the loss bears to the total value of the crop, proY-ided however that in no 

 case shall more than eight dollars per acre be allowed as the maximum for 

 wheat, flax, oats, barley, corn, rye, and other grains. 



Should the party insured refiise to accept the adjustment made by 

 the official adjuster he shall have the right to appoint one disinterested 



