304 Forestry Quarterly. 



The first Mutual Forest Fire Insurance 



Forest Company, as far as we know, has been 



Fire organized last year or is organizing in 



Insurance. Sweden under the title Svenska Omsesidiga 



Forsakringsbolaget Skogseld. Its charter 



is so drawn, that if by May, 5, 1912, it has not secured at least 



500 members and 50,000 Kr ($13,500) insurance, its charter is 



forfeited. 



By making the company a mutual association, many difficulties 

 are overcome which have prevented regular insurance companies 

 from taking such risks readily. The premium can be low until 

 experience has shown its proper amount. The valuation of prop- 

 erties can be secured without much expense; cooperation and 

 mutual watchfulness is secured. 



The premium for the first year has been made one per mille of 

 insurance value. If a railway pass within 50 yards the premium 

 is increased by 40 % ; if a charcoal meiler or kiln within that dis- 

 tance the premium is increased 10%. On the other hand, the 

 neighborhood of field, meadow or pasture secures a reduction by 

 20%. The minimum premium is 2 Kr. (54 cents). The highest 

 risk taken is f of the forest value. 



The valuation is based upon the owner's own estimate or under 

 some circumstances on that of an expert employed by the asso- 

 ciation at the expense of the insurer. The damage is appraised by 

 a committee of two, chosen, one by the insured, one by the asso- 

 ciation, who, if they cannot agree, choose a third member from 

 outside of the locality, who, however, may not award a higher nor 

 a lower damage than the two original appraisers. Finally, there 

 may be an appeal to the courts. 



Skogsbrandforsakningsfragan. Skogsvardsforeningens Tidskrift. De- 

 cember, 191 1. Pp. 462-464. 



UTILIZATION, MARKET AND TECHNOLOGY. 



At St. Joe, Idaho, a flume was constructed 



Five-mile for floating down saw-logs, piling 80 feet 



Log Flume long, and boom sticks 40 feet long. The 



in Idaho. flume is about 5 miles long built through a 



rough rocky canyon, with an average grade 



of 11% and with curves so great as 20 degrees. The grade line 



