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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 by 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 by 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. 
