Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 300, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1919 — Whole Town Insured [ARTICLE]

Whole Town Insured

Death, Sickness and Accident Covered by Policy. -f Big Concerns at Kingsport, Tenn., Join in Protecting All Their Employees. New York.—AH the workers employed by the various Industries located at Kingsport, Tenn., have been insured against death, sickness and accident under a jingle group policy issued by one. of the big life insurance companies. In all about 2,000 persons employed by ten" large concerns are thus protected, and as the population of the town of Kingsport is estimated at about 10,000, almost every family in the community will receive a financial benefit in'case of accident, sickness or death overtaking one of its breadwinning members. The policy has been in effect since early in July. According to officials of the insurance company this is the first instance known where a whole community has adopted a standarized plan of insurance. The experiment is attracting the attention of many other municipalities, especially public officials who are interested in commuhW seKiter nnfl assn inswranw wren. ‘ The prospective financial benefit to be derived by individuals under the policy is heftl of far less importance than the general, good which has resulted from the quickening of the conscience of the Kingsport community.

A health center, to which every resident of the city has access, as well as the employees of the particular industries covered by the group policy. has been established. A nurse furnished by the insurance company is in charge. Meantime the officials of Kingsport have selected a public health official, drawing salary from the municipality, to look after the sanitary conditions of the community. Among other things, an attractive .housing plan has been adopted and will be carried out as expeditiously as building conditions will permit After making a careful survey the nurse in charge of the health center found a large number of houses in the town that she regarded as insanitary and unfit to live in. At the suggestion of the insurance company these houses are to be burned, and all of Kingsport, as well as a large delegation of “movie” picture men, have been invited to watch the bonfire. ' The insurance company has become a sort of “big brother” to the town of Kingsport, and its suggestions as to improvements necessary to preserve the health of the community are adopted with a spirit of hearty cooperation by the leading business men and city- officials.