The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-06-19

harmony formed striking feature Of this organiza.
tion. and when the war broke ont, acting in double
cap pacity-borrowiDg the language of the annual re-
port OF tho chief Of tho dopartment-"they have thus
performed twofold duty-one to tho city as arenep
and the othor to the State s,diers'' They still
presented highly efficient body their annual parade
| on tho 2sth Of April, 18e0
THE DEsTRUCTIvENEss OF CHARLESTON FIRES
We have alluded to the and frequency of tho
fires In Charleston. 1t is estimated by one largely en-
gagged In the business of FIRE insurance that between
the year 1907 1910 and 1861 thirteen large fires
Cured involving LOGS Of nearly thirteen millions of
dollars including the two great res 1888 and 1861
the former Of which attended by loss OF four and
the latter OF five millions In estate e1clusiyely
Two questions arise here-Could these losses have
oeen prevented and not altogether prevented could
they have been lessened repaired2 Events furnish
the reply Wemust answer the last question frat The
payment OF the losses OF tho fro of 1888 would moro
nave repaid the premium down to the fire 1888;
ana the same must be said with regard to the fire Of
1851 without reference to the frequent and
nres that took place In the long intermediate period
Ihere arc two aspects Of this question: The
Oh INSURANCE by the companies chartered this State
The neglect Of the city furnish an ADEQUATE supply
OF water. We have anticipated the reply to the first
branch OF the inquiry. The effect of various topo.
srapnica surveys has been, that an ample supply
wafer could have been obtained from tho Edisto at
partly to blame for this gupineness It ia within our
personal experience that they have forty years dig
GUSHING schemes for obtaining adequate supply OF
water. projects have been canyassed and dismissed
and still conHagraons have devoured time after time
the fairest portions Of their oiy. BY tho outlay of
moderate sum compared with their losses they could
not only have obtained ample supply of water but
derived revenue by moderate outlay and limited tax
The sum OF two millions Of dollars would not only have
brought any needed quantity, but have furnished as we
nave said source OF revenue to the city Instead OF
waterWorks, like those OF every oher city with large
population, Charleston expended largo sums In digging
wells and tidal drains that afforded no adequate supply
Another Of the errors OF legislaon the reduction
ofinsurance capital The cspital Of both the Mutual
and Fire and Marine were reduced each one half In.
stead Of the Legislature strengthening she weakened
the security Of the citizens The principles Of
seem Mt present better understood than formerly At
period the Legislature had succeeded in driving out
OF the city both tho Foreign Northern insurance
Agencies by excessive taxation Is only Of late that
they have again made their appearance among u.s.
snrance is conducted scientific principles
and administered moro skillfuy than heretofore
abling the companies to pay heavy fiscal burhenu by
the diffusion instead OF the concentration Of risks the
great secret Of successful insurance
Three Of the local Insurance Companies Of this city
are still In existence. and taking risks, although with
greatly reduced capitals arising from tho depreciation
VI their asaets from the casuaues OF war to wit:
The Insurance and Trust Company, ]. Il, RoEouR,
President
The Calhoun Insurance Company, chartered In -,
g. Y. TUPPER, President
And the Elmore Insurance Company, W. NJ MARTIN,
President
There arc ak eight other Insurance Agencies rep.
resenting English and Northern Companies. larger
! amount OF insurance capital is represented in
Charleston than at any former period. The insurance
capital represented In this city is said to be about
$t0,O00,O00.