, 1874-10-31

The election Of hlr. John i. Drake a8 the rop
rosentative Of tho Board OF Underwriters iu Tho
Po!ice Commission gives goneral satisfaction,
and it is generally beloved especially by tho iu-
snranco mon, that this act viii induce Con. Slla-
Ter to accept the offer made to him by tho Citl-
zonB' Association mud the underwriters, as there
will now bc nlau i'll tho Board vino will back
him in carrying out tho necessary reforms.
There ia no longer any doubt TINT the National
Doard conf Ianics are repontng in sackcloth aud
ashes their husty action in Withdrawing from
this city. They are merely waiting to got good
excuse to como bacli without stultifying them
aolyes, and the appointment Of Shaler would give
them tho coveted chance. These companies,
when they first withdrew from this city, thought
they would throw the entiro city; into confusion,
destroy its credit, and then dictate terms to
tair Aeartg' content. They expected that every
company belonging to the Bonrd would follow
the advice Of tho Executive Committee: But
nothing Of tue kind has happened, mud all thoir
expectations have come to nauEht. Tho city
went on in the even tenor OF It's way rs If moth
Ing hnd happened, and continued to make tho
improvements commenced md decided upon be-
foro this withdrawal Of tho companies. onr
not least, forty National Board companies re-
fused to comply With tho request OF the Exeou-
tive Commtteo, md aro still doing very ra1nu-
noratlvo business in tho city. The action Of
kt4C1o INluE@allEb WAN kAG AaluGst nlON LUG WILL"
drawing companies havo reesivod; they confident
ly expected tint every National Board company
would 20. oreat was thoir rage, and no stone
was loft unturncd to bring tEeae companies to
terms:: Every pohsbc effort was nalo to iu-
duco the Now York merchants to ceaso uuder-
writing in tho companies remaining horo, aud
thus compel them to leave tho city. Tho Royal
of London, one Of to heat companies in tllo
world, WIN made tho special targct of their
venom, because ita General Agaut in tits
country, Mr. c. II. Case refused to coasc under-
writing Zero. Nu1nber'css letters ,yero written
to tho home Office painting aIaits III tlls city In
tho darkest .olors. aud trying 70 inlucs tile
manager to rophce slr. Case. 1lut the Company
remained drn, md Alr. Cases. wise action MI
approved By tho hume oilice.
bosiles tho forty National Boartl companies
ntii! doing business ltro there arc also tlEty-aix
non-board co,npanioH rho arc taking sisgs.
,rhat with these companies most OF whom are
good and rcllable concerns. Chlcago cares but
little fqr tho action Of tue National Doar4 COM
rattos, must bo appnse1lt. improvements have
h6dn alid arc still carried on With Ercat etcrgy.
EnRll wnter-pipeB have boon replaced by larEot
,tieH. Nov engines at.d hose have boon rNr.
ehAsed. Most vi our buildings havo boon supplied
with iron shutters, and stantl-pipob lave boou
placed In many otAors. Wooden signa haYa bpo
takeu from tho top Of tho houses, and the strcet'
ondH In tho Nnbor. districts utloltl. III fact,
improvements are Apparont everywhere, aud b.
fore long thora will NOT be- het!er city In the
Uultad Atasea for tlre-risAB. The Executive
Committee es tho National board has bean IN
bosH!oI. Ut Hoaton during the Inst two days, Ind
1t ls bslovsd that they wore dlscuaaing Ohicako