The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-27
PERIL OF FIRE;

FOREIGN INSURANCE COMPANIES WITHDRAWING
RISKS FROM NEW YoRK-oPINIoNs OF AGENTS
AND OFFICERS.
grave assertion having been published in . morn
ing journal 10 the effect tone OF the leading Bos-
ton hrc Insurance companies had given up its Now
York agency, assigning its reason the very made
quate water supply Of this city," HERALD repor
undertook 10 ascertain how far this was true. Not
only was Tho assertion boldly made that We in
sne midst OF danger from a short water supply, but
mat the mains and pipes, especially the lower
oucr parts OF the city, wero badly arranged and en-
tircly insufficient for the purpose OF promptly extin
gushing fires Instances given where u 0:
water thrown upon burning building did not roach
over thirty or tnrynve feet from the nozzle OF tho
nose, and II was clear II these assertions were cor
roboratcd, tho metropolis OF tho country Liable
A. any time TO be ovcrtnkcn by a calamity terrible
rs that which bctell Chicago and Boston.
OPINIONS OF INSURANCE AGENTS.
One OF the firm OF Mcssrs Frame, Haro l. Lock wood,
at The corner OF Broadway and Fulton street. stated that
he had heard OF the dcclinaton the part OF Boston
companies Of New York risks. but did think that
tho closing up OF many Boston agencies here would
result He would rather not express himself In detail.
AS the subject rather delicate. IL true tho
inadcquacy OF the water supply had been asserted
be tho cause for the Boston Withdrawals, but thcro
were probably other reasons for this action. On the
former subject he opinion OF action,
now bolng arranged the Commissioner OF
Public Works aud the Fire Commissioners, would do
away with the complaints in this regard.
Joseph G. Doremus president of the Safeguard
Fire Insurance Company. said to the writer:-.sNo
doubt certain times there is an inadequate water
supply, ana when great nre breaks out there
Is somo excuse made; but tho for tho with
drawal of these Boston companies, outside OF the
short supply OF WATER is the smallness Of MAINS
and, worse than that the undertaking OF rates be.
tween the companies. Take building, Tor instance,
on which, from lis construction situation business
carried ON IN II, the owner should pay premium OF
three or tnrec and one-haf per cent There is such
competition between tho companies that ono OF them
will offer 10 Insure Tor Two and onc-half per cent
other for two, unit, finally the writing is dono at
and hall per cont. think this reason, as well as
others, has determined the action Of whatever Boston
companies have Withdrawn; but do not know OF my
own knowledge that any have"
1t was discovered finally that the Fireman's In
surance Company of Boston the referred 10
as having Withdrawn its agency from this city. Tho
Office was found at No. 152 Broadway, aud all qucs.
hons in regard to the matter promptly answered Tho
Official in charge said:-lt IS true, as reported, that
the Fireman's insurance Company OF Boston, whose
agents VIC formerly were, have Withdrawn their bust
ness from this city. do not know how many others
have or will do likewise The reasons have generally
boon correctly statedi the belief that the water
supply was TOO small IN case OF large Dire prevent
general and the cuttng under rates
BY the companies which rendered the business I'M
profitable and attended with too much risk"
FEW PLAIN
Mr.. Harrison, Superintendent of Surveys, said I'll
DO not know how tar the complaints are well founded
lhal the mains are too small 70 contain supply OF
water sufficient TO throw the upper nigh
buildings, or for what the Boston companies
Withdraw their risks on New York property but the
citizens Of this cty are IN total ignorance oil
things about which they should DO formed What is
limited at as dangerous TO the high buildings
way Is true OF every structure on that thoroughIar
and all over the city in OF fire. In Broadway
stream OF water under good pressure is only good Tor
about eighty or ninety feet ana the citizens should
know 1t; that means that lire commencing IN The
sixth or seventh story Of building Will burn down
lhe fourth before tho hremen can effectively play upon
Il from the street. body OF wator coming from tho
one and half inch nozzle OF hose is effective only
who the stream is solid and before II breaks into
Bpray, when II scaters and It's effect 10 lost Besides
when fire is very hot the spray is converted into
steam and does good Another matter that should
be attended 10 1T once Is the protection tho n.y.
drants from ir0sL When a fire breaks out and the
engines arrive on the spot and find an adjacent hy-
dranI frozen the delay hvc SIX mn lies In ind
Ing others is frequently fatal Hydrants can be made
frostpr0Of now at comparatively small expense ana
II should be done at oncon In CONCLUSION. Mr. Har.
rson stated that found correspond nee on these
subjects with public officials OF but little avail The
critical conditions oil winter were upon us aud II
were at any time confronted with frozen hydrants and
bwo or more fires should occur at the time the
consequences might be lamentabe.
know Of At least four Boston companies who had
taken away their agencies from New York, 1t was
certain that within the past SIX months Philadelphia
had discontinued several Upon being asked to name
generally the causes leading to this result the gentle
suid:-
No. L-Incondiarism. A carefully complied table
for twelve years shows over thrtylhrce per OF
nrcS duo 10 this one cause.
No. 2-CompelItion. Taking risks declined by
other ASSOCIATIONS at o runously low premium.
No, a-pctroleum yards, rcaneries and storage
warehouses hlled with combustibes within and
the built up portions Of the city.
No. 4-Dclects in party wallis iron fronts and the
hoight OF buildings, AMI so on
TIB COMMISSIONERS WORKS.
Mr.. Allan Campbell was found in his office at tho
City Hall. He stated 1t Was truc that the mains IN
she lower part OF tho city as large as the
department. could wish, bat they rclaying them
and Substituting large ones The appropriations ior
this purpose wcrc not enormous ana they could only
go AS lar as the iunds went. They were, however
using all tho energy IN their power to supply the
downtown sections with good mans As to the water
Tho Commissioner stated no had heard plant Of
~ inadequate supply In to the fro al Ha!os
piano factory, where somo criticism about short
supply was made tho water happened to be temporarily
diverted. There was now, however, an cement
consummatcd between the Fire Commissioners aud
the Department OF Public Works by which, IN case OF
1re tho remen telegraph 10 tho reservoir Central
Park aud the supply at tho local
Ivy endangered. TINS has been found to work ira
bly, and although II deprived somc portions OF tho
CITY Of The usual amount OF wntcr tho vicinity OF tho
fire is supplied
fhe Cnio Engineer OF tho Croton Water Bureau in
dorscd tho words OF Mr.. Campbell, and said :-"rhc
pipcs were put In forty years ago, whom buildings were
small and hand engines used. We had no such
structures as the Western Union building them