The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-01-17

Hartford Insurance Company.-Th Belair
democrat of last week, referring to the late meet
ing of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of
that county, says: "An effort was made, and with
partial success to remove some OF the shackles
that have fettered directors and infuse into them
little of the progressive life that governors
other insurance companies. That monstrosity
that charged prOhibitory rates on canned goods,
stored for better market, was removed, as was
the rule that prohibited insuring personal prop
| erty of tenants unless the landlord signed the
| premium note.
"The resolution that was intended to allow
directors, in their discretion, to insure personal
property in buildings insured in other companies,
~ in buildings that were not insured, was so
restricted by an amendment as to render 1t almost
| worthless.
"The theory advanced by those in opposition
| to charging the sphere of directors was that
under the charter of the company the premium
| note was lien on land, and that real estate
security should be required before an insurance
could be effected. These old foges paid no at
tention to the fact that within the forty three
years existence of the company it has never COL
ected dollar by of this lien, if it has one,
and insisted on this obsolete from of insurance
for the purpose, it is alleged, of collecting
ments, three of which have been levied and col
ected without the suggestion of resort to this
claimed lien.
"These periodical assessments are the most
sooner they are dispensed with the better for the
company and for the insured. And it is for the
purpose of getting rid of the necessity for these
assessments that liberal policy is advocated.
This company cannot expect to do business
the same terms that it did forty years ago, when
insurance was in its infancy and this company in
its field of operations was without a competitor
Since that time insurance has been reduced to q
science, and younger and vigorous companies
have their active and interested agents in every
district in the county, seeking and getting bust
ness that we ought to have, but cannot get by
reason of the inactivity of our directors and the
restrictions that are thrown around them by our
obsolete rules This company has in the last few
years lost much business that naturally belongs
to it. 1t does not grow as it should, and it will
not grow and prosper until it gets out of the ruts
and takes broad and comprehensive view of
the insTxance business. Local pride and local
prejud, z will no longer sustain it. 1t must wake
up to the fact that it is sorely pressed by young
and vigorous rivals, adopt such rules and take
such risks and at such rates other intelligentfy
managed and safe companies adopt. Then, and
not till then, will its business and its profits be
doubled and such a reserve fund be accumulated
as will make assessments unnecessary"
A Splendid Mansion.-Among the most
notable improvements in Baltimore county
those upon what was known as the cold Hunt
farm" situated in Green Spring Valley, near
Riders Station, Northern Central Railroad,
and which was purchased some time ago
by Mr.. ). Randolph Mordecai, well-known
Baltimore merchant Upon beautiful site on
this farm he has erected elegant mansion, COM
handing one of the finest views in all the county.
The house is very large and attractive and is
greatly admired by all who have it. The
first story is of blue limestone taken from q
quarry on tho place, while the second and third
stories combination of shingles and cypress
cottage weather boarding, giving the building a
handsome and unique appearance, altogether diff |
ferent from anything we have yet seen in this
State and very much resembling the elegant cot |
tages around Newport. large hall, III feet wide
and 40 feet long, runs through the centre of the
house, upon which open parlOr, library, dining
room and beautiful wide open stairway, in &C.
cord with the general character Of the building |
On the first floor there are exceptionally large
open fze-places in every and in the hail. |
ornamented with massive wooden mantels of oak |
and mahogany, running up very nearly to the
ceilings. Every room on the second floor has also
an open fireplace, while a Gold Medal furnace,
of the largest pattern, furnishes heat to the entire
house, throughout which there is every convent
enceo of water, gas, speaking tubes, &c., &c. Pure
water is supplied from an inexhaustible spring
and is pumped up by an over-shot wheel. The
interior of the house is finished wholly in hard
wood principally Georgia yellow pine, which is
oiled and polished in the most beautiful manner
Altogether, in appearance, finish and the mod
ern conveniences, this house must be regarded as
among the very best in the county. 1t was plan
ned by Messrs Wyatt Sperry, Baltimore archi
tects. The carpenter and builder, who deserves
great credit for the careful manner in which he
has carried out every detail of the plan, Mr..
NJ. L. Flowers, of Lutherville. The stone work
was done by Mr.. David German the painting and
inside finish work was done by Messrs Parks & |
German, of Towsontown, and the plastering by |
Messrs. Phpps & Murray, also of Towsontown.
Mr.. Mordecai has erected all new outbuildings
They are of such character as to correspond
with the dwelling and are supplied with every
modern convenience. He has now one of the
most beautiful country places in the State and his
fine building improvements are not only credit