The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-12-01
All Because of Alleged Poor winter,
works and Beery Firemen-
There's Fun Ahead.
There's BeeD Some Tough Hat
tBes at Pito', and thousands
Were slain.
lBurmah Backs Down En rely,
hut I'll NIshdi's Ghost is Rails
ing Hades in Egypt.
INDIGNANT ISLANDERS.
Insurance Rates Raised 30 Per Cent.
On wooden Buildings.


On wooden buildings.
Special to The Examiner.
GALVESTON. November S0.-One of
the severest penalties of the big fire
has just bscu inflicted upon those
whose property did not burn, by an
increase of 80 per cent in the rate of
insurance on frame dwellings, which
class of houses may be said to COIN
prise the entire residence portion of
the city, with the exception ofa doz-
en- or so brick residences. IL seems
that no sooner had the horde of ad-
justers reached this city than they
SET up an almost unanimous cry for
higher rates. The predominating
idea seemed TO be that inasmuch az
Galveston had caused their compan-
les to sustain heavy losses, why, poor
Galveston must make up that loss to
them; otherwise, certain big compau-
les threatened to leave the state. II
is noticeable fact that some of the
smallest losing companies are doing
the loudest crying. Last Saturday
the state board of underwriters rec
commended to the local board an i'll
crease of 35 cents per 300 on the bs-
sis of the rate for frame dwellings.
This was the minimum recommends.
ton of the state board,
which, in all previous Instances, have
been adopted by the local board. In
this instance, however, the local
board, spnrred on by the presence OF
some twenty brow breating adjusters,
overshot the mark, in the opinion OF
many, and raised the minimum rec
omendstion ofthe state board cool
10 cents on the 800, by adopting the
following high tariff of premiums.
Frame dwellings and contents old
rate basis, was 81 on the 800; the
state board recommended 81. 8 aud
the local board adopted $l50. Frame
dwellings with fire proof roof, basis
rate increased from 80 cents to $l.25.
Brick dwellings with fire proof roofs,
increased from as cents to 81. Brick
dwellings wooden roofs, increased
from 81 to Sl.50. Brick mercan lie
risks from 81 so to Sl.75, while tbs
premium on frame business houses is
incr, ased 20 per cent.
Such astounding rates of Insurance
never before prevailed in a commune
ity as. large as Galveston, with its
$4,000 inhabitants, with paid fire de-
partment, and with water works.
The underwriters raised these rates in
secret session wherein each memb, r
was pledged not to divulge the causes,
etc. In their supposed secret discus
eion, the fire department was ridiculed
Ms mere sham; its membership, they
said, comprised good many men, in
Guiding the chief. who were wont to
spend too much time in lager beer
saloons; the water-works were pro-
bounced a fraud. as they would
lever squirt when ii was most needed,
and one insurance man declared
they were simply built to defraud the
city, etc. These are the excuses
which the local sought for submitting
to the threats of the bulldozing adj
justers, who declared they would adj
wise their companies to quit Texas if
the rates were not Immediately raised.
Among those companies whose
travelling representatives are known
to be contemplating to advise their
principals to withdraw from Texas
are: The North America, the dina,
of Hartford; the Hartford, the Royal.
the London aud the Lancashire, and
several others. Texas has proven a
poor feeding ground for some OF
these sleek corporations, aud they
want to get out but hate to quit such
heavy losers.