The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-26
WHERE SHALL 1T FALL?
HAVE THE CITY COMMISSIONERS FL.
NANCIERING ABILITY
A Peremptory Petition From the Local
Board of Underwriters That Means a
Great Deal-Increased Rates for Fire
Insurance Likely To Be Established.

Now comes the tug Of war, when the
property-owning citizen will rise to re.
mark, Politics DO hanged! 1t has the
Legislature, the city government, aud is
fastening its clutches upon my pursc!"
As result OF the pavis-O dlum salary
bill, manipulated through. the last Legisla.
lature, the delayed action by the commits.
sioners, and those touching letters to the
respective chiefs, full OF significance, those
who carry fire insurance policies will
doubtless long for some long headed finan.
cier to look after taxing district business.
The Board Of Underwriters held meet
ing recently, and the business transacted
appears in the following petition, which
went before the legislative council at its
session yesterday afternoon:
MEMPHIS, 1eun.. April e5, 1850.
To the lIonorablc.Fio and Police Commissioners:
conference.-the beg to submit the fol.
lowing facts for your consideration:
During tho past six years the companies
doing business in this city have received
in net fire premiums, 81, 250,000. The fire
losses in the same length OF time were
S2,701,00O
After the severe losses OF 1887, which SO
forcibly demonstrated the inability OF our
fire department N cope with fires in the
large buildings Which are now becoming
so numerous in our city, the Underwriters
were comforied by the assurance that the
department would soon be increased sufIi-
ciently TO a, least partly compensate for the
growing hazard.
Instead OF this being done, every engine
company is now crippled by the reduction
OF its force TO seven men, which, in our
opinion, reduces the speed and efficiency
OF the department more than IL an entire
company had been taken out of service.
Upon investigation we find that in tho
cities where longer experiences has taught
them what is necessary, the engine COM
panies that are liable to bc called into
service in. the business part of the CITY
have from ten to fourteen men.
More than one-thifd OF the horses In
our department are at present unfit for
service, being either broke down badly or
of such light build that they are unable 10
pull the heavy apparatus up an ordinary
grade without the assistance OF the men.
and during the winter months il Is impos.
While Memphis has suffered extremely
heavy fire losses during the past six wears
II Is remarkable, when We consider the
number OF serious iires that have occurred
IN the Dalsiness district, that one or more
Of them have not developed into extensive
conilagralions. II has always happened
that these fires have occurred when there
was little or no wind. but we could men
ttnn "a af HFaa NHtFl.ts. - 4
years any one OF which would have burned
block after block had the wind been blow
ing with any force, as IL sometimes does
Tor days gt time. II Is only q question OF
time, however, when the fire anl the wind
will come at the same time, and with
nothing to protect Us but fire depart
mcnt which Is barely able to cope with
ordinary fires the result will b. iightiul.
With the record Of losses in the past, and
knowing that the danger Of cOullnrraiion
is being rapidly increased 10y the erection
OF larger buildings aud in many other
ways; aud that the lire protection, instead
Of keeping pace with thc danger. is being
decreased, would II be- surprising u the
insurance companies found ID necessary TO
materially increase rates In order TO change
the balance from los 30 profit
In consideration oi these facts. we re-.
specially ask that you restore the useful.
ness OF the department ~ II existed thirty
days ago, and in addition that you put
into service tho two engines which we're
recently bought and paid for. and also nut
in service the old hook aud ladder truck
and old chemical engine.
These Improvements would require moth.
ing but men and horses, and wo regard
thar, ultaalUfultt -. H.,
protection Of the city. Respectfully sub
mitied. CARHiNGroS MAsoS,
L. II. IluNrER,
II. BENsDoRF,
Committee.
A number Of insurance men. represent
ing both home aud foreign companies,
were present 10 keep up with the paper.
II was, as will be seen, addressed 10 the
Fire aud Police Commissioners, 10 whom
Il was referred without comment, except
from Maj Petit, who remarked: "Thcy
don't say anything about where the money
n 10 come from" Mr.. J. 4. Bcaslcy In.
quircd II the reference TO the commission
ers was intended 10 table the petition. lie
was eyasiycly answered by Mr.. lladdcn
that the commissioners would consider Il,
which ended the discussion, aud other
business was taken az.
twas estimated by the hes, posted man
In the City Government that Il would take
$4,000 per annum 10 comply with the re-
quests. To an ArrE,L reporter, later, an
insurance man said Il would moro than
likely cost the property owners who carry
insurance S3l.O00, unless the improve
monu 10 the department were made ne
requested. ON account Of the increase Of
rates. There. then, 10 the dilemma. The
commissioners must ALLURE politics In tho
prcmiacS put on their business clothes
and bring tie fire department out Of tho
village grade, OF still heavier tax will DO
placed upon the people.
IL u reported that one reason why tho
insurance men were ~ anxious foF final
disposition Of their paper ycsiorlay. was
that meeting Of the underwriters was ar
ranged for this morning nc which tho in
crease Of rates was a. b. made, Ia tho
event Of failure 20 receive tho desired pro-
lection from the Commissioners.
The Commissioners will hold u "conicr.
onco" today or tomorrow aud draw up q
letter IN answer 20 the petition. Capt.
Ice stated that II would probably DO held
In some cellar. where newspaper reporters
would not be- likely to lay 10 wait aud kick