Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-11-30
TOUCHED SLIGHTLY.
sOMB LOCAL COMPANIES HAD SMALL RISKS
IN BOSTON.
The Terrible Total Of the Fire Loss Of the Country.
An Insurance Mans Opinion on
Local Fire Matters.

Inquiry among insurance men, yeeter-
day. revealed general fear that some oil
the local companies had been caught In
the Boston fire, bat just what companies
were thus unfortunate, or the extent oil
the loss incurred, could not be learned
it being stated, in explanation, that as the
risks held here in Wheeling were taken
through reinsurance by other Companies,
1t was too early to get at the exact situa-
ton.
One insurance secretary said:
"This has been a very bad year for the
companies, ami another large fire. will
cause the collapse CT good many concerns
in various parts of the country. Indeed,
the Boston fire, coming right on the heels
of the cOnhagratiOn ct Lynn, will test the
financial strength of some of them surely,
as it is. OF course, the LEGAL companies are
all right"
81 suppose the fire loss this year will
run good deal ahead of that OF 1882"
'Yes, indeed. l was talking with a
friend a few days ago, before the Lynn
fire, ard he stated that up to that date the
losses in the United States were about $25,
900, 600 in excess of 1888. OF course the
Lynn and Boston fires will swell that
amount by SIS, 900, 600 or $40, 600, 900, and
there is whole month 70 go before the
year is out"
Then the loss may reach as high as
$3.50, 900, OOO?"
''It may indeed"
''What DO you think about the situation
here in Wheeling, regarding protection
from fre?"
81 don't think the department is ts
large as it should he. In addition 10 that,
there are several essentials lacking One
of them is the absence of any city regula-
tiOns regarding building, etc. There
ought TO be an ordinance giving the fire
marshals very much extended authority.
Let me give you an illustration: A few
days ago q merchant came to me, and
called attention to the very bad fue IN a
building Joining his owr. He waited
lAlC W w ho IL WIS lidblC ~
cause a fire. l told him l was powerless,
aud he left. IL another instance l was ia.
ken to the cellar Of business house,
where there was an immeDse quantity OF
old paper, store boxes, and all sorts
Of rubbish. A chance match or
a cigar stub might start a
fire there which would do a hundred
thousand dollars worth of damage, but the
insurance men have no law to appeal to,
and must decline to insure the premises or
take the risk. There are dozons of bus
mess houses exposed to j1st this danger,
in greater or less degree. AZ to the city
fire department, 1 have nothing to say
against it, ss far as it goes. 1t has shown
itself efficient on many occasions, but it is
not large enough for On emergency, such
as may srise any windy night The city
covers good deal OF territory, aud this
ought to be taken into consideration. All
the talk TO be heard about giving mp steam
engines, or not adding 10 them, when the
new reservoir is completed, oDght not to
be listened to. There ought TO be ut least
one more steamer, located at the Hope
hose house To make this addition to the
department would be the part of wisdom.
Don't let tie city wait till big FIRE spurs
her on"