New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-02
r. J. Horner & Co.
INSURANCE MEN PROTEST.
THEY FEAR THE DANGEROUS TROLLEY
PREMIUMS TO 60 Up WHEREVER IT l. USED
ASKING TIE ALDERMEN To RECON
slDER THEIR WORK.

| PREMIUMS TO 60 Up w HIKENER IT L USED
ASKING TIE ALDERMEN To RECON
siDER THEIR WORK.
The scheme for the Introduction Of the trolley
electric system street railways in this city which
has already received the sanction Of the Board oi
Aldermen. has AROUSED the opposition Of Insurance
men. who say that It Will make heir risks more
hazrdou, and consequently increase their rates along
the streets where the trolley Is operated. The New
York Board Of Fire Underwriters is strongly opposed
TO the trolley and has filed It's protest against It's
| Introduction. The following letter from President
Kennedy OF the Board Of Fire Underwriters, was re
ccvcd yesterday by the clerk Of The Board Of Alder
men:
~GcntIcmcn: some time ago the Ncw York Board
Of Fire Underwriters adopted protest against any
grant for thu n,c of cread electric wires ior the pro
pulson Of street Manhattan Island. and spe
ciM committee was charged with the duty OF present
ne that protest and urrns Il before the public aI-
thorit.c,. The chairman OF that committee. hy reason
OF absence the city. entirely unaware that
Your honorable board had appointed day o. hear ar
Currents this matter and. there fore. when oDpor
tiniiv was offered 10 appearance made on behalf
of our association. our committee net TO day and In
,iruct,d III. to respectfully request that You recon
slider the resolutions passed at your meeting - IA"
18th ult. and Afford ~ an opportunity 10 appear be
fore your board or before Iour committee. ana set
forth our reasons FOR olectng to the Of overhead
|
Island.
We are not willing 10 oppose economical
and convenient methods Of srectcar propulsion. but
the proposed change Of motive power has evidently
a point Of view peculiar I" our business The matter
seems TO rs Of extreme importance. and We feel
that to some extent represent the Interest OF the
entire community for IT +, the judgment Of the great
majority Of our members that the OF the overhead
trolley will compel the fire Insurance companies
Ia very materially advance their rates The amount
paid by propcrt y. owncrs premiums for fire IN
sufancc IN Now-iork city in al was $685. 23 49,
An advance 81 any important percentage upon this
sum would you perceive. add a very heavy burden
10 the COS. Of living and doing business In this city.
believe YOU not Informed Of this view Of the
case and am quito sure several Of for
looking upon the trolley with apprehension have not
been stated members. and therefore earnestly
trust you will consent to request for rchcring
Permit before closing To- that our board
doe, not establish rates for Insurance. but that the
opinion expressed 10 increase of the cost Of In
surance In the event Of Introduction Of the trolley
g., concurcd I'm by nearly all our members who have
spoken to me the subject.
"ELIJAII H. KENNEDY. President"
Mr. Kennedy when seen by Tribune reporter
said that he had nothing To add 10 his letter. but
william A. Anderson superintendent Of the survey
Burcau the New York Board Of Fire Underwriters.
Wa, seen and when asked Has your board taken
any action In opposition To- the Introduction OF the
electric trolley system In New York city ?! he replied
les In August. after the Board Of Aldermen
lad passed the ordinance permitting tho suburban
Railroad TO IT. by electricity, "A special
committee was instructed by the board TO protest
against the use Of said system. and they prepared
= formal protest 10 present 10 his Honor Mayor
Grant Immediately upon The return Of the Mayor
10 the city the committee waited on him aud learned
that the permission granted the suburban Railroad
was for the Annexed District only. and he stated
frankly 10 the committee that he was in favor 0i
permitting the same IN the Annexed District. and
felt committed 10 It's there by the action OF the
Uoard Of Electrical Control taken some months pre-
vIous but that before any ordinance with his con
sent was passed for the use OF said system on Man
hattan Island he would give this board full oppor'
unity to De heard In opposition.
Under these circumstances the protest was not
urcscntcd rs the greater interest Of this board lies
an Manhattan Island. No communication from the
N,vor has since been received by the board, and
during the fore part Of this week. when the Board
Of Aldermen had the matter Of granting pefmiSsIo"
In the Metropolitan Traction Company under con
.dcruton both the chairman ana vice chairman VI
t,c committee were absent from the oiN' anu VI"
not have notice Of tho hearing
Mr. Anderson showed copy Of the protest. WHO"
s a. foIovs: The New-lork Board Of Fire Under
writer's respectfully protest against the passage OF any
,,nnncc permitting the use Of the trolley system VI
vcilcad clcc wires for propellng cars on the suees
mi. civ. Manhattan Isidiu, iOf ulc IoAV"Hh
reasons, -, 49,, ,.,., h,v,
First The Board OF Electrical Control my
drt,d mics and regulations for overhead wires With
,roncrly provide: That all wires for "Icc1' ISl;t'
rd mover shall be fully insulated aud that the is11
Ion must be complete throughout The entire circuit ana
~ maintained even Ia stormy weather above mn nm
,n,um of oue.nnh mcgOhm per mile per 900 Nols'
rd ~ any current falls below this standard, the cur
, ,nust he discontinued until the insulation Is re
nrod All circuits must be- tested every hour, anu
,rhcn n ground comes effort must he hliuc 10 |
remove IL at once Failing In TINS the current must
To- di.contluued until the insulation l. restored
=" ..Tc introduction Of the trolley system wouiu oI
occs.itv IL, a violation OF the above proper require
1T. -. the current necessary to operate the uOiley
rS,.n, Is obtained from contact WITH Tie bare wire
oynd,rtIrs and as a rule the trolley wires nave |
ound connection and the current used Is OF great
eia,titv and of voltage sufficient 10 be extremely |
dangerois from "a fire hazard standpoint aId also uah
celoIs 20 human ne. !, -,.,- ,,. .,,oooo1,d to |
,rc, cyfent I'm compelling all electric wires 10 be |
al insrated and placed In cJnduts throughout our
l' and The granting OF privilege 10 erect the trolley
,tges would Introduce system more dangerous anu
VIZ nnsigIty than the other that has TO large |
eA. rb,rd II once introduced, II will soon extend to
=, rt. ~ The city, and In the opinion OF THIS board
az part ~ dncreis. the number Of fires caused by
dnts from falling OF electric ligt, telephone. tIr
hh md other wires the trolley wires, CARVING
ei"P ,n~"rnts current and causing hres In bllunss
~ IA, tom the railroad system. We are Impressed
t, ,h fac, Thai this would be- more particularly me
WIN g., ,h"sc norons OF city where sub"ays nhse
n, rat been provided, and Will not DE Tor s1,s an,
~, o6me and where all electric wires are sun s rrs
on poles In such parts OF our tewn' oaT enNA'