Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-06
INSURANCE GOING UP.
Fire Underwriters Increase Premiums
About 80 Per Cent On
DOWNTOWN BUSINESS PROPERTY.
Over $20O,O0O a Year Taken Out Of the
Pockets of Insurers.
PRESSING NEED OF A SALVAGE CORPS

One of the direct results of the fire losses
in Pittsburg of late has been tremendous
increase in insurance rates. The merchants
of Pittsburg together with the manufacture
ers have had $500, 900 a year added to their
insurance cost. 80
A leading member of the Fire Under
writer's Association is authority for the
statement that within the past 60 days the
rate of local underwriters on mercantile
buildings and stock has advanced
from SO cents to 81 06, the rate on
glasshouses has advanced from 25 cents to
3311. and that on iron works from range
of ~ to 2 per cent to ~ to 2H per cent.
These are general increases on property
having ordinary locations and of an ordi-
nary character. On tall buildings and those
which are regarded as extra hazardous owing
to the nature of the stock, much larger in
creases than those mentioned have been
made. .. ..
1t is estimated that the annual fire pre-
miums In the Pittsburg district amount to
about 81 500, 900, of which about $500, 900 is
from mercantile and manufacturing proper
ties This was at the old rates, the new
ones making the aggregate about ST.
10000. ..:.... ....-
Losing Money on Their Policies.
A number of the fire insurance Companies
of Pittsburg, during the past year, paid out
more than 100 per cent of their premium
receipts owing to the great fire losses, and
it has become absolutely necessary for them
to largely augment their revenues. In
speaking of the need of a salvage corp this
gentleman said that a majority of the fire
companies represented here favored the
maintenance of such an organization, but
the minority refused to help pay for the e1-
penses of the corps To do away with this
difficulty. bill was passed some years ago
making it obligatory for all fire companies
to contribute to a fund for such a purpose.
The bill was vetoed by Governor Beaver on
the ground that it was unconstitutional. 1t
is not the fault of the local agents of foreign
dissenting companies that there is no
salvage corps, for nearly all the Pittsburg
agents agree on the necessity and useful
ness of such an adjunct to the city fire de-
partment. .
1t is suggested that the fire departments
of Pittsburg and Allegheny unite in build
ing freboat, which is almost as much
needed on the north side of the Allegheny
and Ohio as it is across these streams.
Both Cities Need Fireboats.
Chief Brown is handicapped In regard to
the boat by Councils, but he will doubtless
succeed in getting it next year, and there is
no doubt that Chief Murphy will also
urge an appropriation for similar appara-
tus or one owned IN common by the two
cities. A great many insurance men fully
indorse what Chief Brown says of the draw
backs in the use of water tower and think
the plan of using an elevator platform
which he suggested as a substitute is a COM
mon sense solution of that part of the fire
service problem.
Chief Brown suggests that the insurance
men in the Board of Underwriters make an
effort in their own behalf bv organizing a
salvage corps to protect goods in burning
buildings from water. In all other cities
like Pittsburg, he says, the insurance men
have salvage corps, and they save enough
property every year to more than pay their
expense. The Chiefs suggestion is that the
insurance men here should spend less time
in criticizing the fire department and more
to doing something themselves. ..-..