New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-30
EVILS FROM THE TROLLEY.
INSURANCE RATES MAY GO UP.


UNDERWRITERS DECLARE THAT MAYOR GRANT
PROMISED THEM 4 HEARING.
The people OF the city Of Ncw-fork arc likely to
discover before long that Mayor Grant did them an
III turn in allowing the trolley wires OF the Huckle
berry" system TO cross the Harlem River to the
Island of Manhattan By signing its BIZ on Wednesday,
The Mayor argued that 1t only for short distance.
and the good would outweigh any possible harm, but
the hOuseholders and business men who ind them
selves paying higher insurance rates, not only along
the trolley line but elsewhere, for the danger OF fro
from tho wires extend large tracts VIII not
be inclined TO take Mr.. Grants easy view. The
trolley does not Increase the risk along the line any
more than IL does In other places. Every building
which has wire OF any kind connecting 1t with the
trolley wire is endangered. Distance and Indirect
connection do not help matters in the least.
The Mayors course toward the fire underwriters
has been, say the least, peculiar. Last summer,
when the subject Of trolley Ines was being agatcd,
the under declared against It, and made strcnu
ols efforts get the resolutions veiosst. The Mayor
signed tGe IIuchlaberyy" re oluiCn bur promised,
the Insurance say, that they should have hear
inc before he signed any resolution allowing the
CT the trolley below tho Harlem River. The trolley.
however is by his act allowed to come on 10 the
Island OF Manhattan and hearing to insurance men
was gwen.
j. II. Washburn vice president OF the Home Insur-
ance Company, ard vice president OF the Board Of
board gave rotce that insurance rates would be adj
vanccd II the trolley TO the Island In August
u committee called Mayor Grant. lie said THAT
he convinced that the trolley would be good
thing in the Annexed District but that he had doubts
to Its being good thing this sido Of the Harlem.
He said that the subject Of bringing It In came
before him he would give US hearing before signing.
Hearing TINT the Aldermen had passed such measr,
and that IL was before HIN, | had Just sent letter
to Mayor Grant reminding him Of his promise and
asking for Il hearing, when somebody remarked that
the resolution had Lccn signed"
Insurance rates were Iaisod last fall in Boston
cause Of fires attributed to the trolley wires AID
the underwriters here likely to take steps ut
once 10 protect themselves without voting for more
fires 10 add TO the losses which thcy all say are ex-
ce'hlngly heavy this year In letter sent by E.
Il. Kennedy, president of the Bard If Fire Under.
writer's to the Board OF Aldermen on October |,
IL, said The amount paid by prOp.ry-owncrs as
! premiums for fire insurance Ia NcV-York City in
| 1901 was 97,0oo.0.3 Sc. An advance Of any i'm
portant percentage upon this sun. would you per.
ceiye, add very heavy burden to the cost Of living
and doing business in this city
This Threatened advance may soon be made Tho
Ncw-York TanG Association Of insurance companies
met yesterday at the rooms Of the Board Of Firs
! Ind'rw I1t'r,. Bcnoni Lockwood presided nls
su' ect TALKED over and the rate committee ~
which j. r. Mccoy is chairman authorized 10
examine Into the Introduction u the trolley and re-
port what advance, II any. should BE- made and in
what district, it should De- made
The Tariff Association also took up the subject
/ Of rates In BrOOhyn. Mayor l.Y,aiy had requested
the association 10 send comr,it,ec to confer with
him aboEt the advance in rates because Of the recent
large fires In brooklyn and tn alleged failure Of the
! lire department TO AaHdlc them properly. The fol-
/ lcwns lnn.ltte. app on el 10 Mayor Body:
! j. ii. Wushbuin, weep. resident Of tn home lnsur-
ancc Company. NJ. >. briggs. p:c>d Mt Of the WILL
lansbnrg city FIRE Insurance Company; George A.
Colt assistant manager Of the ROya lnsnranC, Com.
pany, Of London. H. K. K,nnoly. the representative
| Of several Insurance AZ ncc> and president Of the
Board II Underwriters, ant II f.. bowers manager
/ Of the Guardian ASSURANCE Company, Of London.
The president AMI cepTcsdcnt Of In, Tariff Asso-
citation. Icnoni Lockwood. of the North American
/ filc INSURANCE COMPANY: ana J. \. :yey, vice
president Of the German American Insurance Com
pany, were added 20 the committee. Me,,rs. Ken
! n,dy. colt ana DriggS lived I'm Brooklyn. Mr.. Lock-
wood. when seen amer the mrclns, sail that he had
no idra what action would be- taken by tbs commit
tee after TIE conference.
Mayor Grant sld yesterday that he unable
to recall haNlns made me plOlnlse aScrbcd lin
| by the mSuiHnc" men.