The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-22
LAST YEARS FIRE LOSSES
THE INSURANCE COMPANIES OUT
ONLY 10 PER CENT.

ONlIX 10 EEh SAN l.
rha Claims Set Up by the Tariff
Association in Excuse for the Raise
Of Rates Not Borne Out by Figures.
Its Charges of Ineffective Fire Pro
lection Also Knocked Out by a Com
par,son With Other Cities-Interest-
ing Facts for Insurers aud Insured.
A great deal has been recently said and
written on the effectiveness of the Savan-
nab fire department, and It's operation, ad-
ministratiou and equipment has been
handled without gloves, especially by the
representatives of the Southeastern Tariff
Association, and by others engaged in the
insurance business as an excuse for the re-
cent increase in insurance rates.
Some Of the people are apparently earnest
In the belief shat the position taken by
them is correct. The insurance people, who
have their business interests in view, are
not the only ones who have criticised the
effectiveness of the department.
Savannah's department. has not only been
ably managed but it has put money into
the pocket Of the southeastern association,
which 10 now trying to explain that the
rates have been raised because the city has
not an effective fire service. and that the
insurance companies have sustained heavy
losses in the last few years In Savannah.
FIGURES AGAINST THE CLAIMS.
The MORNING NEWS has taken pains 10
compare Savsnnah's fire service with that
OF other cities of equal and larger size, aud
also to get Rt the real percentage of losses
to insurance companies. The result proves
that Savannah has a fire department which,
while not as well equipped as some, Is much
more effective than those Of many cities with
larger force, and that the claims of the
insurance companies as to losses are not
based on facts.
1t is remarkable what small percentage of
loss has occurred in Savannah, com paredwith
ten of the cities heard from. The percentage
of loss in 1891 was ns follows: Birming-
ham, IS; Nashville, "a; Richmond, q;
Petersburg. "a; Wheeling, %; Savannah,
10; Columbus, IA; Mobile, g.; Chattanooga,
6; and Charleston, 3.
These percentages do not represent the
loss to insurance companies by any means,
but are intended to show what percentage
of the whole property was destroyed. The
friends Of the Southeastern Tariff Associa-
ton are intent upon impressing the public
with the fact that the total loss, as shown
in the Savannah fire department reports,
represents what that combine has lost
Statistics of the fire department show that
while it has always been the rule to show
the amount Of insurance ia the reports 1t
has also been the practice to show on
amount under insurance to denote the
value Of property where the fire origi-
mated.
LAST YEARS LOSS ONLY Is PER CENT.
In 1891 the total value Of this property IN
Savannah was placed at 81 796, 1911, OF which
SS72 lo6 represented the insured interests,
Sl6,020 being for risks on property outside
the city beyond the limits. The percentage
OF loss during the year was slightly over Is
per cent OF the total risks carried. When
the facts and circumstances shown above
are taken into consideration it will be seen
that Savannah has by 10 means a poorly
equipped or inefficient fire department
There may be pressing need for more
hose and more men. Yet the per-
centaRe OF loss denotes that in the |
past the equipment has been |
serviceable and the operation excellent. |
even with the great disadvantage of an ex-
ceedingly low water pressure.
II is 20 be regretted that war has been |
made on this branch Of the city's service
when it is 80 little deserving Of it. No one /
could do more to increase the efficiency of |
the department than Chief Pudar has done, |
AS an illustration of the claim that GER
tain insurance companies have been COM
PEELED TO withdraw from Savannah. aud |
that all Of them were heavy losers, the fol-
lowing statement Of the percentage Of losses |
sustained by the several local agencies will |
be interesting: OF the total loss sustained |
by insurance companies on property de- |
stroyed, as compared with the insurance |
written on the same, one agency lost 16 per |
cent, two lost IA per cent, one lost 13 per |
cent, one lost II per cent, one lost per
cent, one lost Z per cent, two lost per
cent, four lost per cent. and one lost per
cent.
NO CAUTION EXERCISED.
None OF the companies represented by the
agency showing the greatest loss have with
drawn Only one agency in Savannah lost
more than $4,000, and six of them paid
losses, the totals Of which were less than
$1,000. This statement, for one year, with
l9o fires, shows only a small percentage of
loss, when 1t is considered what little care is
taken by insurance people to investigate the
value OF property before insuring for large
amounts. Experience shows that in almost
every case where the origin of fires is at
triouted TO ipcendiary, supposed incendtary
or unknown causes, large amounts OF insur-
ance have been carried.