Omaha daily bee., 1893-08-12
NEWS FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS
Inspector Bennett Arranging for an Inspoc-
ton of Insurance Risks.
WHERE THE RATES WILL BE INCREASED
Conditions Under Which an Advance WIN
Be Maderbe Latest Order Issued
by the Inspector--of Importance
to Business Men.

II. Bennett, inspector Of the western Iowa
insurance compan les, issued proclamation
about ten days ago ordering raise of 20 per
cont in rates of fire insurance throughout the
district of which he has charge. Consider
able talk was caused among the business
mon, as 1t was II topic in which they were all
vitality interested. Mr.. Bennett accom-
panied his communication with a list of
figures which went to show that all
the fire insurance companies in the country
had been doing business at an average loss
of per cent year, the premiums being en-
tirely used up by the losses and expenses Of
running the business. The companies were
only enabled to pay dividends to the stock
holders from the interest on the Investments
in which the assets were put.
Yesterday he issued another order sus-
pending the previous order making the hori-
zoutal advance of 20 per cent, but the order
states explicitly that this action is not TO be
construed as an Abandonment of the inten-
tion to change the rates so as to make the
underwriting branch of the insurance bust
ness sclf-sustainlng. The following is the
substance of the new order:
Text of the New Order.
All mercantile and manufacturing risks in
onT Tii eocS Eo risk rcd IN m ts merits
or dement's in accordance with approved md
discriminating schedules; the extra charges
for area, height, condition, hazards ana en-
posurcs may, in some cases, incre ase the rates
30 per cent.
1t is II fact that majority of the mercantile
and manufacturing risks in the United States
have defects which create or tend to the rapid
spread of fire. which can be prevented by, "a
very little care or the Investment of a merely
nominal sum Of money in improvements
All agents are, therefore, earnestly requested
to cooperate with the companies and in
spector, by making critical examination of
risks, to see that the premises are kept clean,
free from greasy rags and paper oily waste,
swcepings straw, hay, litter, boxes oily saw
| dust and slack" coal tbituminous), the
| storage, of cartridges trecrackers torpedoes
similar explosives preventcd stove pipes
| which pass through roofs or sides of buildings
| removed; unsafe stoves, furnaces, stove pipes
iron smoke fucs, unused pipe holes in
chimneys, steam pipes against wood and
ascertain whether or not electric light wires
| and other electric appliances are properly
insulated, connected and protected, and
| periodically examined and tested by u duly
| qualified electrician, ana encourage the plac-
| ing of barrels of saltcd water and buckets, OF
other good eXtinguishers, and ladders in or
near every building.
| Many conditions do not admit of cassitica-
! tion or rating, such as the character and cir
| cumstances of the owner value of the prop
| erty, experimental and uncertain business
| strangers who have previously been burned
| out, disreputable or unlawful business prop.
! erty i'm dispute, leaseholds, mortgagcd stocks
| unproitablc location, imperfect construction
| of buildings, Improbable business, keeping OF
| dangerous combustibles in ignorance of pro-
visions of policy, overlcading and sagging o
floors causing friction in machinery, frame
| ranges presenting incalculablc combinations
| of personal and physical hazard, other ply
| steal conditions before enumerated, and Others
| in numerable, in avoidance of which the
| insurance companies have an immediate in
| terest in their current business, and property
owners greater and more permanent one
| in the reduction of the cost of insurance, ant
in regard to which the inspector invites in
| formation from agents and property owners
which will be held strictly confidential under
| all circumstances.
The interests and efforts of companies, prop
| erty owners and agents should "be united tC
reduce losses by fire and cost of insurance.