Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-02-05
DANGER
Turks and Threatens
Business Men.
FIRE INSURANCE RATES WILL DE
INCREASED UNLESS BETTER
PROTECTION is GIVEN.
CITY BEING RERATED
PUT ON AT ONCE.
Us Almost Double for In
CITY BEING RERATED
ANOTHER FIRE STEAMER MUST DE
PUT on AT ONCE.

Fort Worth has a problem to meet
and solve at once that is of intense in
terest to all business men and prop
erty owners
There is DANCE: that the city will be
reduced to that Of the second-clnss
from an Insurance point OF we
tits be done the business men will be
obliged to pay from $4,000 to S750 900
year more for the same insurance they
are now carrying on their property.
An investigation Of this question has
brought out the following state OF
facts:
In November last year the city coun-
ell decided that 1t must reduce ex-
penses. In casting about where to APP
ply the axe Of retrenchment and re-
form, the fire department was selected
TO bear Its share OF the reduction. The
fire committee called before II Chlet
Celia and asked him how hard he could
stand to be hit. Mr., Celia argued with
the committee that he could really af-
ford no reduction In his working force.
But the members told the chief that a
reduction had TO be made. and so one
steamer was taken off. The saving to
the city by this act of economy
amounts to about 1886 n month.
For the Iast few days Mr.. George
Jalonick. chief rater for the fire lnsur-
unce companies, has been at work re-
rating the city. He has given the In
surance agents to understand that un-
less the apparatus Of the fire depart
ment be increased that he will recon-
mend that Fort Worth go In the Sec
ond class. This, as said before, will
greatly increase the rate and Will COM
| pei the business men to pay out Mt
! least $4,000 year more in premiums.
| Mr. Jalonick will finish his work Of
! ffnp tho NffU in hOttt xupRlEe md
will then at once make his report and
! recommendations to the insurance COM
| panies.
The chief requirement necessary to
maintain city In the first class, ac-
| cording to the standard fixed by the in
surance companies, Is that there shall
| be not less than one steamer TO each
! 1000 population. This rule was adopt
/ ed by the Texas fire underwriters as
ISOLATION in 1894. which has since dis
[ banded The reporter was unable to
! learn whether the companies are work.
( ing under this rule or not. At the pres
ent time Fort Worth has but one
steamer and combination chemical
engine. II will be absolutely necessary
to put the other steamer back on II
the city hopes to remain In the first
| class. Dallas has four steamers, Waco
has three and is negotiating for an
other. while the city OF Fort Worth has
but one. II is true, perhaps that we
have the most efficient and best drill
cd department in the state, hut It Is
equally true that the men must have
tools to work with
Speaking on this subject to Gazette
reporter, Fire Chief Celia said;
MY last annual report will show that
recommended the very things which
the insurance companies are demand
Ing now that the city shall have.
protested at the time the steamer was
ordered off by the council. but OF course
had no authority in the matter"
Chief Celia realizes the manner In
which he is Handicapped. and is earn.
estly hoping with others that the coun.
ell will at once do something to add tC
the apparatus of the department ant
avert the danger of increasing the in
surance rates.