The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1899-02-16
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" ABSOLUTELY pURE
Makes the food more delicious and wholesome
Gbe atlarretta syOnrnal.
INSURANCE RATES.

EDS. JoURNAL-In several issues of
the Journal / have noticed that you
have made some very unfavorable COM
ments in regard to the existing insur-
a1ce rates in Marietta.
Now, know that there are few, if
any, individuals who have the welfare
of Marietta more at heart than our ed
itors, but in the interest of my profess
ion, want to correct your mistaken
ideas of insurance rates.
The main cause for dissatisfaction
lies in the fact that the rates have not
been reduced since our system of wa
terworks have been put in.
The reason that they have not been
is, that the rate previously in use was
just as low as the city now deserves,
and if the rules were strictly enforced
by the local agents, Marietta would
now be written in the rate for third
class instead of for second class cities,
thereby increasing the rate now pre-
vailing
To obtain the rate now given Mariet-
Ia by Insurance Association, city is
required to have the following: An
adequate water supply; fire depart
ment, with engineers and drivers to be
fully paid and on duty at all times !;
sufficient fire apparatus drawn by hors.
es belonging to the department, and
kept at engine house for immediate
service; adequate supply of approved
hose, including shut off nozzles, and
approved electric fire alarm system.
In all these essential features Mari
eta is sadly lacking. Why we were
ever permitted to use rates so far be-
low what our protection warranted, /
cannot comprehend.
When rate is given city, it is Civ
en- the entire corporation mot the pub
lie square andsa few blocks on each
street leading from IT'D therefore a fair
minded person could hardly call our
water supply adequate" in speaking
OF the city as whole, for all know
that the few hydrants we have are To-
Gated so close to the square Except in
few favored cases. that only small
part OF the whole town receives any
benefit from them.
Any one who is at all familiar with
our fire department will see how far it
is below the required standard for Sec
ond class.
1t is hardly probable that we will
ever receive lower rate, as long as we
fail in so many ways to deserve the one
now existing. Very truly yours,
INSURANCE AGENT.
The above is from mighty clever
insurance agent, and we have no quar-
rel with him about insurance rates.
lie does not make, but like the tax
gather, collects the rates given him.
No doubt if he could make rates he
would give us what is reasonable in
proportion to the risks made. We
thought at first we would reply at
length to the above, but on mature
consideration it would be waste sof
space, for it would do no good, for the
agent tells us we are "never to receive
lower rate so long as we fail in so
many ways to deserve the one now ex-
isting."
This means that the Southeastern
Tariff Association made up of pool. a
combination, or trust, has entered into
an agreement to fix the rates at what
they please, without consulting those
who foot the bill, and thus they arbi-
trarily demand price that cannot be
changed by one in the pool or trust
Thus they practically monopolize the
business. "The public be id" is
thier motto. Yet, while they classify
rates, and make rules of their own,
they have no uniformity of rates in
Marietta. Some property is rated high.
er than another, even on the SQUARE
The people were told that if water.
works and good fire fighting equipments
were placed in Marietta we would ge,
cheaper insurance, but while they nav
extra tax to get waterworks they get lit.
tie benefit, only in saving of their prom
erty, and of course the more property
saved, less insurance money will have
to be paid by the insurance companies
We don't think any one can say tina
the insurance companies are not bene
lifted and protected in their risks il
Marietta by our waterworks.
The lire department, although not
paid one, responds almost as promptl,
as paid one, and not a building ha
been bnrned UP here since the water
works have been in the city. Adioin
ing property is not even damaged an,
thus thousands of dollars have bee,
saved to insurance companies. Tb;
shows how adequate" the waterwork
and fire department in every instanc
have proved
But then it is useless to discuss
subject before a jury that has alread
rendered a verdict. "No lower rates
is the verdict entered up by the agen
and the insurance companies. So w
will have to saw wood and say notbipo
a man loses his appetite for
Alot Of things while waiting fo
them.