The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-25

gil, a resairvev of the city or Seattle iui
the purpose OF establishing a new oasis
for insurance rates. The bass nov ~
faroe was established by the PACING coast
Union. a corporation whose mead o''se
was a, San Francisco The rates were paw
Eshed about April Il. 1870
/. Is altogether possible. unless fnterVeh-
ing circumstances should prevent II. thas
the new basis af rates will result in an m
crease in premiums in certain sections. IS
peciafy the Renion hill district, whlis On
the other hand il Is possible ehas IN some
eases the rates may be reduced n sieas
many things are TO be taken INTO cohssaei-
a,Ion in making the new basis or rates.
First in importance. naturally, ID the en-
cheney of the fire department. the size anu
location of city water mains ana hsoia''S
and the water supply
Lee Mckenzie surveyor for the WASH
inston Insurance Association. Is now In Sc
attic checking up. Mr.. Mckehzie WIN
make the new survey and rerating OF De
attic, assisted by two experienced ihsur-
ance men. An Office will be opened mere
May 1 and the work viii require four or
FIVE months.
Mr. Mckenzie made the statement yester-
day tina, he had been informed that the
Seattle Are department was not in the con
dition il should be from an underwriters
point Of view. AS he alone is empowered
to Judge of the requirements or ilre ae-
partment from the standpoint OF the m
surance companies. being vested with such
power and d:screNon. his view of the situa
ton is very important at this time. Al lhe
Hotel Seattle yesterday Mr.. Mckenzie saio
to Post-inteiiigencer reporter.
..There Is nothing very remarkable about
the new rating OF Seattle that will be made;
nor is there occasion for alarm or appre-
hension that insurance rates VIII be IN
creased However there is this to 'Fe said
and that is, that the efficiency of ne IRE
department of the city. the condition ana
amount of its fire fighting apparatus, etc.,
are factors which go to determine the basis
for making a charge for insurance. These
matters will be rigidly investigated by me.
If the department is found efficient and
the apparatus sufficient and in good order,
the fact shall be taken into account in de-
termining the rates. II the reverse Is true.
that fact will also be- taken in account
and will serve, naturally, to Increase rates.
Condition of Fire Department.
Now, as to the condition of the Seattle
fire department the kird, and quantity
of it's apparatus I am informed only by
the people of Seattle and by their city au-
thorities. l am told, for instance. that tho
engine at the station on Renton hill. situ-
ated at the corner of Fifteenth avenue
north and Harrison street, is inefficient and
out of date, and that IL has been put on.
OF commission. The establishment of that
engine company gave the people Of that
district lower rates. OF course. II there is
no fire engine there, then the old rates must
be restored.
Il am informed that there are only two
first-csass engines In the Seattle fire de-
partment. Tacoma has more than that.
OF course. / know nothing of my own
knowledge concerning the Seattle fire de-
pariment. / rely for information on what
the people here have tod me. | shall make
/. my business to r.gidiy investigate the
department, learn the facts as 10 its APP
paratus and govern myself accordingly In
making the rates
Mr.. McKenzie's announcement is con-
sidered matter OF great Importance To ev-
cry business man and householder in the
city. In the first place the question OF
the efficiency OF the fire department has
been raised. This is a matter which has
had more or less attention In the coun
ell. Yesterday Chairman Castieman. CT
the fire and water committee. stated TO a
post-Intelligencer reporter that undouht-
ediy the city would purchase two new, up.
TO date fire engines this summer.
or the condition OF the department and
the need for more apparatus. Chief Gard
ner Kellogg said yesterday:
Il have called the attention Of the city
new and modern engines Yes, the engine
at station No is ont Of commission and
useless We have two second class Ahrens
engines at No. and Ne. :, n third class en-
g.ne al No. and four,h-class engine at
No s.
1.-THE department needs more engines.
DON; know as ! care TO say much about
this matter through The newspapers. The
city council knows the needs OF the depart
nlent. have informed them In my annual
reports and at various times
Department.. Good Record.
GAS to the efficiency ~ the department
with the apparatus at It's command. have
only 70 cit. the record. We have not had
a disastrous FIRE here in long time. with
more engines and hose, the department,
could easily be made one OF the very best
In the country"
Mayor Huuies believes that measures
should be taken TO put the department in
The best state Of efficiency. IL il IS not 20
already. "UnaaestlaEably, we have mate.
rial in the department ~ make IL one Of
the very best In the country" said ths,
mayor yesterday. AS to the reed 81 nor.
apparatus, that is a matter In the hands Of
the IRE chief and the city council am in
favor, however, OF supplying engines and
apparatus wherever any deficiency EXISTS
The people OF Seattle expect thu hes, sort
of a fire department and | believe that the
council Will recognize the needs Of ,hs. lie.
partmert and provide means To make IL ef-
ficaent in every particular certainly favor
taking such steps"
The business 81 calculating insurance
rates has been brought down 10 a rraathe-
matical silence by the underwriters AMI
surveyors. The building IS first taken on
ifs merits IN establishing rates Its con-
stractfon enters Largely into the first com
p3'Sti9ns. Then from this basis percentage
% credit ara allowed for various Items in
TIE building calculated - proven; cnn
hsgrati3n. Night vatehnen the charaefe-
az tnc businesses Of tire tenants Ior.,fon
with reference 20 FIRE ping sfz@ oy -,ssr
AMI lastly. the efficiency of the ssersartr rseu-
and The water supply. are she factors which
enter into the computations Credit ar.
made FOR the conditions and circumstances
scfTol ndIng Finding which tend % pre-
vent IRE while a charge is made fgr ga,
GitioFsS waaeh operate 70 increase he rsxk
on special hazards. saw mills. rofuny
mills, etc, special rates apply
ASK far your tickets 10 Missouri ~s.e-