The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-08-24
INSURANCE. RATINGS
IBtIIaI DISCUSSED
How Lumber Yards
Affect Fire Risks
in Honolulu
GLAssEu WITH FRAME BUILDINGS
SECRETARY euRREY or BOARD
OF UNDERWRITERS TALKS
ABOUT DANGERS.
Some Brick Structures But Poorly De-
fensive-RsekIess Handling of
Gasoline and Other Disastrous
Menace of Chinese shscks.
cLAssEH WITH FRAME BUILDINGS
Some Brick Structures But Poorly De-

4 R. Gurrey. secretary OF the Homo
lulu Board Of Underwriters. was seen
in his office in Castle & Cookies
building by a reporter of The Repuo-
lican. who asked him for information
upon fire insurance rates with retarlol
to lumber yards. Mr.. Gurrey respon1-
ed with an interesting talk OF wider
scope than the question. 10 the fol-
lowing effect:
Lumber yards are rated in the
same class as frame buildings How
do they affect rates on adjacent prop
erty? A lumber yard adds about the
same amount as frame store adjoin-
Ing. To risks in a frame building
the increase woule be from 10 to so
cents. and in a brick building from
to % cents.
The rating is not a simple matter
however. but is complicated from a
variety of conditions. For one hing,
the direction of prevailing winds is
considered In the case of brick
building. it depends good deal upon
the windows overlooking the lumber
yard
Again. deficiencies in protective de-
vices have TO be noted, such as iron
shutters on doors and windows
though iron shutters do not always
prove a certain protection, as they
warp under strong heat. Rates are
further subject to reduction on ac-
count of hydrants situated near the
building. Distance from the Fire De-
partment also comes into the esti-
mate
THE rate is less for redwood than
for pine lumber. Also, it is less when
the lumber has been hauled through
the sea. as at milo. Account. is taken,
moreover. of the way the lumber is
piled. Board laid fat upon board
rates less than with stats between the
boards. for in the latter case when
fire gets into the pile it is very hard
TO put out. We do not look upon lum-
Der yards as more dangerous than
frame buildings.
Eyes. it is true that frame build
ings are not allowed to be erected
within the fire limits. yet there are
many old frame buildings still exist
ing there.
NO. unfortunately there are not
any statistics of the fire losses and
the premiums paid in Honolulu within
recent years. The late Chief Hunt
of the Fire Department kept record
of losses occurring within the limits.
Some of the companies have been
making money. others not 1t depends
upon how they have been hit. These
two recent fires will knock out pretty
near all the profits of the year. A
$4,000 loss takes great many pre-
miums to make il up.
Rates here are not higher than
San Francisco, considering the build
ings. Take. for instance. some of
these large buildings occupying cor
ners. with fronts on two streets.
They may be of brick. but what does
that matter when everything is all
open above-rows of windows entirely
unprotected. Iron doors. even, are a
rather poor protection.
THE way people are handling gaso-
line and all sorts of oil here, it is
only a wonder there are not more
fires. Then these immense Chinese
shaeks that have been and are being
erected in all directions constitute a
serious menace. Repetitions of the
Chinatown burnings of the past are
simply being invited.
when / have seen holes burnt
through walls. in thickly built sec
tions of the city. from coal oil stoves
and wood-stovspipes il has been a
marvel 10 me how fires have not been
more frequent in Honolulu. 1t may
be on account of so many people iiv-
ing in such neighborhoods, which
would tend to prevent fire gaining
headway before discovery Then,
again. the single board walls are 9
protection. as when FIRE gets between
double board walls it is hard to