The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-25
an INSURANCE MAN
TO DRAW HAP OFCIIY
George M. Allen Comes n !! on
important Mission.
MR.. J0HNs0N'S REPORT
He Carried Volumes Of Memoranda.
to Philadelphia Wilhs4iin
RECOMMEND MANY CHANGES
They Are Calculated to Cost 100000 for
1902, and $4,000 Annually Afterwards.
Rate of Insurance and Rats of
Loss-Johnson May Come
Back = What is to
Be Gained
He Carried Volumes Of Memoranda.
to Philadelphia WinsH Hin.
RECOMMEND MANY CHANGES.

Mr.. George NJ. Allen, another higl, IN
surance official, of New York:S,is here.
Mr.. Allen came yesterdaysHe will re-
main some time, for he has an important
work to do. He was sent here by the
National Underwriters Association, OF
New York. Mr.. William Fl. j ohnson, the
official Inspector LETT Thursday; night.
after nearly q, WELLESLEY Mr.. Allen
is his successor. Mr. Johnson may re-
turn; but Mr. Allen is.hereFfor an inter-
estinS work.
It is not generally knoWn,S perhaps, that
the insurance companies have maps which
tell all about the cities where they have
written up business" Bnt they have,
and any insurance house in;Lond on hlch
has business In Richmond ought to have
a map of Richmond which SHOWS every
building, every street, every water main,
and the size of every nlain,s-;;i this city.
But a great deal Of building has been
done in Richmond recently and some 1nl-
portant water mains have 'fseen 5lald
These structures, Which arc among the
largest here and theSes water mains do
not appear in any map of Richmond for
the obvious reason that map has been
made for some time. It issto draw such
a map that will lIayc5a Circulation IN
the great cities of america and Europe
that Mr.. Allen is li1rc.@s
ALL IL I'D NS%A1.
The recent great fires in Richmond
have drawn tho eyes of &all insurance
people here The central organization OF
them. the National Underwriters zAsso-
CiatioD has determined, IT. possible, 10
find out what tho matter is.
Mr. Johnson was here to learn about
the Fire Department and the water sup.
ply-in short, What tho ia ABILITIES here for
fighting fire were. Mr.. S4Allen3is here 10
sec and writc abottsGll5sSss ss<nS lef TO burn
by future iires--tllat is, ,ffat least, what
has been put here recently that may
burn, and what new pipes and their To-
cation have recently been laid IIo Will
have quite an arduolls task but viii re-
ccive the aid Of insurance men and ali
the city officials whose services can be
of assistance to him.
MIR. JOHNSON'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
Mr. Johnson, of Philadelphia, who has
been in the city since last Saturday, was
called home Thursday night He carried
back with him whole volumes of memo
randa, from which he will formulate his
report. II tho association wants moro
information he will como back here. His
recommendations will embrace both fire
and water departments. Mr.. Johnson
said before he left the city that he had
no fault to find with the RichnIond de-
partment so far as it went. All the ap-
paratus was good and the men well or
Sanized and fine workers at a fire. But
there was not enough apparatus and not
enough men He will make q number OF
recommendations, which are printed else
where. These will go first to the Under
writcrs' Association and from that body
will come TO the Richmond Council.
One OF the best insurance men in Rich-
mond has taken these recommendations
and made q calculation with them before
him Of the cost OF installing the improve
nments and maintaining them. He says
it will cost S1OO,oo0 tho first year and an
expenditure OF S30Ctlo 2 year to keep
them going.
WHAT WILL. BIZ GAINED.
There is this to be gained by making
the improvements suggested by Mr.. john
son, that property holders Will be able to
secure themselves against loss by fire.
Insurance companies will not be contin-
ually withdrawing from the city or giving
..eir business over TO other companies.
The rate of insurance viii not be raised,
as so many have feared. 1t is also pretty
wesl assured that the rate will not be low
cred 1t will take q. nulnbe1' of years with
a fine record of minimum fire waste for
this TO come about. But the thing IS
t,roaa as it is long, for during the last
two years the loss rate was $50 per SlOu,
while the insurance rate was only SLl0
That 81 10 is, OF course. an average. The
class of property which calls for the
highest rate are woodworking establish
ments. There the rate Is about 81. The
lowest rate is on brick dwellings. The
rate is just Is cents per 500.