Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-10-08


rhe surveyors regarded the greatest
hazard to the city the inadequate wat
tr supply; the fire department Is re-
ftrred TO as inefficient, and the con-
tnued aggregation of inilammable rub
blsh in the block centers Is an addition
al cause for the raise in rates. The
method Of re-ratng was as follows:
A certain fixed premium rate was
taken as basis, representing the rate
at which a perfectly flre-proof building
located In a town with perfect water
system and perfect fire system could
be insured at a reasonable profit. TO
this figure were added certain amounts
for contact with less favored buildings
for stoves for unprotected windows
for deficient electric wiring, for de-
ficient water facilities. for Inadequate
fire department protection ana Tor
score Of other things which render a
building liable TO destruction by hre
Tie aggregate Of these sums forms the
final rate which the patrons will be re-
quired to pay. From 1t there Is no
appeal
But rates In the residence quarters
Of the city are lower, the former
charge for fire insurance by all the
board companies was 30 cents, 50 cents
and 60 cents a 500. From now on the
charge viii be % cents, 40 cents aud 80
cents 500 The reason is that resi-
dences are nearly all Of brick, Isolated
In most cases, and the losses by fire
are small and lnfrequent
There Is a general tendency among
local business men 10 rebel against the
raise In fire rates In this city by the
insurance companies. Some prominent
business men, like Spencer Clawson, re-
gard the move as made possible by the
union of the companies which makes
anything like resistance out OF the
question. Mr.. Clawson calls attention
to the apparent extingushing OF +. H..
Pierce as a part Of the policy Of the
companies which are, ii Is alleged,
bound to wipe out nOn-board compan-
les wherever possible and with no hope
Of successful opposition Mr. Clawson
does not think the local situation war
rants any such move as the united In
surance companies have made. Cash
Ter George NJ Cannon OF the lions
Savings Bank & Trust company says
the raise In the rates Is an outrage,
and that were he the owner OF larga
business structures he would institute
vigorous measures with a view TO Sc
curing a restoration Of former rates.
The Walker Bros company do not
think there is really just ground for the
increase IN rates, and w. $. Mccormick
and President l.. S. Hills of the Deseret
national bank are Of the same mind, al
lrtf slts ha ID
tency Of storekeepers In refusing or
neglecting to remove innammable rub
bish from their back yards. Mr. Nc
Cornick remarked he had often taken
business men to task for allowing this
rubbish to accumulate. but II seems
they have paid little attention TO his
remOnstrances.
Col Weber Of the u. c. N. !. sees no
warrant whatever IN this raise, He
holds that the rates were even too high
before. and that this present scarcity
OF water IS only temporary affair
that should cut no great figure In the
raising OF Insurance rates. Moreover, as
TO the y. G. NJ |, buildings, there are
no buildings In the country, more amply
protected against fire The institution
has no fires on its premises outside OF
the boiler rooms. beyond an Office stove
or two, heating being by steam and the
lighting by electricity. Moreover, a sta
tionary chamlcal fire engine has been
installed communicating with all Of the
floors. and there are watchmen in the
building continually.
INSURANCE MEMS SIDE.
The insurance men are together in
substantiating the report Of the survey
ors though they do not agree fully as
10 the net results OF the increase in
rates. the highest estimates OK the net
Increase being 20 per cent. But, il is
evident, Notwithstanding the absence OF
exact figures, that there IS n very sub
stantial increase. Notwithstanding the
reduction In the residence quarter. The
insurance men say that the companies
have for the last 10 years lost millions
Of dollars through the steady increase
of fire losses. so that many foreign
companies refuse 10 do business longer
In this country, The only way to do Is
10 advance the rates to such q
point where these disastrous loss.
es can be Offset. Unless this
Is done. the fire insurance must grad.
hulAF lfAilf lltlA lhHiliNSHs al'l fNNFl
the Insurance people claim that this
raise only places Salt Lake on 0 par
with big cities where there have
been marked advances in Insurance
rates They note particularly Phila-
delphla where rates were put up over a
large part OF the business center, and
this raise Is still maintained. The same
thing was done In Chicago. There Is
marked criticism O.. the fire depart
ment, too because Il l. alleged the
chief Is giving much attention 10 poll
ties that he ought 20 give TO the public
service. and that he viii not exercise
his duties as fire marshal because the
city council has made no provision for
the same. Sharp contrast is made with
previous drastic measures IN forclng
tenants to clean up their back premises.
IL Is stated that this rubbish In the
center Of business blocks Is a large fac.