The age-herald., 1902-02-23
Local Agents Notified of the Action Taken at New
 York Meeting
INCREASE DOES NOT
 APPLY ID DWELLINGS
With Addition 1t Is Said Birmingham Will Pay Less Than lt Did Prior to the Recent Re-
 adjustment.

As had been anticipated. the South eastern Tariff Association has advanced insurance rates in Birmingham in ac- cordance with the action taken by the officials of fire insurance companies in a conference held in New York last Tues day. Agents here were notified yester- day that the advance was effective from Fridays date.
 The advance is 25c on the hundred. but 1t does not apply to dwellings; only to mercantile frame buildings mercantile stocks and special risks. Agents will be kept busy for the next week or two ex- blaming the new schedule. It is said that with this advance Birmingham merchants will pay less for insurance than they did prior to the 5O-cent basis rate which recently went Into effect as of last Sep tember's date.
 If Birmingham had been singled out for an increased rate there would nat
  surance man, "but as nearly the whole country must stand an advance of 2S per cent, there is no room for kicks or discussion"
 The Steps Necessary.
 An insurance journal just received, dis cussing the situation, says:
 For a long time fire losses have been heavy, and during 1901 remarkable number of insurance companies were forced to liquidate on account of their serious losses. The Paterson and Water bury confagrations, coming on the heels of bad year, forced the managers to take some immediate steps to check the disastrous tendency of the business.
 During 1901 thirty well known Ameri- can and foreign companies were retired from business or forced to withdraw from sections of the country. The re- suit of Tuesdays conference was an or der that rates be advanced 25 per cent and upwards on all mercantile stocks. frame store buildings, manufacturing risks and special hazards in the entire United States, with the exception of the Pacific coast and New York city. The territories excepted showed a profit last year and are in good condition.
 "The official text of the resolution adopted ordering the increase is as fol- lows:
 Too Many Fires.
 That after considering the present condition of the country as affected by the large and numerous fires which have occurred during the past three years, rendering the business unproftable and forcing the withdrawal of many compan- ies, the hardship of the situation being emphasized by the confiagrations of the last two weeks with no prospect of re- lief, they are of the unanimous opinion that not only the good of the companies, but the safety of the public, demands that rates should be immediately and largely advanced. and that unless such advance is promptly made the companies will be forced to withdraw their indemnity. They therefore agree that throughout the chandise stocks in all buildings except such as are occupied aS dwellings, dpoNe the grade floor and on framed store build ings also on manufacturing risks and other special hazards which have not been rated under revised and approved schedules within one year.
 Tt was also agreed to advance the rates on all risks 25 per cent and up- ward, as may be equitable in each case, and that this advance shall go into effect immediately and continue until such risks can be specifically rated under proper revised and approved schedules.
 "ItI was also voted that agents would not be permitted to cancel and rewr1te policies while rates are being readjusted in order to avoid advance"
 Insurance In Alabama.
 The losses in the United States from January IA to February 10 caused by fires entailing damage of $1O00oo or more. total S16 970,OOO It Is estimated that the smaller fires add 30 per cent. to that amount.
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