The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-23
100000 IN A YEAR
PROFITS OF INSURANCE COM
PANIEs IN SAVANNAH.
IN TWELVE MONTHS TIME.
HIGH RATE CHARGED TO DoMES-
TIC PRESSURE NOW.

Increase of 10 Cents Went on in 1898
md Has Been in Force Ever Since.
Pressure and supply Have Both
Increased since Then, But 1t Is
Commended That Domestic Pressure
Is still Too LOw-Insurance COM
NAMES Had Good Thing ia Sa-
vannah Last Year-Expected That
25 Per Cent. Increase Will Soon
Come on.
It now developes that Savannahs in
vurance rate, the old basis in vogue
1t this time, contemplates not only the
Is Der cent. increase that is effective
Fast of the Rocky Mountains, but an
additional Is cents because of made
auate water supply, fire protection,
past record and excessive taxation"
This Is cents was added in 1898 when
the insurance rate in this city was
agreed upon, and at a time when there
we're no air pumps here, and the pres
sure was not near so great as it is
now. The city was last rated in that
year. and the water supply was con-
sidered insufficient at that time. The
pressure and volume have both in
creased since then.
The domestic pressure was what fig
nred in this rating, it is learned from
insurance agents. The records at the
waterworks show that the domestic
pressure has been increased, although
an insurance agent stated yesterday
that the domestic pressure maintained
at present is not sufficient. The pres
sure that is put on when an alarm of
IRE is sounded is not considered, but
the basis is made on the domestic pres
sure, the pressure maintained day and
night.
1t is the Is cents increase put on In
1898 that it is sought to have taken of.
An agent expressed the opinion during
the day. that the 25 per cent. increase
will be taken off very shortly and the
Increase of 10 cents, put on in Feb
ruary, 1902, was taken off shortly aft
erwards.
Made over 100000.
'fThe insurance companies are not
kicking" said an agent in discussing
the matter. In round numbers we
collected S4ss, 900 in Savannah last year
and paid out only $4,000 in losses. We
are perfectly willing to let matters
stand just as they are.'
The agents say that the domestic
pressure is the thing that is considered
In making up the rate and that there
can be no question that it is INSULT
cient, and that it is with the greatest
difficulty that water is secured on the
third floors of many business houses
and dwellings.
Supt. Kinsey of the water works says
that in quite a number of cases con-
nections are not made with the new
water mains and that for this reason
the pressure water does not rise to the
top stories. The pressure is there, but
the pipes are not large enough. These
old pipes that have been under ground
for years, it is explained. decrease in
size by several inches by reason of cor
roding.
Discussed by Chamber of Commerce.
A meeting of the Special Committee
of the Chamber of Commerce, held to
consider the question of water supply
and pressure maintained in connection
with the present charges of insurance
companies of Is cents "for past
record and insufficient supply and
pressure was held in the Chamber of
commerce rooms yesterday afternoon.
Claim Confirmed.
Mr.. Leopold Adler of the Chamber of
Commerce Committee yesterday wired
the Southeastern Tariff Association for
Information in regard to the matter
and was referred to Mr.. ]. A. Herself
bach, its local agent, who confirmed
the claim that has been made from the
FIRST that there is such a charge and
that it has been in effect for several
years.
This was also confirmed in a report
OF an inspection of one of the large
city buildings, which was shown to
the members of the committee and
which stated that the supply is in
sufficient and the pressure INADEQUATE.
The matter was discussed pretty gem
orally, and it was finally decided to
ask for conference with Council or
with the members of the water com
mission.
1t is estimated that if the Is cents
now charged can be removed. Sayan-
nah business men will be saved be-
tween $4,000 and 100000 a year. This
Is sum worth working for and one
that, if it can be saved to the citi
zens, will be a decided triumph for the
Cl9m her of