The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26
FIRE INSURANCE
CONTINUED from Page Two, Real Es-
tate and Insurance Section.)

2O-foot building, two stories high, To-
Gated in a town without fire protec-
ton, etc. On this as a basis a rate for
every store building is built up or
scaled down according as it is better
or a worse risk than the basis. For
example, if the area is greater than
the basis, if the walls are not as thick,
or if more inflammable, or pierced With
more openings, or if elevator openings
pierce a certain number of floors, or
stairways are open, or If there are
skylights ,unscreened, or electric light
wires, or the building is old, or the
partitions frame, or outside exposures
are hazardous, or the building is va
cant, or any one of long list OF de-
ficiencies, the rate is built up from
the basis by specified additions for
each Of these items.
ton is better than the standard build
ing, if the town has fire department,
or waterworks, If the building is near
a hydrant, if the owner has fire pro-
lection Of his own-Water casks and
buckets, fire extinguishers, automatic
sprinklers, etc.-credlts are given IN
specified sums for each Of these items.
The efficiency Of the Minneapolis fire
department cuts 40 per cent Off OF the
basis rate for this city.
All insurance in this city Is based
on an 80 per cent valuation of the
property, the basis rate of the con-
tents being so per cent of the basis
rate of the building. On dwellings
there has been made out from this
system much simpler system of rat
ing than that on business risks. The
rate on the average dwelling in this
city is now very low. By reason OF
L, - Eve vic yc
the owner of property may be easily
induced to improve his property for
the purpose Of lowering his insurance
cost. AS a matter Of fact, this induce
ment is strong enough SO that great
, improvement has been effected in the
condition Of business houses In this
city within the past few years.
BY it's municipal action this city has
done much to lower the general rate
of fire insurance in the past twenty
five years. The fireproofng of all build
ings within certain limits; the direct
pressure system in it's WaterWorks and
service have all combined to reduce
the cost of fire insurance.
In October, 1895. a salvage corps, o,
fire insurance patrol, was established
in this city for the purpose of minimiz.
| ing the losses by fire. This patrol is
operated by the combined fire insur.
ance companies Of this city, and i:
supported by per cent tax levied
by the state on the premiums paid tc
/ the insurance companies doing bust
mess in the city. The officers Of thi:
patrol are: President, G. B. Shove
vice president, F. H. Wagner; secre
ander Campbell; director, F. B
Thompson, all well-known insurance
men Of the city. The superintendent
in immediate charge is John T
Ruane. The patrol headquarters are
on Hennepin avenue, between Fourth
and Fifth streets, the building being
the finest and most expensive, excep
one, in the United States. This patro
has ready for service at the tap O.
| the gong three fire wagons, seventeen
men and eleven horses. This patro
goes to all fires without reference tx
| the insurance upon them. It's bust
ness is to reach the fires as soon a!
possible and save contents Of build
| ingS from damage by water. Eacl
wagon is QUILTED with tarpauIins
tools and small fire extinguishers. TIL
corps has an equipment of 600 Of tiles
/ tarpaulins, each containing fort.
such goods as may be damaged b,
water. In residences, where waite
damage to the furniture and othe
goods may be large, these patrolmel
gather the furniture of the room int
a pile in the center, rip up the car
pets and throw them over the pile, Gov
ering these with the tarpaulins. Afte
the fire the men remain. and, If de
sired, they relay the carpets and re
place the furnishings, or clear the wa
/ ter from the floors and the basement
It may be readily seen how this serv
/ ice greatly lowers the loss to be ad