The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-22
WATER SUPPLY 0. K.
INSURANCE RATE NOT BASED ON
THE WATER PRESSURE.
AGENT HULL EXPLAINS.
sAVANNAH's FIRE FIGHTERS ARE
FIRST CLASS.

Insurance Agent who Maintains
That Savannah Is Not Paying In
crease of Both 10 and 25-Increase
of 10 Cents on the Hundred Was
Rescinded When 25 Per Cent. In
crease Became Effective East Of
the ROckies-Mr. Hull Was at
Meeting of Tariff Association.
Enormous Losses in Territory
Caused Rate to Jump.
IF it were simply a question of water
pressure, of water supply and of fire
protection there would be no reason
why the insurance companies should
not reduce the rate now effective in
Savannah"
Mr.. Robert NJ. Hull, formerly presi-
dent of the Georgia Local Underwriters
Association, made this statement yes
terday. 1T is not question of water
supply and pressure, however" said
Mr.. Hull, for this city from an in
surance standpoint, at present has all
that could be desired in the way of
water, fire fighting apparatus and fire.
men.
THE increase of Is per cent. now in
operation, not Is and %, is due to the
enormous losses sustained by insur-
ance companies doing business in this
territory, and holds good east of the
Rockies, where this % per cent. in
crease applies. The fire losses in Sa-
vannah within the past two or three
years plays no part in this increase"
1t is denied by Mr.. I;ull that the
insurance rate now effective is Is and
25. There was an increase of 10 cents
put on some time previous to February
a year ago." said Mr.. Hull. AT the
annual meeting the Tariff Assoc iation,
Feb. q, 1902, this 10 cents increase
for Savannah was rescinded and the rs
per cent. increase was put on. l was
present at that meeting. This rs per
cent. increase was not on account OF
losses here, or in the South particular
ly, although the South contributed her
proportion to the loss recorded. The
increase was ordered in all states east
of the Rocky Mountains and is in ef-
feet to-day"
Many Big Losses.
This increase was due to the ex.
cessive loss record in this territory
Among the losses that recall just now
were four and a half millions of dol
lars in Jacksonville, three quarters OF
million in Memphis, $650000 in At
lanta, to say nothing of the many viii
lagos swept by fire with losses amount
ing to 100000 in a great many cases
The Patterson, N. J. conflagration cost
49, 900 900. These enormous losses put
eight or ten companies out of business
in this territory.
''It is a great mistake to say that Sa-
vannah is paying Is and %. There
was never an increase of Is as mat.
ter of fact, but 10 cents on the hun
| bred, and this was rescinded when the
25 per cent. rate became effective. The
| order accompanying the increase reads
| The rs per cent. increase is to apply
to all stocks of merchandise, withou
exception. and on frame store build
| ings. Also on all manufacturing risk;
and other special hazards"
Mr.. Hull spoke in the highest terms
of Savannah's water system, so far a!
its connection with fires is concerned
and has no kick on the fire department
or it's management. Indeed he is louC
in his praise of the work that ha!
been done by the firemen under Chic
Mcguire. The losses sustained in Sa
vannah are satisfactory and no com
plant can be lodged against the waite
supply or the firemen. Mr.. Hull, how
ever, says that a false impression pre-
walls among those who insists that Sa
vannahians are paying both an in
crease of Is and 25.