The Washington times., 1904-09-18
G. Martin Brand So De-
clareS, and Cuts
Them in Half.
RESIGNS FROM BOARD
Most Frequented Corner in
City at Fourteenth and
New York Avenue.

Because in his opinion the local fire
insurance rates for dwellings are too
high, c. Martin Brand. who has been
associated with the Board Of Fire
Underwriters OF the District of Co
lumbia. has resigned his membership. 1t
is his purpose 20 cut the rate on dwell
ings and their contents 30 and SO per
cent, respectively. Mr.. Brand repre-
sents one Northern and one Western
company, and has the consent Of both
in his undertaking.
When seen regarding this matter. last
evening. Mr.. Brand evinced some re-
luctance 20 be quoted in detail as to
his reasons for severing his relations
with the board Of underwriters. but ne
was quite frank in answering some
questions put TO him. The gist Of his
statements was that he regards the rate
charged in Washington for insuring
dwellings and their contents as out
OF all proportion to the risk incurred
by insurance companies The current
rate here is 20 cents per 800 for dwell
ings and 30 cents for their contents. and
TINS amount is reduced proportionately
L Insurance is taken for three OF I'VE
years bringing the rate up to 40 and
o. cents respectively. for these periods
Big Cut in Rates.
1t is Mr.. Brands intention. with the
consent o. the companies he represents.
10 charge hereafter only 10 cents per 500
on brick dwellings,. and 20 cents for their
contents. Tor three years insurance on
dwellings he would charge 10 cents. and
for five years 20 cents. These are the
rates, Mr. Brand declares, that obtain IN
New York and Philadelphia. He is nm
able 20 see why the people of Washing
Ion should pay more for their fire insur-
anee than the people OF the cities man,
ed. lnasmuch, therefore. as a member
OF the board of underwriters is bound
BY the rates established by the board
he felt compelled 10 resign in order "a
- able to put his intention into prae-
-Ae somewhat interesting question
now arises: What will the board OF un.
oerwrlters or the individual representa-
yves OF fire Insurance companies in
washington do about this natter VIII
they simply dismiss the recalcitr.tr,i
member from their association viii
their blessing or otherwise, or will rhey
take-esfp ,ae gage of battle thrown dowr
by him and meet the cut2 II they decide
10 adopt the latter alternative a lively
insurance rate war might be the result
IN which the house owners Of the Dis.
trict might cry, Kill Dick XIII Devil o
Tor they would reap the benefits Of the
contention
A Busy Corner.
Probably few persons living in Wash
ington, II asked which street, or any
part Of the same. is the most frequented
but would answer, Pennsylvania Ave
nue., Of course. And yet this is not so
As matter of fact, recent investiga-
lions have demonstrated the most IA
nous thorOughfare in the United States
once the Inter den Linden Of Washing.
ton, must now take second or even thirC
place.
Some time ago the local agents Of tn,
Norfolk and Western and the Cana
clan Pacific railroads. whose Office.
were at 1229 Pennsylvania Avennu,
northwest. came TO the conclusion tina
the best interests Of their companies
demanded a change of base. Their oh
ItCt was to find a location in which
their Office would attract the attention
OF the largest possible number OF pass
eTs-by. in order to arrive at an absO
lutely correct conclusion they stationed
men at different points on the most FIRE
quented streets and had them cOun
carefully the number of people tina
passed a given point within "A givel
period OF time They had Instituted
ike proceeding at their office, and whel
the returns from their er1lsSaries cam
In tEcy were ready 10 institute com
parsons and come 20 a decision rs t,
the most desirable point 10 which L
move their quarters.
An examination OF the data coIlccte,
Tor them showed thGt the sOuthWeg
corner Of Fourteenth Street and Kew
York Avenue northwest held the recor
for the largest number OF people passinl
within a certain period. The most sur
prising fact established was that tn
her %
was G6 per cent larger than the mum
Der of those passing the Old Office o
Pennsylvania Avenue. between ThlI
tecuth and Fourteenth Streets. In con
sequence OF the facts thus ascertainc
they have moved their Office 70 IN
corner indicated and are preparing {
hx ny one OF the handsOmest railroa
Offices H. the city.