The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-05-11
The Southeastern Tariff AssO-
citation Serves Official Notice
TO RERATE RISKS At ONCE
Chief Mullin and Insurance Men Give
Interviews on Subject of What
City Needs in Way of Fire
Protection.

The Southeastern Tariff association has
rerated Birmingham on a second class
insurance basis. An additional charge
of % cents on the prevailing rates has
been made until the agents can be sent
here and rerate all properties. The only
exception is on sprinkled risks or stores
which have installed sprinkling fire
protection.
A. letter was received yesterday bv all
the fire insurance agents in Birmingham
from Secretary Fleming, of the South
eastern Tariff association announcing
this increase. The letter is as follows:
Southeastern Tariff Association,
Atlanta, Ca, May g. 1904.
"At a meeting of the executive commit
tee held today the following resolutions
were passed.:
a. Resolved, 1. That the secretary be
instructed to have Birmingham rerated
Immediately on basis of a second class
city.
&" Resolved. 2. That an additional
charge of 25 cents be made on existing
sprinSled risks. within the corporate linn
its of the city of Birmingham said
charge to remain in force until new
rates provided for are put into effect.
" Resolved, 3. That the aforesaid adj
dtional charge of 25 cents go into effect
on May H. 1904
"(Signed) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,
Charles C. Fleming, Secretary"
AdIusters Coming at Once.
Insurance adjusters will be sent to the
city at once to rerate risks and they will
take up each rate risk separately. After
they are through the Is cents increase
will probably be removed, although the
rerating will probably Increase the rates
considerably.
1t has been suggested that the city coun-
ell meet at once and see what plans can
be made to relieve the situation. There
are several Thru s badly needed by the
fire department and If they are provided
it is thought Birmingham will again be
rated on a flrst-class basis, and this addi-
tional % cents removed.
Various insurance men were interviewed
yesterday regarding the increase. and the
general opinion expressed by them is that
In view of recent fire losses the fire de-
partment will have to be increased ma
terially; that many more water plugs will;
have to be installed; that the water pres
sure will have to be stronger, and that
some building laws will have to be passed.
Chief Mullin was also asked what he
needed to bring the fire department up to
the requirements of a city of this size
Under the conditions prevailing here.
Following are the interviews:
Suggests Fire Drills.
Gen. Louis V. Clark, of Louis V. Clark
&, Co., Insurance Agents. Some time
ago the mayor and board of aldermen de-
creased the fire department by seven men,
and this cut out one piece of apparatus
a truck. 1 think the rate would be low
cred again If these men were restored
and this piece of apparatus were again
placed in commission.
Improvements in the fire department
are needed. 1 think for one thing that
there should be regular fire drills such as
there are in New York or any other large
cities Men should be accustomed to
climbing the ladders and become familiar
with the buildings Of the, city. There
should be equipment for rescue drills net
drills and similar things"
John G. Smith of John G. Smith & Co.,
insurance agents:
"The trouble In Birmingham seems to
be with the size of the fire department.
The Southeastern Tariff association gave
several good reasons at the meeting of the
executive committee for its action in
giving Birmingham a second class rat
ing Among other reasons was that the
fire department is too small, the number
of men has been decreased so as to les
sen the efficiency of the department, the
water pressure is not sufficient there are
not enough water plugs and the build
ings of the city are in bad condition
Increase Fire Department.
II think that 1t would be a good idea
for the city to take some immediate ac-
ton to relieve these conditions, and get
together at once and increase the depart
ment and do what is necessary The
heavy losses here in the past few weeks
have had much to do with this action Jy
the executive committee.
For its size / think the DEPARTMENT is
very efficient, but it Is entirely unable
to cope with the fires after they get a
start"
w. B. Leedy: IT think this increase in
the rates is to arouse public sentiment
and get some action to bring the depart
ment up to the standard for a city of this
size, and also to get better fire protec-
tion.
Steady Losses.
when the insurance men were here
last week they were very much put out
| on account of the steady losses recently,
and for some time they have been threat
ening an increase of rates IL the depart
ment was not increased and put on
more efficient basis. l think that as
soon as the improvements are made, the
rate will be decreased again.
1.-THE tariff association never make in
creases of this kind until they are forced
| to do so. Their action was as much to
get public sentiment aroused as anything
else, and in this way get the relief nee
essary."
| J. D. Collins, former president OF the
Board Of Trade: II think what Is needed
| is more fire plugs and a better pressure.
II there were more plugs and better
gasrIh