The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-17
MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY

The equipment of the several denar,.
ments has been kept in excellent cor-
dltion throughout the year. Econo,,,v
as we'll as efficiency demands that No
legitimate expense be avoided in this
respect The heads of the department
have given careful attention to the On
ties Entrusted to them, and the absence
OF complaints from the public indi-
Gates that their work has been of a
satisfactory nature. Considering tbs
large area to be covered, our nolico
force performs it's responsible wo,k
admirably. The personnel of the fore
does not compare unfavorably with
that OF past years. In both it and the
fire department especial efforts hava
been made to have none but men in tbe
best of physical condition EMPLOYED
the duties being such as to quickly
break down men not. in good health
and create a needless expense to the
municipality. In the fire department
the record of losses tells how effec-
lively the department has been con-
Quoted and the efficiency of the men
in 1t. The superintendent report
shows aggregate losses of $93. 81. on
during the year. For five years past
the total losses have averaged but S8l
600 a year, against an average of
$298,OOO the previous five years, and
$426, 900 for the years 1S99-1S93
Although Savannah has made such
an excellent showing we are still suf-
fering under heavy insurance charges
despite the recent concessions obtain
ed from the Southeastern Tariff Asso-
citation as a result of conferences he
tween its representatives and the CITY
10 obtain rerating of the city and
the abolition of the extra lucent
charge heretofore imposed, the city has
ordered a new engine, will place a self
registering water gauge in the CITY
Hall, has elected a competent building
inspector, will soon adopt a carefully
considered building law, and will put
IN improved fire plugs as rapidly as
practicable. 1t has always been the
object of this administration to assist
the business interests of the city in
obtaining lower insurance rates or
otherwise lessening the burdens under
Which they carry on business
savannah, l am constrained to be-
leVe, is still far from having as low
rates as it's fire record and the con-
d1tion in which its fire department is
maintained entitle it to. Sooner or
later believe we will have local mu-
tual insurance companies, administered
by reliable home people, and with ade-
quate capital, which will bring about
cheaper insurance to good risks In
other sections such corporations are
reported working satisfactorily in
every respect. Savannah, l believe.
must eventually assist itself similarly.
In the waterworks department it
became apparent during the year that
there was an enormous waste of water
While the most liberal policy possible
should be shown to water consumers
in the interest of health. the wanton
waste that has evidently been pursued
by many required immediate check
ing. AS result of rigid inspections,
the consumption of water, and likewise
that of coal at the waterworks, was
considerably lowered Meters have
been, or are being, placed in some man
ufacturing establishments, at the rail
roads and with other large consumers.
a much lower rate per thousand gallons
used being made than in other cities.
This policy will be continued during
the present year. The department of
public works presents its usual elab-
crate and creditable report, covering
many important branches of municipal
activity. In these and all of the other
departments the committees of Coun-
ell and the heads of the departments
have worked in harmony and with the
best results possible.