The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-16
FIRE INSURANCE
COMPANY STARTED
BY SAVANNAH GERMANS
GERMAN MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE
COMPANY ORGANIZED.

Men Whose Wealth VIII Aggregate
a Million Are to Petition State for
Charter-PIan Has Been Under
way for Several Months and Guar
antee Fund Has Been Raised-Win
Begin Business as Soon as Charter
Is Obtained.
The German Mutual Fire Insurance
Company of Savannah was
practically organized at a meet
ing of about thirty of the
most prominent Germans, held at the
armory of the German Volunteers We'd
nesday night, and the application for
a charter for the company has now
been prepared and will be advertised
to-day for the first time.
The aggregate wealth of those at the
organization of the company is said to
be over $1,5OO,OO0. Certain it is that
a number of the most wealthy men in
the city were present. A guarantee
fund of $1,000 was subscribed at once,
and this may later be increased to $780,
600 Several wanted to subscribe the
entire amount of the guarantee fund,
Int it was decided it would be better
TO have it divided among number
of the members of the company.
DR.. H. S. Colding was made chair
man of the meeting and Fred Vessels,
Jr., secretary. After the guarantee
fund was subscribed, it was decided
10 at once begin advertising the petit
ton for a charter, as under the laws
of Georgia it is necessary to advertise
for thirty days before the Secretary of
State can grant one.
The Charter Members.
This petition for the charter has been
drawn by MIR. U. H. McLaws. the at
torney for the company. AS soon as
IL has been advertised for thirty days,
the Secretary of State will issue a
charter and the insurance commission
err will then grant the company IL
cense.
The names, which appear in the pc
tition for the charter, are j. H. Entel-
man, John F. Lubs, c. H. Koneman,
H. c. Brinkman, Henry Schroeder,
Carl Mendel, M. B. Ehrlicher, A. H.
Entelman. G. H. Harms, j. D. Sims,
f. A. M. Schroeder, ]. F. Hoffman,
Henry E. Dreeson, Harry LANCE, j. II.
Nurken, F. w. Henges, Charles Oh
sick. G.. H. Wittschen. John Stahmer,
Henry Henken, John Kuck, j. Il.
Hoffman, S. Schlotelburg, Henry w.
Suffer, C. M. Monsees, j. d. Helmken,
Henry S. Colding, Fred Vessels, Jr.,
u. H. McLaws. Frank H. Kramer,
George D. Semken and B. D. Rosen-
brook.
Plan Long Considered.
The idea of forming a mutual fire
insurance company here has long been
considered by the Germans. A meet
ing was held several weeks ago in
Mr.. McLaws' office and the matter
was thoroughly gone into then. Pre-
yious to that time, Mr.. McLaws and
others interested in the company had
written to all the prominent mutual
companies of the country to get cop
les of their bylaws and regulations.
Members of the company say they
have secured the best features from all
the other companies and have dis
carded the Objectionable ones. The
plan for the company has been sub
lnitted to Controller General Wright
who is ex officio insurance commits
sioner, and he is said to have APPROX
ed it. officers can not be elected I'M
til the charter is obtained and this
will necessarily take thirty days. By
laws, however, will be adopted within
the next week or so, as soon as the
committee is ready to report on them.
The members of the new company
expect to do a big business here. They
say such a company has long beer
needed and point to successful mutual
companies in other places to show
what may be expected.