The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
INSURANCE RATES
STILL DISCUSSED
MR.. MAYBERRY SUGGESTS, IN
CONNECTION WITH INSURANCE,
THAT CITY AFFAIRS BE CON-
QUOTED LIKE OTHER BUSINESS.

The demands of the Southeastern Tariff
association, as a condition for restoring
Birmingham to a first class insurance
basis, continue to be the topic in bus
mess circles. Merchants who have to
carry large insurance naturally want the
city to do whatever is right and FEAST
bile in the way of improving Birming
hams fire protection, but they declare
the demands of the association I'M
reasonable
H. H. Maberry. president of the Citi-
Een's Savings Bank and Trust company
in speaking of the question yesterday,
said
II do not wish to discuss the justice
or injustice of the insurance demands. In
fact 1 believe the demands made by the
insurance companies, to place the city
of Birmingham on a first class basis,
should be taken up by a committee and
agreement reached that would be to
some extent mutually satisfactory.
1.-THE point l wish to bring out is that
the city of Birmingham is growing very
fast and like all new oities-especially
progressive ones-we haven't the cash to
give proper fire protection or even po-
lice protection, to the entire city, as we
would like to do. Then the question
CONF up why should we not operate
the city affairs as we would our own,
namely, do the best we could with what
we had and thoroughly protect GER
tain district and as our financial condi-
ton improved gradually widen this cir
icle until we were able to give proper
protection to all the property within our
city limits. The idea that appeals to
me, is this: To furnish proper equip
ment to place the congested or business
portion of Birmingham on first class
basis, the district to be bounded by GER
tain streets and avenues and then out
lside of this district, have another dis
trict which would be placed on the Sec
-ond class fire insurance basis. After the
city had recovered from the expenditure
in placing the specified district on first
class basis, and were in position to en-
large this circle by improving our fire
departments she should do so.
IF this course is systematically, persis-
tently and honestly pursued, 1t would not
be many years before large area of
this city would be on a first class fire
insurance basis. To my mind this is the
the proper course to pursue. We should
improve the fire department in a certain
district and make 1t effective; in other
words secure first class rating within
certain radius
81 hope l have made myself clear. The
reason for advocating this, win, 1 am
certain appeal to our people, for the
reason that the business portion of the
city, which would be placed upon a first
class fire insurance basis, requires large
insurance risks both on buildings and
merchandise, probably 70 per cent of our
fire insurance. Now the amount of In
surance carried out aside of this re-
stricted district is comparatively small
and the risk not so great, residences are
not so congested but sufficient space ex-
lists between each house to make it pos
sible to protect it, and also, 1t should
not be overlooked that residence con-
stant1y has an occupant in or near it
This initself diminishes the chance
of fire. I believe that it is within
our ability to so arrange our present
financial strength as to give relief by i'm
proving the fire department and putting
small portion of our city on first
class basis and by giving thought to
the matter, to gradually and systemat-
icaIly widen the circle. l believe this
would be a much better way than to
continue under a second class rating for
the whole city, or even to attempt to
place the entire city on a first class rat
ing