Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-07
ACTIVE AT BALTIMORE
Higher Insurance Rates Contemplated
for Large Cities Debris to Be
Moved by the City.

BALTIMORE. March 7-Thls week will
be busy one in the administration of af-
fairs regarding the improvement and re-
habttation of the burned district. The COM
mission which will be In charge of the
work will be named by Mayor McLane
next Wednesday. This body will organize
at once and settle upon the general plans.
which, it is anticipated, will be in shape
to lay before the city council for ratlfica-
ton Thursday or Friday. AS soon as the
Improvement ordnance is passed by the
council it will be signed by the mayor and
the work of surveying begun. This, it Is
calculated, will be completed early next
week. which will open the entire burned
area to the contractors and builders.
In order to facilitate the work of clearing
sites of debris the mayor has directed that
platform be erected on Exchange place,
TO which point the debris may be carted by
the contractors. The Baltimore and Ohio
railroad has laid tracks to this point and
will haul the debris from the platform to
the wharves. where it will be loaded on
scows and disposed of by the city authori-
ties. The mayor has also directed that
builders be permitted to use the streets for
piling up bricks. which are intended for
use III new structures.
First Practical Move.
This order went into effect today. exactly
one month from the date of the confiagra-
tion and marks the first practical move
made by the city officials to enable the
work of rebuilding to be commenced.
The announcement that the insurance
companies had in contemplation in
creased rate to apply in conges.ed business
districts of ali cities having over 100000 in
habitants has aroused cons. SIDERABLE ln{eresl
here. In discussing the subject, Presld mt
Martin Meyerdeck of the German American
Fire Insurance (tOmDapX. who Is also a
member of the national board OF under
writer's said to The Star correspondent to-
day:
II hardly think Baltimore business men
need fear large advance in rates The
congested district has been wiped out. and
with widened streets the congestion in our
Interpretation, will no longer exist The
buildings to be erected WILL am certain,
he constructed along the most modern
lines, embody all the latest devices and ma
terials for averting and resisting fire. The
sconfiagration has taught property owners
q lesson, and the probabilities are that the
new commercial and financial district VIII
have within its confines the finest aggrega-
ton of fire-proof buildings in the United
States
Insurance Rates for Other Cities.
at is likely that in other large cities,
where buildings in the congested district
are like those of Baltimore were, an in
crease in rates will go into effect. and
then only in individual cases of buildings
the owners of which may not comply with
certain safeguards that the underwriters
may prescribe.
Secretary C. E. Willet of the Baltimore
Fire Underwriters Association. when ask
ed about the proposed increase in rates,
said: Il have not received any official an
nouncement in regard to increased rates
fo- Baltimore. The conditions here are
being studied by the members of the ma
tcnal board, and the result of this investi-
cation 1 cannot forecast Until some deli
mite action is taken prefer not to discuss
the matter.
Modern wharves and docks are to be in
cluded in the general plan of improvement,
and Mayor McLane is heartily in favor of
Municipal ownership OF the wharves. TO
acquire this property. it is estimated would
eest So G00,c00 and it is expected that this
amount of the $6.GO0.co0 loan to be floated
vii, be expended for this purpose.
For Modern Wharves.
The mayor stated that three large cor
porations stand ready to pay a rental of
$50 GOO a year each if modern wharves ard
decks are built by the city.
There are two plans under considera-
ton" said the mayor. "One is to have the
city build sheds over the wharyes after
qUiring the property and rent them as an
entirety. and the other Is to allow the
companies to build sheds of their planning
subject to regula tons prescribed by the
building inspector. The general plan is -
provide wide driveways each wharf
from Light street to Jones Falls. with
ample dock room at either side for the
loading and unloading of vessels at ore
and the same time. This would prove
tremendous advantage to the steamship
companies as we'll as to the public.
However concluded the mayor, There
car be no such thing as municipal owner
ship of wharves and docks unless he voters
OF Baltimore approve the s6.Hmoo0 loan at
= iaI afo mo- In