The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-22
NARROWING The AREA OR LOSS
FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES
MAKE A NEW "BURNED" MAP.

Ag1Dt -
justed-A Few on Both sides May Quit.
Fire insurance officials in New York
marked up an entirely new set OF San Fran.
cisco city maps yesterday, their revised
pencillings enclosing a much smaller 'esti-
mated burned area" than their tracings OF
the previous days. On these latest diagrams
q few OF the companies made new esti-
mates OF their gross liabilities and gave
them to the public.
sOur new map" said Secretary Kelly OF
the Westchester Fire Insurance Company,
lis drawn in accordance with the latest
advioes which have been received from
Gen. Funston. We consider his report
authentic enough to make some preliminary
reckonings Of the losses. The General
also sends encouraging news concerning
the water supply.
sour new harmed area map, based on the
Generals report, is as follows: Beginning
at the waterfront on Broadway, thence to
Mason, south to California street, west to
James, thence an irregular diagonal line to
Golden Gate street and Van Ness avenue,
then west to Fillmore street, thence south
to Market, then an irregular diagonal line
to Valencia and Twenty-sixth street, then an
irregular line back to the bay That does
not include the finer dwelling house section
Of the Western Addition at all. Previous
reports of the extent Of the fire were greatly
exaggerated
The above described area was accepted
yesterday by all the companies as the most
accurate limit Of fire losses that has yet
been reached, and the liability statements
hat were issued we're based on the known
risks within those boundaries,
The statement made by the Westminster
oompany and sent out to all its agents was
as follows:
From information at hand, and a full
record Of the liability Of the Westminster
Fire Insurance Company in the city OF San
Francisco, Cal, and in the burned district,
the Losses Of the company by the recent
oonhagration will not exceed 5000 COO. Inc
net surplus Of the company over all habih-
ties and capital is 81 ,e7s, 12a. Also the COM
panv operates under the Safety Fund law
Of New York, and hasa deposit Of $500 900
with the Insurance Department at Albany.
Under the provisions of this law the policy
holders of the company are amply protected
against confagrations.'
Henry Evans, president Of the Continental
Insurance Company, made this estimate:
Assuming everything in the burned dis
tnct is totally destroyed, the Continentals
loss will be measured by 81, $50, 900. The
less paying ability Of a fire insurance COM
pany is measured by its net assets; hat IL,
the capital and net surplus. The REIN
surance reserve and other liability items
cannot be used for the payment Of the San
Francisco losses. The Continental's net
assets are in excess Of SIC, 900, ooo; therefore,
after paying even two and one-hah million
dollars, our net assets will be seven and
one-half million dollars, and our gross
assets will be fifteen million dollars. Again,
the Continental operates under the new
York Safety Fund law, and the New York
Superintendent Of Insurance holds, for the
benefit Of p~olicyholders not involved IN a
| CONFEDERATION, six hundred thousand dol
lars.
E. @. Snow, president Of the Homo In
surance Company, sent the following 70
his agents:
Anticipating a natural and proper de-
sire on the part OF our agents and their Gus
toners for information touching the losses
incurred by the Home in the San Francisco
| c~onfagration we are now able to state
that our liability under every policy in force
ON property in the whole city OF San Fran
cisco is not exceeding IS, 400, 900. II news
paHer reports are correct the Homes losses
will not exceed two million dollars ($2 600,
| ooo), and after paying claims upon US the
surplus remaining will be upward OF seven
million dollars C7, 900 ,000). We shall begin
adjusting and paying claims as soon as
our men can reach the city, and as in other
similar cases, notably Chicago, Boston and
Baltimore, the Home policies will be worth
one hundred cents on the dollar. You will
now be In position to demonstrate to your
customers the wisdom and necessity for the
maintenance of conservative practices and
adequate rates, and we count upon your
active support Of these sound principles
for which the Home has always stood
Later in the day Mr.. Snow issued this;
aOur entire liability under every policy
in force on property in the whole city OF San
Francisco is three and one-half million
dollars. Latest advices from our repre-
septatives on the ground indicate liability
In burned district not over two mlilons
and loss to company not over one and one
half millions. Our net surplus over mint
millions and assets over twenty-one millions
Will commence adjusting and paying claims
as soon as smoke clears away
w. 3. banta, general aBeht AL tihs Guy
for the Fireman's Fund Of San Francisco
and several other companies, vas plainly
annoyed yesterday by inquiries from in
surance brokers and Others concerning
the stability Of the Freman's Fund, which,
as told in THE Sun yesterday, not only had
heavy Habih lies, but had lost many Of its
own assets in the fire.
As a general reply to all these questions
Mr.. Banta finally posted the following
telegram from Oakland on his Office wall;
Details from San Francisco not yetreceived
but you may accept for yourself and clients
most positive assurance that both Ftreman'f
Fund and Home are safe.
c. W. KELLOGG.
Other companies reported to their agen-
cies as follows
Union Insurance: Not doing business In
San Francisco. Have small mount OF re-
insurance, but fire will not interfere with
our operations
Providence Washington Insurance Com
pany: .This is a safety fund confagrahor
zlu-ol -, The loxu m nm 70