Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-13
WREN WILL PUSH
SALVAGE CORPS
HERALD'S PLAN APPROVED BY
BOARD
Fire Commissioner Appoint Member
TO Consult with Head Of
Underwriters Asso.
elation

Commissioner Waiter Wren was ap-
pointed by the fire board yesterday to
confer with Alexander Field, manager
Of the Fire Underwriters association
of the Pacific coast, for the creation of
salvage corps.
The need of this important factor in
protecting property from water dam
age in large fires was called to the at
tention of the board by The Herald.
The Merchants and Manufacturers AS
socation. as we'll as property owners
IN general. support The Herald in its
demand for protective department.
Of this character.
Members of the fire board are fully
alive to the need of this improvement,
and said so at the meeting yesterday
The Merchants and Manufacturers as
ISOLATION, in a communication TO the
board, compliments 1t upon its deter
rlinatfon to procure a salvage corps Tor
Los Angeles, and places itself at the
disposal of the board to cooperate with
it and procure this result.
Wren Undecided
The organization is of the belief that
the insurance companies should es-
tablish and maintain the corps as they
have done in other cities.
Attention is called to the fact that
while insurance rates have been in
creased 25 per cent, the insurance COM
panies have given no additional pro-
lection to property owners.
Mr. Wren, who for many years has
been engaged in the insurance business,
says that the question of protective
corps for Los Angeles has been dis
cussed at various times by the Fire
Underwriters associat tion without any
tolr
result of this demand of public opinion
for Improvement at this time he is
unable TO say.
Will Take Up Question
Il shall take up the question with
Mr.. Field at once" he told the board
when he was commissioned to learn
the sentiment of the insurance COM
panies. 1T must go before the execu-
tive committee in San Francisco, and it
may be some little time before we
can learn what the insurance compa-
nies will be willing to do. 1t will be a
great Improvement for Los Angeles II
a salvage corps can be established"
The communication from the Mer-
chants and Manufa cturers' association
discusses the situation in no half-heart-
ed way. 1t is asserted that the inn
provement is a necessity and should be
reads as follows:
Honorable Board of Fire Commits
sionerS:
"At meeting of the board of di-
rectors of the association held yester-
day 1 was directed to communicate
with your honorable body in regard TO
the inauguration of salvage corps or
underwriters patrol in connection with
the fire department. The association
has for years urged such a movement,
and we believe that the commercial In
terests of this city are justified in their
demand for better protection from dam
age by water in cases of fire, and the
fact that salvage corps have been es-
tablished for years in other cities
justifies us in our request for the same
protection.
We believe, however, that the ex-
pense of such patrol should be borne
entirely by the underwriters, since the
losses in case of fire will be greatly re-
duced to the financial benefit of insur-
acne companies.
Insurance rates in this city have
been largely increased since the San
Francisco calamity, while the insur-
ers receive no better protection than
heretofore.
Under these conditions 1t is our opin-
ion that steps be taken Immediately to
procure from the underwriters a salv-
age corps, and we place ourselves at
Your disposal to cooperate with you
to obtain that result.
"By order of the board of directors.
Respectfully yours,
II j. ZEEHANDELAAR,
"SecretarV"