The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-12
WOULD DOUBLE:
Risks j 6 SAY THEY.
Insurance Men Somewhat Alarms
ed at Prospect Of Doubling
Overhead Trolley Wires.
DANGEROUS PROPOSITION
One Insurance Man So Expresses
Himself Regarding Overhead
Trolley System.

Ne. ,g-
Fire insurance men are considerably.
alarmed at the prospective doubling o.
the fire risks OF Richmond. as result
Of the recent action Of tho City Council
In passing the Mills double overhead
trolley ordinance. fl 81
Local fire insurance officials and repre-
sentatives OF out-of-town companies have
been unanimous In signing a petition to
the Board OF Aldermen condemning the
double overhead trolley and asking that
they be heard before the Aldermen take
final action on the matter. Every ono
OF the IRE insurance men seen say that
I they are firmly OF the opinion that to
add another large overhead copper wire.
charged with powerful voltage Is q deadly
menace to life and limb OF both human
beings and animals. as we'll as a double
danger from other wires crossing aid
from. the two proposed overhead trol,eys
being short circuted. 3 M
s.4s Goodness knows, fire risks in the whole
South are bad enough now, and the fact,
Is daily becoming more and more appar:-.
ent, !" said a prominent fire insurance man.
Here is a copy OF this months Issue
OF the Insurance Index one OF the lead
Ing insurance Journals OF the country
It says: There is much yet to be done
In the Southern States, as well as else
where, In the way OF guarding against
loss by fire. by removing some OF the
extra hazards which now. exist. This is
the only way in which rates can he per-
manently reduced and 1T Is a profitable
one, both to the insurance companies and
the insured!. I'd
"A Serious Problem.
.Unquestionably electric wiring and the
transmission OF power through the streets
and into the homes, factories and ware
houses OF Richmond. Is one OF the great
est problems we have to contend with IN
basing our IRE rates. II the City Coun-5
Gil finally passes the Mills douhde-trolley&
ordinance, would not be In the least
surprised to find that the ties in Rich-F
mond would be increased. OF course, I
cannot say how much, but feeling as I
do about tho matter and knowing that
the experts OF the Eastern Tarlft Asso-$
citation are unquestionably in favor OF
reducing ali overhead wires to the low
est possible minimum. I am constrained /
70 think 1tSwould mean an extra bur-
den on the property owners OF Richmond
and an extra charge to them in order to-
get fire prot ction.' y IS :s53
Charles e. Workman, Jr.. OF the firm
ter: al.
THE double overhead trolley system is
a dangerous proposition from the Are in-5
surance standpoint. n In the event of fire
In tbuildinEs In the streets traversed9 by
the cars. the double trolley would mean
that much more reference ,or delay In
handling the water towers, ladders and
the apparatus. Double trolley wires Just
double the danger from short circuits.
/ am gathering some facts and figures
In. connection with this matter. and l
will soon be able to show that every ad-
ditlonal high power wire. wire carrying
menace to life and property. In my
opinion. the danger would be greater
in Main and Broad Streets, where travel
is heaviest. " Il 86 55s
Il s5 ] Report on Richmond.
Following ls an extract from report on
thescitysof Richmond, issued by the Ma
tional Board of Fire Underwriters Com
nittee OF Twenty, April, 1906. recommend
Ing underground wiring altogether:
RECOMMENDATIONS 80 ELECTRICITY.
(see9 page 49,
= So. That an ordinance be passed making
the National Electrical Code the standard
for. all electrical work.
Il 81. That the electrical ordinances be
rigidly nforced. n "a si
Y IS. That the municipal inspection force
De sufficiently Increased to ensure sys-
tematic reinspection5 of wiring.
Z 80. Thataa employed hold office until
removed for cause. X
4 %. III That electrical contractors be res
CURED TO- obtain a license. sl,f
& 81 That q complete reinspection OF all j
old wiring be made and all defects cor
rected. d i5.s
49, That all wiring be subsequently re-
Inspected at suitable intervals.
3d. That all overhead wires. except
trolley wires. be placed underground in
the closely built sections.
,A That the tests for electrolysis be
4 555% * VIZ 5
GENERAL suN1AfARY--ELECTRI
(see page 45,)
Municipal control fair but enforcement
Of National Code Is lax. Underwriting
mainly Of advisory nature.
generally atsfactory, espe-
cialyt in outside work. Electrolysis un-
Ter control. IS