Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1909-02-09


 of these cities. We quote from tel egram to the Gazette from Fort Smith, published last Saturday:
 Fort Smith Feb. 5.-Extensivc preparations are being male for the protection of this city against fire loss Following on the heels Of the letting Of q contract for Sl0,000 fire station, Mayor Pagan Bourland an- nouncCd today that at the next regu- lar meeting of the city council he house ba established at once. He will ask that the new station be located in the north side factory district, and that steamer be among the depart ment equipment. Should the council act favorably on the chief executives recommendation the city will have five fire stations.
 For many years Fort Smith has de- pended on two stations to protect a Are district six square miles in ex- tent. During the past year station No. 3 has been erected and equipped. Yesterday the contract was let for the erection of No. 1 as protection to the south side factories"
 1t will Do noted from the above that up to year ago Fort Smith had but two fire stations and yet, for years 1t has been a first class city from q standpoint of fire insurance
 Our people must know that the diff ference in rates between a first and second class city is about 25 per cent and to that extent Pine Blufiians have been imposed upon.
 We are reliably informed that the premium receipts of this city. paid to various fire insurance companies, will average about $l75,0OO annually. If that is the case Pine Bluffians are paying about s4O,000 per annum .oo much for their fire insurance.
 Why not save this sum for our peo- pie? If that amount was saved them for five or six years the people of this city could build and own the 1nuch needed North and South Rail- road or possibly have sufficient bon us on hand to bring the Parker road to Pine Bluff, or be responsible for many other needed public utilities.
 It Is claimed by the insurance agents of this city. at least one of them, claiming to speak for some oth- CTS. that the fire losses in this city far exceed the premiums collected. Frankly, the Graphic does not hest tate to doubt that proposition. and will have to be sighted.
 We do not believe that the annual fire losses in this city are anything like $175,000. But suppose that it is the case. We still maintain that 1t Is no just cause for making us pay a higher rate of insurance than other cities Saa Francisco, we are told. co,. the companies about $3,000.0 900. yet the rates there on properly con- structed buildings, are just as cheap now as they were before the fire.
 In nut shell, we believe it is tine for the Board of Trade to take this 1aalter up and demand and obtain a square deal from the insurance com- lanles. else, as we have heard several large insurers state, they might send East for their fire insurance, thus de. priving the local agents of their com missions.
 The local agents owe IL 10 thelr city and their patrons 10 urge the placing of Pine Bluff on a first ,'laSs basis. By doing this they will noi only save the local propert;' owners the forty or more thousands of dollars annually, but also relieve them of many obnoxious clauses, such as three foulths values and three-tour,h3 los clauses that do not exist In cities O. the first class.
 ! The Graphic's Public Opinion column Is open to the members of 1 the Board of Trade, the merchants,