Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-02-13
Fire Insurance Rates May Be
lowered as Result OF His
Report.
SPENDS TWO DAYS
MAKING INVESTIGATION
Fire Station and Apparatus, Build
& ings Throughout City, Condition OF
Streets, Electrical Equipment; Eete.,
Examined by inspector W. D. Gates
Rates Higher Than Elsewhere.

w ID. Gates. inspector of the Viz.
ginia DE- apartment of the Southeastern
Underwriters Association. who has
been making an Investigation OF con
ditlcns In this city for the past two
days with a view to lowering the lire
Insurance rate here. completed his
work yesterday and returned to Rich
mond. Mr.. Gates will make report
nf his finding to his association with
ia few days.
The fire insurance rate in Newport
News is higher than II is in any other
city of this size in the state, whlle
for a number OF years the fire loss
here has been smaller than that Of
any other city OF tins class and size.
Because of this fact there ha long
been talk here of making some effort
to have the rate lowered by getting
Southeastern Association to place
Newport News among the first-clseS
cities of the Old Eomini-r The
movement 10 this end took concrete
form last month when Councilman b.
I. Fcrd wrote the association asking
that the tate be lowered and enclgs-
ing the report II Fire Chief w *.
Stow on the fire loss here In 1909.
Mr.. Ford called especial attention TO
the fact that the loss for the entire
twelve months was only SITS, the
Insurance on which amounted &c less
than s. 600, and to the fact that the
fire department Is now equipped with
the newest and NEST modern aerial
fire truck built.
Suspects Fire Equipments.
As a result of Mr.. ford's letter,
Inspector Gates came here Friday and
Immediately began his investigation.
Mr.. Gates and Mr.. Ford were In CON
ference several hours ard later the
Inspector was turned over to tlre
Chief W. X Stow. Chief stow car
ried the inspector all over the city,
showing him the various buildings, In
GLIDING both residences and business
houses. The inspector also visited
the three Are stations and thorough
~ Inspected the apparatus. He ask
ed many questions about the extend
OF the Districts covered by each COM
pany. the number Of paid firemen and
the number OF volunteer fremen. Mr..
Gates also paid particular attention
to the condition of the city streets,
examining the unpaved as well as the
paved ones.
Yester day the inspector was in con-
sultation with City Electrician Good
win and City Engineer Pearse Mr..
Goodwin was called upon to answer
nany questions abont the regulations
governing the installing Of wires In
houses and many other things aIper-
tainine L the electrical department
The city engineer was questioned
about the regulations governing the
construction of buildings in the dli-
ferent sections OF the city.
Chief stew optomlstic.
Although Mr.. Gates gave no inti-
nation of what his recommendation
TO the association will be. bSth Mr..
Ford and Chief STOW are optimistic
and they believe that Newport News
will soon be enjoying the same IN
surance rates as the other cities Of
the fTst-class. The inspector seemed
TO be wei pleased With Conditions
here
when the city finance committee
recently provided fer ar increase in
the license tax on Insurance com
panies f-r the next fiscal year. Il was
reported here that the insurance COM
psnies would raise the rate IN this
city ii the increased tax was enfcrcec
by the council As a result Of these
rep-ris. some OF the merchants and
Others voiced an opposition to an in
crease OF the tax and there was some
tax Of making a aeht on the matter
On The foor Ct the council chamber
when the budget is taken up.
In veiw OF the visit Of inspector
Gates TO this city jus, a; the present
time IL q not likely that any fight will
he made az2inv the proposed in
crease Of the tax on insurance ccm-
panies.
Local agents say that the effect Of
the Increased tax viii b. 10 drive q
number ~ The emsiier companies out
% business here. thus leaving al q
the business for the iargcr companies.