The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-30
Insurance Experts Will Be-
gin Work Here Next
Week
RESOLUTION OF
BOARD OF TRADE
Radcliffe to Write Letters to Mer-
chants-House to House Canvass
Under Way for Southern Fire
Insurance Association

In a spirit of cooperation a resolution
was adopted by the Board of Trade yes
terday asking all the merchants of the
city to put their places into good condi-
ton and make all preparations possible
for the inspection of the downtown busi-
ness district next week by several corps
Of fire insurance experts who are now
gathering in Birmingham and who will
represent probably every fire insurance
company which does business here
Some of these experts are already in
the city and at work. Two inspections
are now under way by underwriters as
socia tions and it is stated third will
be started next week. Besides this the
special agents of the different companies
will be at work by the first of next weeb
and 1t is claimed there will be in all
something like S5 insurance experts exam
ming fire risk conditions in Birmingham
To Write Letters
The resolution adopted by the Board OF
Trade at the meeting yesterday empowers
Secretary w. C. Radcliffe to write let
ters to every one of the downtown mer-
chants whether or not they are MEM
bers of the Board of Trade or of the
Chamber of Commerce. These letters will
go out from Chamber of Commerce head
quarters this morning, asking every mer-
chant or business man to put his place in
the best condition he can and comply
with every recommendation which has
been made IN the recent reports on fire
hazard in this city, in order that the visit
of the experts next week will find condi-
tions improved and the city will receive
a better rating in the fire insurance world
President j. e. Shelby of the Board
of Trade states that that body, wishes
to cooperate in every way with the fire
insurance companies in decreasing the
fire risk In this city and by SO doing hope
not only to prevent an increase in 9re
insurance rates, but a decrease and a
better classification for the city.
The publication yesterday morning in
The Age-Herald of the 30 recommended
tons of the committee on fire prevention
of the National Fire Underwriters asso-
citation caused considerable comment in
the city yesterday. Fire Chief A. V. Ben
nett states he agrees with every recon-
mendation made by the committee and
o
the improvements recommended for some
time. but has been hampered to a great
extent by lack of funds.
House to House Canvass
A committee of experts representing the
Southern Fire Insurance associatio is
now making a house to house canvass of
the city, rating every building. This plan
was decided upon some time ago by the
association and includes in its scope all
of the southern states. The smaller towns
were inspected first. Birmingham is said
to be the last city in Alabama to be in
spected and the committee expects to be
engaged in their work here for some time
Every dwelling in the city is to be visited
and an individual rate placed upon 1t by
the experts. 1t is said that no effort is
being made to raise the rate, but that the
property owner will be given the benefit
of the doubt in every case. The commit
tee of experts representing this associa-
ton is as follows: j. II. Wilson, Dick
Pearson, J. e. Clark. s. |. White, Dick
Randall, Morris Prioleau, r. W. Wood,
Tom Craig, Charles Wood. Il. B. NJ. Ad-
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