The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-29
FIRE PERIL DECLINING
UNDERWRITERS FIND
Many States and Cities Adopt
Measures to Keep Losses
Down.
OBJECT TO KENTUCKY LAW
Legislation Drives Companies
Away, Is Report to Ma
tiOnal Board.

1t was distinctly tale of progress that
the members OF the National Board OF
Fire Underwriters had to unfold to each
other at their annual meeting at the
Waldorf-Astoria yesterday. Revised
building laws In many cities, laboratories
70 test fire appliances the success of the
reward system In detecting arson, fire
surveys OF cities hitherto uncertain fac
tors, and favorable legislation. or at least
an absence OF lnimlcal legislation, were
some OF the good features mentioned in
reports and speeches
Twenty-nine municipalities have been
added in the year to the list OF those
revising their building laws. Fire under
writer's experts have been busy all the
way from Bangor Me, to Los Angeles.
Cal, determining fro hazards, showing
city fathers how theatre ordinances ought
20 DO worded, spreading precepts from
the underwriters model building code.
nnd safeguarding buildings under con-
gtruction.
And the boards work has not stopped
with the bounds OF tho United States
proper. For some time It has studied
fire and building conditions abroad. one
OF it's engineers IL In charge of the fire
protection features at tho coming
Panama PACING exposition In San Fran
cisco. Other specialists have examined
and reported upon fire hazards In Federal
buildings at Washington, ID. G.
The new underwriters Laboratories IN
Chicago. with many branches throughout
the country. are pet project OF the mem
bsrs of the national board. All sorts
Of fre preventing and fire fighting APP
planes are tested and reported upon for
the benefit OF manufacturers, as well as
fire insurance men and the public gen
~ h.. lak .f..s
has received almost universal accept
ance. Sprinkler heads. extingulshers
electrical fire detectors, hose. engines and
chemical compounds all fall within the
scope OF the laboratories work. which Is
done without thought of profit. The sol,
object is to bring to the user Of any fire
appliance the one best obtalnable opinion
on It's dement's or dement's.
Thirty-seven cities were surveyed fo'
fire hazards during the year and reports
were issued on the present condition o.
each. The survey in Washington con
cerned the risks OF fire and the necessary
FIRE protection OF the Patent Office. Pen
sion Office and General Land Offic,
buildings OF the Department OF the In
terror The committee on laws reported
"It is with no little satisfaction that W
are able to report that OF the Legislature.
which have convened and adjourned non
has enacted any law inimical to our bust
ness. with the one notable exception o
Kentucky. Despite every honorable eff
fort and influence at our command tn
Legislature of that State so amended It
present rating law that practically all tn
stock fire Insurance companies have fel
II necessary to withdraw or suspend bust
ness therein"
The underwriters reelected william
Rremer OF the German Alliance and Ger
man American Fire Insurance companies
New York. president and chose X. N
Bissell OF the Hartford and Citizens com
panies OF Hartford and ST. Louis vice
president. G. J. Holman OF the CONNER
clai Union Company of London and Ne,
York was reelected secretary and f. /.
Haynes OF the Newark Fire Insuranc
Company treasurer.