The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
UNDERWRITERS WILL SEND ENGINEERS ID CITY IN SHORT TIME
Attitude Toward Brming. ham Much More Friendly Than HeretOfOre-Let-
 ter Is Received

Officials of the Southeastern Under writers association have taken a much more friendly view toward Birmingham. II was stated yesterday by civic society officials following receipt of a letter from officials of the underwriters association, ana hopes for suspension or annullment of the recent 15 per cent raise in fire insurance rates in this city are increas- ing.
 through letters addressed to both Presi- dent Ward of the city commission and Secretary W. c. Radcliffe of the Cham Der of Commerce. it was learned yes terday that the underwriters shave ap- pointed special committee of three mem- bers of the executive committee to look into the Birmingham situation and this special committee has delegated the ex- pert engineers of the association to come to Birmingham and make an expert in- vestigation
 The special committee named to look Into Birmingham complaint is W. R. Prescott. chairman; Milton Dargan and R. N. Hughs. The letters received yes terday were from Chairman Prescott of Atlanta. It is given in full below
 Secretary Radcliffe replied to MT. Pres colt, stating that the Birmingham civic organizations would be glad to cooperate and confer with his committee and with the expert engineers when they come here, but again insisting that in the mean time the raise of 15 per cent in rates be suspended until negotiations are con- cluded.
 The Board of Trade insurance commit tee met yesterday and discussed the situ- ation Chairman A. W. B. Johnson pre- sided. President Ewing was present. Data on conditions in Birmingham and and other cities which has been gathered up until this time was presented and discussed. A report of the underwriters association, issued May 2S, 1914, by a com mittee statistics has been secured, and it shows that in 1913 there were some fire loss was over $5 per capita. Bir- ton and other large places where the lore loss was over So per capita. Bir- mingham was not in the list, although in previous years in 1912, she stood twenty second on this list and in 1911 stood thir- ty-second, showing the conditions in Bir- mingham had improved in 1913 over previ- ous years.
 l. F. Young. J. D. Collins and Secretary Radcliffe were appointed as special committee to cooperate with the city government in the fire insurance fight and this committee expects to confer with the city commissioners in the near future.
 The letter from Mir Prescott of the un- derwriters' association, is as follows:
 Atlanta. Ga, August 5. 1914. "lIon. George B. Ward, President Board
 of Commissioners Birmingham:
 Dear Sir-Your favor of fba lei in stant, addressed to MT. J. S. Raine, secretary, has been referred to w H. Prescott, Milton Dargan and R. N Hughs as a committee from the executive committee on Birmingham conditions In reply. we beg to advise that at present the experts from our engineer ing department whom we intend to send to Birmingham are on their va cation. but we can probably arrange to have them reach Birmingham in apout 10 days. possibly two weeks. Doubtless it will require this length of time for you to make satisfactory arrangements for the appointment of your committed and We therefore hope that the suggested time for meeting will prove satisfactory to you
 We have received a letter from Mir. William c. Radcliffe. secretary of the Board of Trade. indicating that 1t IS the intention of the board to appoint dpCuI io or US members, WHO Will serve on committee to meet our en- gineers. also that this committee will be re-enforced by others whom you will appoint.
 ''Y ou will understand. of course. that the engineers whom we intend to send 10 Birmingham will not have any au- thority to make any negotiations In reference to the existing rates and re- cuirements of our association. but will simply report to us such data as they may be able to secure as to the pres ent conditions in Birmingham and what changes or betterments in your fire department, water supply and general conditions may be necessary to reduce the appalling fire waste of VOLT city.
 We will instruct our engineers to confer freely with your committee and keep it posted as to whatever facts and conditions may develop and our engi- necrs will be only too glad to receive for the guidance and information of our executive committee whatever sug- gestions or data they may secure through a full and free conference with your committee to the end that our executive committee may be in pos session of full information on the en- tire situation when 1t meets the rep ,csentatives Of your city at some fu- ture date to be agreed upon Yours very truly, w. k. Ihfoe Vi |.