The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-23

: One never has fire in ones par : ; Tor. [: I can recall no instance when {;
 fire started in the front of a mer- ! ! cantile establishment. It Is always {; : the rear. |:
 l: The front yard is always clean l:
 : Fire start in the backyard and !
 [: in closets !
  The above are few terse remarks made yesterday by Robert A. Brown of R. A. Brown & Co.,. insurance. who Is president of the Alabama State Fire Underwriters association. In an interview given out yesterday, MT. Brown suggests general house cleaning and strict enforcement of the laws. He said that If 100 represen- tative property owners of this city would see to this general clean up and then ap- pear in a body before the authorities in Atlanta, who have charge of the rates, that the city might be exempted from the recently announced 10 per cent fire insur- ance increase. Mir Brown made this statement yesterday:
 Our principal trouble is poor house.
 
 lowed to accumulate in cellars, attics, clothes closets and store rooms to such an extent that 1t creates fire hazard gradually without the occupants noticing these accumulations. Along with this we have a number of poorly constructed buildings. which should be condemned or the deficiencies corrected; faulty electric wiring, defective fiues and shingle roofs are some of the direct causes of fires.
 Aside from these physical conditions we have an insufficient number of fire department should be increased mater ially, and instead of these inspectors is- suing cleanup orders when the prem ises are found in bad condition, they should immediately order the arrest of such violators, and heavy fine imposed in every case. Of course this would not apply to repairs.
 Some Crooked Fires We have our share of crooked fires also.
 Tn addition to this every policeman should be cautioned to look out for firt hazards, and report promptly to the fire department. During fires in the crowded downtown district the police department can render valuable service to the firemer by roping off the streets and keeping back the crowd.
 This matter has been brought to the attention of the chief of the police de. partment from whom we have assurance that in the future the firemen will re. ceive every assistance from the police de partment.
 'The insurance agent should inspect every risk that he writes. and report its true condition to the insurance company In the event that the condition of any risk is such as not to warrant the issuance o1 a policy, these conditions should be report. ed to the proper city officials for atten. tion.
 Insurance is too cheap and too easy to obtain. The system of unlimited cred. it's extended to policyholders by agents the increased number of underwriting agencies, and cheap companies. thus mul. tplying the number of agents, making competition so keen that about the only inducement an agent can offer is unim- ited credit. In other words, most any. body can get insurance simply for the asking "The result Is numerous fires, the pen. atty high rates. The agent Is not alone to blame for the condition for the req son that the companies are too anxious for business and now they are paying for this anxiety.
 ''The careless handling of the evel ready criminal match instead of the uni versal use of the safety match. Many Places We'll Kept There are many places in Birmingham t<that are well kept, where the housekeep- ing is good and the protection adequate Tua cbnnld ba oix hut ,.la Se of good housekeepers are now called upor to help pay the penalty for the careles: and reckless.
 '"rhe public cannot blame entirely the insurance companies for advancing thii l rate The plain facts show that the losses have been tremendous and We have contributed to this loss, thereby increas ing the rate by our negligence. We al know the cause and we know the remedy It is a question of applying the remedy First, Birmingham should get together in the greatest house cleaning campaign possible and get rid of fire hazards and fire traps, for if we do not you can only expect one of two things, higher rates or else the companies will withdraw from this city.
 "The fire equipment of Birmingham is excellent, our water supply is abundant and the pressure is sufficient. I have confidence in the fire department. But
 when you consider that they have not the cooperation of the public. then with the vast area of territory to care for, and tht large number of fires, you cannot expect anything else, other than heavy loss | ratio.
 'Is it not criminal to permit con dition to exist that would destroy youi rSghbor's property. to say nothing oi
 VIr own? Would you consent to have dynamite stored next door to your dwell ing? Then, why remain silent when you see a dangerous storage of waste thai would destroy your property, and possibly the lives of your family?
 Every man, woman and child within Greater Birmingham should resolve from this moment to begin . campaign to re move everything that would invite a fire | and insist upon bringing Birmingham back to standard which a city of it's char acter should enjoy You know the cause you have the remedy, 1t is simply up tt the citizens of this city to apply it. "A loss by fire Is loss forever Slaughter Here Yesterday w. c. Slaughter of Atlanta, represent