The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-18
FIFTEEN PER CENT INCREASE MADE IN INSURANCE RATES Action Came as Distinct and Unpleasant Surprise to
 City Officials WARD WITHHOLDS
 FORMAL STATEMENT No Explicit Explanation of Under writers Action Offered-Weatherly Blames Shingle Roofs and
 Great Area of the City
 

Effective yesterday at noon, orders were issued by the Southeastern ITn- derwriters' association increasing Bir- mingham's fire insurance rates 5 per cent
 The action came as distinct sur prise to city officials and there was fr- ritated discussion throughout Birming ham yesterday afternoon when it be- cams known that more money would be necessary to protect property risks. George R. Ward. president of the city commission, declined to make a formal statement pending an unofficial or per sona1 investigation. He declared. how ever, that he had heard nothing to the effect that sthe rate would be in- creased.
 "We have an excellent fire depart ment,' said the president of the com mission. Birmingham, as a matter of fact. has always taken pride in it's fire fighting force. and 1t has. as a result, been made more efficient year by year. 1 do not believe that in the United States there Is city of equal size In possession of better equip ment. larger and more effective force or a better trained or more attentive chief
 And what Is more. we are planning other improvements. The knowledge of contemplated improvements has be- come common. In the very near future our entire force will be electrical or automatic; that is. the horse as an aid in fighting fire will be entirely elim- mated.
 q do not care to offer harsh crit icism, or even to make a formal state ment in regard to the actual order in- creasing rates l have not yet had an opportunity to judge or hear reasons why such action was taken"
 No Explicit Explanation
 In the circular received in Birming ham no explicit explanation was of- fered. The following bald statement was circulated. owing to the heavy fire loss ratio in Birmingham which has continued a very long time, and the present unsatisfactory conditions the following action was taken by the executive committee at it's meeting on the 14th:
 "The rates on all risks located in Greater Birmingham be increased 15 per cent, the increase to apply to final rates, except on risks of fireproof con struction, sprinlSled risks having a grade of 60 per cent or over and de- tached special hazards with standard private fire protection"
 Heavy loss ratio and present unsatis- factory conditions" arc the indefinite reasons offered. It has been reported that the underwriters contend that citizens of Birmingham have failed to keep their residences Tn tidy condition, and have failed to observe certain conditions i'm posed by fire insurance experts. Citizens contend, however, that rates in Birming' ham have been on a steady increase fo1 several years despite the fact that lire protection facilities have been steadily in prov ed until now Birmingham has a department equal to that of any other city of like sizs pr. F. F. Snedecor. a well known citizen. with considerable rrorerty risks said yesterday that seven years ago he paid SIP 60 on certain brick house, and that today, on the same house, he pays $32. 25.