The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-25
TELLS INSURANCE MEN HOW ID REDUCE
 LOCAL FIRE HAZARD
James H. Hard Points to Statutes by Which Great Assistance Can be
 Given

James IF. Hard in a letter to The Age ; Herald tells insurance men how the fire hazard in Birmingham can be reduced by utilization of laws now on the statute books in Alabama. He writes l To the Editor of The Age Herald Recently several of the brightest stars l in the insurance fraternity of B1rmin ham called on the city commission and among other things one of them said as reported that Birmingham was paying a penalty of s200,0oo year for bad fire hazards and l that unless something was done the Southeastern Underwriters would increase l the rates of insurance; that the associa- tion would meet in Atlantic City this month and unless the local agents made showing, 25 per cent would be added to the raise of 15 per cent made last year Now, if the penalty that Birmingham is paying is $200,000 annually and it is doubled it follows that the local agents will receive large increase in commissions on the business they do, and they are therefore interested in seeing the raise put into ef- feet
 I have already said that the raises al ready made were unreasonable, and action should be taken to prevent the under writers raising rates at their own sweet
 
 wanting to reduce the fire waste, there ie way that they have not yet avaled themselves of by which it can be done. The committee of gentlemen who called on the commissioners was composed of capable, successful business men, mer who have been prominent in many good works for the upbuilding of Birmingham so I am going to make a suggestion to them.
 Article of the insurance laws of Ala bama provides for the organization of d fire insurance patrol or salvage corps. Section 2622 says fire underwriters and insurance agents of any city may provide patrol of men and superintendent and accommodations and apparatus therefor, to prevent and extingush fires and to save property or life endangered by fire. The patrol to be subject to the control of the chief engineer or fire marshal.
 Section 2623 provides for the mainten- ance of the patrol, by an assessment on ali fire insurance companies doing busi- ness in the city, said assessment not to exceed per. cent of the premiums col lected by said insurance companies. Such assessment Is collectable in any court of competent Jurisdiction on suit of person designated by the underwriters or local agents for that purpose.
 Section 2624 provides for a semi-annual report of premiums collected by the in- SurHnce companies, ana SectlOn lozo pTO- vides for a penalty for a failure to make report
 A large proportion of losses are on con tents of buildings, caused by water chemicals used in extingushing a fire, and from smoke.
 A patrol of competent men unde> proper direction would be of immense assistance to our excellent fire depart ment, and would save the citizens and in- surance companies many thousands os dollars in the course of a year. Ia many cases the damage to contents of bsildings is considerable while the build- ] ings themselves may be only slightly l da maged.
 1 The patrol provided with swift moving vehicles, light ladders, extinguishers, tar- paulins to protect goods from water, tools and appliances for removing or protection of contents would certainly save many dollars and had it been in operation the last few years it might have saved several lives. The way is provided for the organiza- tion and maintenance and operation. 1t is authorized by law, it's need Is evident, and if the local agents of the fire in- surance companies will act promptly which they should do if the insurance companies are really in earnest about wanting to reduce the fire losses, and will stand their share of the cost, they can, within 30 days, begin to get re- suits.
 Now, gentlemen. I have told you how to do it. Get busy Yours truly.
 JAMES H. HARD. Birmingham, May 4. 1915.