Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-02-27
FIRE
IN contested
DISTRICTS seen
Insurance Commissioner Points
Out Lack of Proper
Precautions


! Danger from fire in the Congested
districts of Honolulu, Hilo and other
places OF the islands is pointed out by
the board Of underwriters in the re-
port Of the territorial insurance com.
/ missioner which has just been filed
With the senate. -.
| The statement of the underwriters
Is submitted by the insurance commits
| sioner along with his own report, to
show their own point Of view. as he
states. r. .-. E.....
While their arguments so to show
that the rates are not too high" says
the commissioner, "still they do not
account for the great profits made in
fire insurance in the territory"
Referring to the fire hazards in Ho-
nolulu, the statement of the under
writer's says in part:
Precautions Are Too Few
at has been the rule of this office
when making a survey to call to the
attention of the owner or occupant of
a building the often too-evident fire
are eliminated for the time being,
without proper surveillance by some
one in authority, little can be accom-
plished. A poor fire shutter is repaired
one day and blocked with boxes or
merchandise. the next. Empty boxes
are removed to be replaced with fire
wood or even gasoline containers.
"Oil lamps ere discontinued and
electric lights are used, the wiring and
appliances being put in by persons
without electrical or mechanical
knowledge.
This latter feature is a common and
increasing hazard. in the Oriental
section 1t Is common to see gas stoves
discarded while batteries OF old .kero-
sene or linseed oil containers, used as
stove substitutes, are working over.
time.
Buildings that have less than 10
feet space intervening, rate according
to their number and classification"
the statement goes on, the highest
rated risk In the range buildings to
be considered in. range until 10
foot break occurs) forms the basis for
all, to which are also added deficien.
cies. 2,
Dangerous Districts Found
in this latter class of risks, COM
prising an area extending from Alapai
street to the Palama cane fields and
mauka as far as School street in Ho-
nolulu, and nearly all OF the city of
Hilo. forms dangerous conflagration
district. Then there ere also Wailu-
ku, Iahaina, Kahului and Raia. or
Maui; Oiaa, Pafloa and H0nokaa on
Koloa, Kafaa, Waimea and
Kanai; Waipahu, Waialua
and Aiea on Oahu. to say nothing of
the other scattered towns or villages !
having Indifferent or absolutely no
ire protection.
Liabilities Are Heavy
In 1915 the Liabilities OF compan-
les, represented by some 10 agents |
alone, in the eongested district OF Ho- |
nolulu were close on to $8,000,000. 1t |
seems everybody builds to suit him |
self With no idea of safeguarding his |
lcighbor's property.
Buildings are being erected every
where without fire breaks; some
blocks are solid mass of frame
as fnle occupied by class |
II people who do not recognize clean |
mess of person CT surroundings.
Nearly every mercantile building
n the congested Chinatown district is
lsed in part for living quarters. Small
compartments answer as stores and |
dwellings,; whole families occupy
inyle. rooms, Kitchens are after
thoughts and makeshift affairs, con-
structed from box materials, old tin
cals and odds and ends. Open fires
ire in use in profusion. In the case
Il the larger Oriental concerns one
nan does the cooking for all employees.
several frame moving picture shows
n this district are yeritable fire
raps.'