Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-06-16
UNDERWRITERS SHOW
CAUSES Of INCREASE
IN LOCAL INSURANCE
Explain Flat Raise OF /;
Cents On Deficiencies.

was advised by the Underwriters
association of the Middle District as
!. 10 the causes which led to an III
=. grease of thirteen cents in the in
surance rates on buildings, appli-
cable to all classes of property, and
making the present deficiency
charge twenty cents.
The report goes into some detail
ss to the causes, the particular de.
Gcioncies being listed in a stan
dard form. covering fire department
and water supply The report
shows heavy penalties against the
Fifty because of the absence OF a
gap of the water pipes in the city.
Tie unreliability of the supply of
water, the need of larger mains
throughout the central portions of
the City, and the small number of
paid ilremen. Some OF these de-
Gciencies can be adjusted. the re
sort shows, with ease, but others
eill not be so easily removed. The
fifty is placed in the 5000 popula
zion class by the underwriters and
fne deficiencies are estimated upon
that basis.
fhe correspondence in detail il
4 follows:
Explain Deficiencies.
Hon. G. NJ Seibert. Mayor.
city IT Martinsburg,
West Virginia.
bear Sir:
We have for acknowledgment
nlent your favor of June 7th, with
reference to charge for deficiencies
IN fire defenees in the City Of Mar
Hnsburs.
Our last inspction of the fire de
fences was made in April, 1920 and
ne are enclosing herewith a copy
hf schedule applied BY our engineer
together with a layout Of the water
works system.
BY consulting the standards III
the front part of the schedule. and
comparing these with conditions as
they actually exist, the reasons for
various charges under the schedule
portion may he determined. We
will go over the items briefly un
Ser which charges have been made,
Ind on which tn are may be some
tliaTge.
Item No. 2-Records and Maps
Z Engineer reports that records and
haps pertaining to water works sys-
len are almost entirely lacking. and
= b other ways, do not comply with
HE standards.
Item No. Reliability OF Supply
the reliability of failure is judged
= 10 be light to moderate. owing to
Jingle twenty inch terra Gotta pipe
tine. which II impaired in any way
kould cut off all supply to the pump
Z hstion.
Item No. From standards 1t Is
fstimated that additional pumping
+ capacity o. at least 1850 gallons per
Einute is required If this is in.
tailed together with adequate
lower facilities, charge under item
Of 232 points and charge under
fem Of 1S1 points can be remov-
Item No Pumping Station.
saarge on schedule is self-explana
Dry.
Item No. II, Deficiency In supply
ht!uS 10 DdStu upOii attdot tVot ~
bits made at time of our inspection.
Md delivering capacity to business
'istricts found to be SO percent de-
'cient. This can be eliminated by
installation of additional supply
hains that will permit delivery Of
500 gallons per minute, plus the
hmestic flow at a residual pressure
not less than so pounds.
Item No. IL (b). With the larg-
81 supply main out OF commission
rhich would be the Pinch main,
is estimated that 1900 gallons
err minute fire flow can be obtain
through the single 10-inch main.
his results in deficiency OF as per
Int and a charge of 40 points
rhich would be eliminated through
he installation Of another supply
iain as outlined above
he charge under II OBJ for grid
te believe are elf-explanatory.
* inch mains should be replaced
s. eight inch arterlal feed mains
B different sections of the system,
that adequate flows can be OBJ
tined at all points, and although
be charge under IL (b) for frid-
roning is very light, there are quite
few dead end mains on the system
nd other OOi1tS where cross con.