Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-11
Fire Risk and Insurance Rates.

Fire RISK ana lllSuldlCS IdtCo.
A survey of the fire hazard situation
in this city is TO be made soon by the
National Board of Fire Underwriters
because Of the genuine alarm on the
part of the large fire insurance com
panies." This announcement, just
made directs attention afresh to the
fact that this city is. DESPITE its highly
efficient fre-hghting organization and
its lack Of dcnselv concentrated values
In the business district. exposed TO
heavy loss because of the lack Of a
high pressure water system. 1t is this
lack. according TO the statement Just
made regarding the proposed survey.
that causes the apprehension on the
part of the fire underwriters.
At present the total of the liahili-
tics carried by the insurers is $3.50
207,4 and the premiums paid ur0n
that insurance amount to S9,234 .029 a
year. It is indicated that if the pro
lection of Il high pressure system is
not provided the rates will he
advance. and thus the sum paid for in
surance will be greatly increased.
It has been estimated that an eff
fective hiGh-pressure system could he
installed for s1500.000, PAYABLE at the
rate of $500. 600 a year. three years he
ing required to complete the instala-
ton. The addition of a small fraction
to the rates now charged for insur-
ance would add as much to each years
insurance bill indefinitely. with pros
pect of even higher charges for pro
lection in the future.
Washington has been exceedingly
fortunate in escaping a cOnf1agration.
The Government has likewise been
fortunate in not suffering from q
sweeping blaze. destroying it's build
inGs and records. Conditions here are
generally favorable. The streets are
wide and permit effective fire fighting
and lessen the chances of spread. The
Fire Department is we'll organized and
equipped and managed. Yet the vi
tally essential factor in fire fighting,
the supply of water, is always slender,
and in the case of a major fire, cover
ing a large area, the supply would be
quickly exhausted.
For city located on the shores of
a great river, the water from which
can be used without stint for fire
fighting in case of need, the continued
practice OF depending upon the store
of filtered drinking water for fire ex-
tinguishment is not only highly I'M
economical, but is an invitation to dis
aSter. Many years ago the possibility
and need of relieving the ordinary wa
ter supply from this needless drain
and of assuring an ample store of wa
ter for fire fighting were urged upon
Congress. At that time an effective
high-pressure system could have been
installed for $4,000 Now it will cost.
according to latest estimates, about
$1,000, 900, or about fifteen times as
much. Each year of delay adds to
the prospective cost. Each year in
creases the risk. Each year, it is now
indicated, will cost the property own
ers of the District heavily in terms of
additional insurance premiums, exact
ed from them by the insurance COM
panies in consequence of the compare
lively unprotected state of the bust
ness section of Washington.
There is no economy in such delay.
There is, indeed. grave risk of appalI-
ing loss, costing infinitely more than
the cost of installation. Now is the
time to make this long-delayed move
TO protect Washington, which includes
the Government itself, from such a
catastrophe.