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Show FlllE INSURANCE. The Pacifio Insurance Union has the Making of the Fire Insurance Bates in Salt Lake- WHY AEE MATTERS THUS? Mayor George Scott Says the Fire Department Depart-ment is kb Good as in Any City of This Size. Mr. Hcber J. Crant, a widely known insurance agent in Salt Lake, gave a Times representative b brief audience last evening. The gentleman represents repre-sents nearly f"i,0(M).(X)0 of property, principally insured in this city. "Why does such a high rate of firfe i insurance exist in Salt Lake?" was f asked. i "It is not any higher than elsewhere in a town the size of Salt Lake. We use the samo rate books under like circumstances cir-cumstances as are used on the coast. The Pacific Insurance union has the making of the rates of Utah. The larger the city the smaller tho rate of insurance. Take Loudon for instance, where the rate is smaller than in Xew York. The fact that the former city enjoys en-joys a smaller rate is due to the compactness com-pactness with wUich the houses of the mighty town are built. When a fire occurs oc-curs there to nip it in tho bud is an easy matter. The insurance companies, recognizing re-cognizing the efliciency of the fire departments, de-partments, are enabled to make the rate less than in New York. Peoplo sometimes wonder why a larger rate is charged in small towns, tho residents thereof claiming they are distant from cities where fires of more frequent occurrence. oc-currence. This is the reason. The small towns being remote from fire service ser-vice are almost always a total loss when a conflagration takes place. The people of Salt Lake, Ogden and Logan have a lower rale than the balance bal-ance of the territory as have small country coun-try towns in California. The insurance companies of the United States have, within the last ten years, made no particular par-ticular profit on insurance. There business busi-ness has simply gone along and increased in-creased with the prosperity of tho con nty." "One would suppose that with the efficient tiro department of Salt Lake the rate would bo reduced," continued the reporter. "Efficient fire' department! Do you romember the Dinwoodey and opera house fires? The company stood around and let those buildings burn. No doors were allowed to be opened for tear of a draught. The same chief is now at the head of the fire department that had charge of it at that time." Mayor Scott was confronted with the insurance and fire department ones- lions. "I have not had time to consider the matter. However, I do think, with the improved fire department, a reduction of insurance rates wonld naturally be expected. The lire service of Salt Lake is as good and, in some respects, better than in cities of this size. With improved apparatus, new street plugs and other things necessary for fighting lire, the department is in good shape." , |