The Water Supply of Baltim ore.
Thomas Mackenzie, of the Baltimore bar, delivered an address last week before the Taxpayers’ Association on fire losses and insurance rates in that city and enumerated the causes of their increase.
Mr. Mackenzie told how the insurance business was conducted and then gave figures to show that the loss by fire per capita in Baltimore during 1891 and 1892 was greater than in Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, St. Louis or Cincinnati, He said of the 105 companies doing business in Maryland 38 had losses in 1892 averaging over 130 per cent, of the amount received in premiums. These were all foreign companies and Mr. Mackenzie said he found that the losses of home companies had not reached the 100 per cent, limit and out of 13 companies the highest loss was 85.4 per cent., while the lowest was 26.3 per cent. Mr. Mackenzie learned from reliable statistics that some of the foreign companies were doing a large and profitable business here and if any conclusion can be formed from the facts it must be, he contended, in accordance with the statement of the Fire Commissioners that risks are taken by some companies which no prudent man would incur.
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