The Deadly Parlor Matches

The Deadly Parlor Matches

Caused Five Fires for the German Farmers

Re-elected Officers

The Company is Growing in the Amount of Property at Risk Less Than $9,000 Lost

The German Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance company of Washtenaw county, now numbering 1,887 members, held its fortieth annual convention in the court house Monday afternoon. 

There was very little competition in the election of officers. Matthew Seeger was re-elected president, and Fred Fiegel re-elected vice president. J.J. Reichert ran against Mr. Seeger for the presidency, but received 19 votes to the latter's 90. Fiegel was re-elected by acclamation. 

Chas. Brown and Conrad Schmidt ran for the secretaryship, but Brown was re-elected by 80 votes to Schmidt's 36.

Philip Stierle and Michael Paul ran for treasurer, the former being elected with a vote of 79 to Paul's 40.

Geo. J. Feldkempf was elected a director, receiving 80 votes, while his opponent, Edward Kuhl, had 39. 

The board of directors will hold a meeting on the seventeenth of this month to decide several important matters. The official report showed that there were five fires aggregating a loss of $5,000 in 1902, supposedly caused by the use of parlor matches. It is contemplated by the board to pass a resolution compelling the use of the old sulphur matches by all members of the company. There were 31 fires caused by lightning during the year. 

The company has a capital stock now of $4,442,180, which is $153,265 more than it was a year ago. The losses for 1902 were $8,754.79.

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Water Rates in the Courts

Prof. Thompson and water company

Failed to Agree on Residence Rates for Water and a Preliminary Injunction is Out

Prof. B. M. Thompson and the Ann Arbor Water Co. are at the loggerheads over the question of water rates and a preliminary injunction has been issued to prevent the Water company cutting off the water before the hearing, Jan. 26. The Water company rated the professor's house as a 13-room house, but he doesn't agree with whom and the water rate question will have an airing in the courts.