The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-16 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS AMERICAN NEWS.

From the Insurance Commissioners' Report we
learn that the domestic insurance companies of
Massachusetts had outstanding, at the date of last
official return, outstanding fire risks to the amount
of $196,456,708, and outstanding marine risks to
the amount of $13,282,730. The mutual compa-
nies had, at same time, marine risks outstanding to

the amount of $31,207,219, and fire risks to the
amount of $239,905,677. Foreign fire and marine
insurance companies, doing business in Massachu-
setts, have insured in this State during the past
year property to the amount of $277,220,371.31.
There are parties at work endeavouring to per-
suade Congress to enact a National Insurance Act,
based upon the same principle as the National Bank
Act,—a principle which will oblige all insurance
companies to base themselves upon Government
stocks. There is no prospect of their immediate
success.
A new company, under the title of the Great
Southern and Western Life and Accident Insurance
Company, has just been established in New Orleans,
with General Longstreet for President.

FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES.—During 18G5 the
Losses by fire in the United States exceeded
343,000,000, and in the last eleven years the follow-
ing losses are reported :-
1855 513,040,000
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865

Total losses 5214,588,000
For the ten months ending March Ist, 1866,

$700,000 of internal revenue were collected in the
4th District of New York. The Lorillards paid in
taxes, on manufactured tobacco, $375,754 for eight
months business. The following named firms did
business exceeding $5,000,000 in amount :
Georffe Bliss and Co. .. 510,273,000
S. B.°Chittenden and Co.
E. S. Jaffray and Co. .. 7 000„ 000
Lanthrop, Ludington, and Co 8,209,000
A. T. Stewart and Co.
Hoyt, Sprague, and Co. 6,872,939
Low,
Harriman, 'and Durfee.. 6,000,000
Anthony and Hall
G. Brewers and Co 5,863,172
H. B. Clafin and Co
Garner and Co. .... 8,151,123
George A. Weeks and Co
J. . 10,000,000

flames L. Littl© and Co 5,179,000
Tefit, Griswold, and Kellogg, 126, Duane-st 6,141,000
Woodward, Laurence, and Co.. 91, Chambers-st. 6,546, 000
Hunt, T illiudhast, and Co., 70 and 72, Reade-st. 6255000
The Central Illinois Wool Growers' Association
met at Springfield on the 15th inst. The Associa-
tion passed resolutions recommending Congress so
to adjust the tariff that all foreign wool shall pay
a duty of 15 cents per pound, irrespective of qua-
lity or grade ; 30 cents per pound on washed wool ;
45 cents on scoured wool, and 25 cents per pound
on foreign shoddy and rags. The subject of pro-
viding for the sale of wool so as to enable the
growers to have something to do about establishing
the
price was
taken into consideration, but no
planed. The members present were
the owners of,
was present
45 300 sheep, and naturally felt a
deep interest in everything pertaining to wool

raising.
The number of persons engaged in manufacturing
employments in Ohio is estimated at 300,000 e ;
and the manufacturing products for 1865 wer
valued at $67,000,000.
The Rochester Express says that all the merchants
of that city were notifiel to call at the Collector's
to pay afine of fifty dollars for neglecting to
officeßbto es receipts given on the Express Company's
the delivery of wares, merchandise, or
money, '3ll

A great fire occurred at Cincinnati on the 22d
instant. The splendid opera house built by Mr.
Pike, and of which he was the sole owner, was 'com-
pletely destroyed. The loss of Mr. Pike will foot
up $1,000,000. He had only $37,000 insurance on
the opera house. Several others of those among the
sufferers lose to the amount of over $lOO,OOO. The
fire extended across the wide thoroughfare known as
Fourth-street, injuring the Buckeye Billiard Saloon
to the extent of $lO,OOO, but not extending to other
buildings on the same block. The total 1055 was