The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-11-23
Important 10 Imsurers.

we would call attention to the following let
ter written to the Boston Journal by Mr. Gil
lett, the Vice President OF the Girard Insur-
ance Co of Philadelphia, which is of consd-
cradle interest to insurers and shows the rea-
SONS why they do not consent TO Join any com
foihatlon TO burden the people with high rates
Of insurance ~ ~
p eFsIeE GiRARE FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, a-a.
N. T. c"fhe' : hestnut and Sew nth streets,
l.. W. Cram, Esq, Agent.
10 Kilby street Boston.
~ 'Drar Llr:--ln reply to the usual inquiries
made OF you relating to business conneC-
tons with the Boston Agency, you are of lib
erty to answer as we should endeavor to do at
this office. That this Company never deemed
1t necessary to join any combination OF "Un-
derwriters" whatever Indeed, for the many
years we have been in business, we have felt
an unwillingncss to enter into any pledges
except those male with the insuring public
These We have been able faithfully to keep
and abide by. We could pint and issue to
our Agents schedule OF rates and adopt rules
and adopt rules Of business, either arbitrary or
liberal, but it is not So easy, however, to obtain
such rates or enforce such rul, upon the pub
lic The field of insurance is TOO WIDE the
character of our risks so varied, that our
Agents will find it vastly more important TO
discriminate properly and and carefully be-
tween individuals and property. They must
have and use some discretionary power i'll such
matters. a3 SO 'H.e PEI .rit
be made loss, we might confidently look for a
| diminution of fires, and "a corresponding re-
| duction in rates. Perhaps the multiplicity OF
Insurance Companies within the past few
| years has had something to do in encouraging
| lover Insurance" aud their agents thus tempt
| ed to take great risks at inadequate rates OF
| premium. -a
This is not the fault of the public, or justly
| chargeable to parties insurng. We have i'll
| Philadelphia about seventy tive companies
| from abroad, all anxious to do good paying
| business. Most of them are from New York
aud Connecticut; Others, from Europe.
This is, perhaps, a sufficient reason why we
| should desire to do business in your city and
others, and we have established, long since,
| agencies at St Louis, Chicago, Louisville, Gin
| cinuati, and the larger towns i'll our OVID State
and more recently in New York, Boston, Port
land, New Haven, Hartford and Springfield
IL Ia true that our agents are instructed to act
independently in many things. but to cooper
ate with the. responsible local companies, SO
lar as possible, in maintaining fair tariff OF
rates, and the dignity of the profession.
We deem this essential to all parties, and
| nothing should be done by either to under,
mine the linden nifty promised by the Under
writer. For, after all this is, in our estima
ton, the most important and vital nIattea to al
| concerned.
We have been able to success fully insure
more than one hundred millions of dollars wortl
Of property within the past fourteen years, ant
to pay eight hundred and fifty losses by fire.
1 There is not q dollar due OF unpaid on this OIL
any other account. % 'tIt hi t"'i
Why should we not still desire to insure til,
people? Our stockholders have also received
/ very satisfactory dividends. The "Great Port
land Fire" did not injure MS in the least, henc
we have no occasion to add to the cd1onlities o
the good people OF that city, or any other, b.
an extraordinary increase of rates at this time
1 am, very truly yours, 4n
Il d5e t-@i ALFRED s. GILLETT,
.5-s7at Vice President and Treasurer.
Messrs. Dow, Stackpole & Co. are agents 10
this and other reliable companies, who woul
be pleased to answer any inquiry relating t
the agency at their Office, III Commercial