The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-26

Total for week.. $4o57,44 $5.S7l459 $4,99e 1o6
The imports Of dry goods for the week and since
January compare as fouows:-
For the Week. 1856. 1867. 1863.
Entered at port .ss,o4s,9s7 s1,25225e s1,46ooss
Entered at port Sill o4s ST. $40 i2s
Thrown on market. SO07,32o 49, AIS, $50 729281S4
No nation. ancient or MODERN has ever used for
commercial or domestic trade and family provision
the system OF insurance upon large, we might
properly say 30 grand, scale as the American COM
munify. The reasons are obvious. Great breadth
OF country, rapidly growing population. inces-
SAINT activity of business employment, with ramlca
tons extending 5000 miles Of territory and an
annually swelling commerce with every quarter of
the civilized globe have made the collateral sup-
port OF insurance protection an absolute necessity
The growth of the three branches Of the American
insurance system has been truly marvellous within
the last two decades, and affords the most positive
and comprehensive indication. by comparison, OF
the nations rapid advance in material wealth and
greatness From 1s4s to December 1s67-twenty
years-the New York State fire companies have
grown from twenty-four to 1os; the annual premium
receipts from sI5a5,1e5 to $24, ,o7O; the annual
losses paid, from s1,26s,2Sl to $14,sO5, 276. The
risks covered by the American stock companies
doing business in New York for The past eight
years amounted to the enormous sum OF over
SCI 900 ooo, 900 and $161, 600 900 in premiums The
OF marine risks carried for the year 1867
$500 564; premiums received $6,0s2 $780, and loss
paid, $3.50, a55 while jointly the fire and marine
losses paid Tor the same year amounted to nearly
$50, 900 0O0 These figures sufficiently indicate not
only the extent OF the business but the protec
ton and indemnity which the business public have
received from IL. without this important auxiliary
enterprise would be confined to a limited number Of
the wealthy and the present transactions OF year
extended over period Of five. Hence the prudent
trader. whether he sails ships the great deep or
floats his crafts the inland waters, weavcs the
siken fleece retas 0fjoute,1e never feels secure
unless within the protecting Rgs OF this power,
compared with which the royal Cresus sinks into
nothinQness. The personal business relations of the
insured and insurer can seldom TO any considerable
extent, be matter OF public concern. The intcli-
gent mercantile classes and the oces are usually en-
rapport because the fire Offices mostly the crea-
lures OF mercantile berality and prudence But the
extended development OF business demands the en-
ploymen OF agents to attend to the details OF insu
rance. These in the larger cities are termed brokers'
The insurance broker Ia an ancient .'instituton.n
and has grown with the growth and strengthened
with the strength OF the system In New York as in
other large commercial centres His usefulness has
been generally recognized both BY the companies
and their customers. The companies In their bust
ness r.yaries have often depended upon him Tor
patronage, while the nsuring classes have found his
energy, diligence AMI large acquaintance with the
companies a great convenience to them. Within tho
past few years, however a disposition has grown up
among a certain class OF the New York fire ofnces
inimical 70 the brokers, and many companies have
OF late been making strenuous efforts TO deal directly
with their customers Hence what Is known "a the
.'broker war" Twenty -four city offces have re-.
Gently appeared before the public with a conspicu
Gus card. wherein they set forth specifically what
they allegc be the evils OF the brokerage system
and conclude by Offering rebate equivalent TO the
sum heretofore paid the brokers to the insured ON
the other hand the brokers have been equally midas
trous in con6dine their owu views TO the same bar
or public opinion, defending their usefulness and
proving IL by demonstrating the percentage OF loss
experienced by the combination companies who OPP
pose them. As Sir Lucius oTngger says in the play
'the quarrel Is very pretty one az It standsr and
we DO not know that the public are as particularly
interested IN Its result the combatants, further
than that insurance interests fully protected
the pene1t or all concerned.