Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-02-18
Mutual as. stock Fire Insurance
COmpdRies.

Mr.. Editor:-Thc comparative merits
Of mutual" and Stock" Fire Insurance
Companies arc often discussed 4 thin
bic full Of facts and Actual experiments, -
are worth cart load of suppositions and
smoothly told theories, by interested
agents. Now TOR the facts-A little more
than n ycJr since, couple Of wcll-dress.
ed gentlemen representing themselves rs
Committee from the National Board Of
Underwriters, were driven in princcly
STYLE over portion Of Cumberland, An
droscoggin and Oxford Counties, and
with intuitive knowledge Of the value of
property and the rates nj which risks
could be taken, which was truly won
derfu- fixed u tariff Of rates upon the
principal buildings, outside of private
dwellings in the several places and vii
lagos. which were favored with their
presence. Agents ut Norway, Mechanic
Falls, Bridg,on, Dixfeld, Bethel and
Fryeburg, subsequently signed an agree
Incnt that in Issuing new policies. or re
newing old ones from and after this date.
(Augus, LIST, 1869 we will be governed
by the foregoing Tariff-which was form
ed by distinguished Committee from
the National Board of Fire Underwriters :"
How far this "distin1aished" committee
succeeded in fixing relative values, and
comparative risks,--I leave others to
Judge, who have been fortunate enough
10 get n squint into n littlc pocket pam
phlet, called Tariff OF Rates of Insurance
for Oxford County, and a part Of Cumber-
land and Androscoggin Counties In
this distinguished" financial Tax Table
under the head of Oxford. find ON page
lS-Methodist Church $l.25 This meant
Ia per cent on sum insured OF $500 on
the House. AT the rates fixed the sum 10
be paid fol two years would he $3.50.
The Trustees not being willing 10 pay
such an exorbitant sum, applied 10 an
agent Of the Monmouth Mutual +. /.
Company" and took out Policy for
$500 90 OF said property, for four years.
They paid rs an advance assessment for
the four years $500, equal to $3.50 per
year. The company has made al assess
mcnt of losses, from October II, 1867,
10 October IA. 1869 inclusive. and the tax
assessed on said church for said two years
is $500. To this add advance assess
ment for two years SO 90, and You have
the exact tax-S2l.00. Two years
assessment in Stock Companies, 500 80;
two years assessmentip Monmouth, 2l.OO /;
gain in Mutual" on $500. in two years,
Sil 80 making anei savingio the Trustees
of almost two hundred per cent.
Take another case under the head of
Oxford. The "Oxiord House" rates are
fixed by this distinguished Committee
at 100, that is 81 90 on every hundred
insured Tor one year. took out Policy
III tiic ~hoHtiiOuiI iUi CAOpV.VV, bSN'
90, 1867 /; paid an advance assessment OF
Si.4S for four years. l sold the property
March 10Th, 1869. having been insured on
said property year, months and 2 days
-call it one year and quarter.
One year and IA assessment in Stock
Co., on Sl600-$40.00; / IA years on
$1,000 as actually assured me in tho
Monmouth, 81 81 advance payment Ia
years-$1.40. Total 1924. Actually
saved to me on insurance of $1,000 in ! IA
years, S9l .76-almost 400 per cent.
Four years insurance in Stock Co.'S on
$l600-12S.00; four years insurance in
Monmouth, on $l600-26. SO; Mutual"
over Stock, on $1,000, in 4 years-Sl01.64.
These are "facts and figures that cannot
lie. and hold in my hands vouches for