, 1873-08-18


loasly or malloiously attack QUE life insurance
companies to forget that the whole Byutom Of
life inauranco has attained its present proper
tlous through the operation Of ono simple OLE
which impels the husband and tho father to make
timely provision for tho comfort of tho family
he ia to leave behind him at his denth. In other
words, it ia tho confidence Of the gonernl public
paniea that explains the rapid and continued ex-
pansion of this important interest. Tho caao
haa boon very cloyorly and Buccinctly stated
by the Insurance Commissioner Of Massachu~
says: ''savings banks meet real want, Us vol
as lifo insurance. companies, end yot their ill.,
PRODUCTION and multiplication havo boon steady
and gradual, not quick and sudden. Lifo insur-
countrios bosidos America. without attaining tho
gigantic proportions already rcachod in our own
u fact from which many suggestive leasons
mny be drawn" And there ARC proofs at hand
with which to tcst tho accuracy Of this oonolu-
sion for We find in tho rooords OF the lifo in
suranco business In Groat Britain for tho past
yohr, that no ioss than forty companies IN that
country are winding up while IN France, In
1870, the number Of life poIicy-hoders had follon
previously, md tho amount insnrod had dcoroas-
Cd from 172 0D0 900 francs in 1860 to Ill 600 900
In 1a70-tho Eronoh statistics Of 1871 being pur-
posoly omitted from this comparison, AZ that
wns tho llardost period Of tho war, when tho
favorable. Tho progross mado BY tho lifo in-
Buranco companies IN the United States, on tho
contrary, taking as tho basis Of calculation tho
official reports during tho period Of fourtoon
and rapid incrsaeo-tle aggregate for tho your
Year. No. ar Co.'S. Policies. amount.
!HSs.....-...........l 4 42t6o3 ll0.4s2, igs
1871. 871.................. 8l1,72s 2,195,o75,ol3
That is to aay, the increase III This country
during tho throo yoars from 1860 to tho end Of
1871 was:
In tho number OF lifo insurance compsntes. II
1u tho number Of pollcoa outstanding..... f77,7N
In tho amount Insured. .s232, ,7lo,o39
showing that thore waa stcady incroaso Of
tho number Of policy-holders during tho years
1860, 1870, and 1871, Mt tho average rato Of nl-
ward Of 81, 900 annually and u corresponding i'll
croasc equal to s11O,0o0,00o annually i'll tho
N':4' Nor. i'N; Is TIL; all... Tho figures givon--
extraordinary as they ure-do not real
ly 1eproaent tho prnsont magnitude Of
the business. For, whilc tho number Of
life companies has Increased, tho number Of
policies issued and tho amounts insured by tho
oldor companies nra still increasing steadily-in
tho Mutual Life. for example, at tho ratio Of
$40, ,000, 600 annually.
Clearly, results 40 wonderful us theao, estab.
they prove anythtng-that tho lusipesH of our
life insurance companies lB bottomod upon Q
firm foundation. That foundation is tho conf
denco Of tho public-snd, II VIC cite tho statistics
relating to ono or two Of our loading companion,
tie fact at onco appears that that confidence has
not beoH misplaced. Turning to tho lateut re-
ports Of tho great Mutual anl Equitable Life
Companies, OF this city, aud taking those as fair
representatives OF their class, wo find that tho
actual business dono by each III tho year 1879 ia
NJ follows:
! policiea In force. .......... 74,14o 3,l35
Interest tor 1871. 3'aas's1i o55 lss
Dividends to polioy-holdora. d.ois,a55 1.ass75s
zspopses uses q nsnassnsnt: 1,ssi1lG Isl Isl
Or ratio tncomo'.... 3snst; siGsa; ~ t1s Ct; Ct
q rstio Income. Isl e 1ao ot.
The Mutual Company la thirty yoars old-tho
| Equitable fourteen. Tho former IL tho loading
| company In tho United statea conducted upon
the mutual plan the Equitable IL tho formost
tenn, On ! capital Of slo0, 900. Tho oldor com
! pnny has expanded stoatlily and wonderfully,
| from yoar to yoar for nearly whole generation
"a fact which proyos tncontostnbly not only that
| lts affairs have boon judlctoualy managed. hut
also that tho popular belief In tho value Of life
| insurance has sufrorod no shock through tho
manifold controYorHios which haya recently at
traotod attention. Tho younger companies are
likewise growing steadily, and In tho course OF
time will undoubtedly aahleye tho aucoeas which
| iBtration.
Il Is, therefore, manisostly but an idlc wastc Of
broatl to attempt to throw dihcrodt upon MI III:
terest 80 important as tllis. The bitterneBh ot
tho attacks which haso occupied tho columns Of
tho public presH for eome tmo past may bo
ctaritably attributed to priyato or porsonal
grievances, with wAiuh tho public haa nothing to
do, and for which 1t cares very little--yct, when
80 many bold attempts llayo been mado to alakc
tho filth Of tho injured In tho stability Of the
insurers. It ia but common Justice to romen,bo.
that tho lifo-lnsuraMco syHtom In tho United
Btatoa hna attained It's proHont Dimensions bo-
causo It commonds itself to tho good Henae Of Q
pagaclous peopic, aud Tint that pooplo 90 not
continue toir support from yoas to ycar without
having aounl REASONS for the faith which iH ia
| thonl.- Commercial Advertiser.
/ Am Unplcnsnnf Wafo.
| ftam the Wortss.er {siass.l Iress.
Morrow, tho veteran typo, who l!aH hold
franc iu protty much eVory nowgpapor olllce
from h1altio to California; was in town .yostar-
day ionlting After hu wifo, who is ut tho WoIeoa'
] tor hospital. hlnrrnw this time Aails from
| HuriugHull tho Union Office bolag for tho prea.