Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-06-07
INSURANCE THAT Is SURE.

The follo,cing art,clt printed originally t-
der the ADORE caption, s an editorial, in the Com
MERcIAL Of tie 29h ua. we reprint il nop by
request
1t used to be a good plan to publish the profits
of insurance companies when advertising their
claims upon the pubic confidence. The idea
was that company which paid large dividends
must be prosperous and well managed and safe
But the Chicago and Boston fires exploded that
idea and changed that advertising policy. Seven
eighths of the small-capital large-dividend-pay-
ing companies, that did business to any extent
in Chicago and Boston, were wiped out by those
exceptional disasters. Only those companies
withstood the shock that had been conducted
upon the principle of fortifyng their capital by
allowing their earnings, after paying fair dvi.
dends, to accumulate into large surpluses, avail
able for heavy calls upon their treasures. Now,
therefore, instead of advertising their profits. the
best insurance companies may more judclously
publish the amount of their losses, provided only
they able 10 point TO q clear record, which Is
the result of paying one hundred cents on the
dollar to every honest claimant, no matter how
heavy may have been the aggregate OF their
losses.
These reflections arise naturally examining the
last published statement of the condition of the
4Etua Insurance Company of Hartford. OF all
the plucky things In this plucky country, we
think this glorious old institution must be con-
sidered about the pluckiest. What ULYSSES
s. GRANT was among the Union Generals, the
1Ftna is among insurance companies. II ap
pears to be removed beyond the contingency of
real disasters. It may suffer heavy losses--it
may encounter misfortunes against which no
human foresight could provde-it may be sub-
jected for while to suspicion epgendered by the
envy of rivals-but, like General GRANT, the
Ktna goes ca.fnly on in the line of duty laid out
by itself, never discouraged, never set back,
never for moment entertaining the idea of
abandoning that Slime" If it takes the last dol
lar to meet its honest abilities. No doubt the
Etna will continue to slight 1t out on that line, !"
until the end of time for Insurance companies on
this continent.
There is something resolutely grand in the
resolutc integrity of this noble old company.
The figures by which its losses are counted are
positively startling. We forget the precise sum
of Its losses by the Chicago fire-but II was asoye
81 4,000, 900. Every dollar was paid at or before
maturity. Following hard upon the unexair-
! pied calamity came the Boston fire, bringing q
loss TO the 4Etna which footed up to about sl,-
GOO, 900, sum larger than the highest published
! estimate at the time. No mau had TO walt an
hour for his money. Within sixteen months the
| Etna paid losses amounting to S9,O0O,OOO.
| Within period of fitty-four years, the term OF
! lbs honored career its losses have amounted to
the royal of $50 0O0, 900, every cent OF which
| was royalty paid without murmur. an paying
| The last S9,O00,00 which included the losses BY
! the Chicago and Boston fires, many Of which
were OF course difficult If not impossible to estab
lish by legal proof not lawsuit or serious dis
pute, not eAen unpleasant Difference, occurred
| between the company and the insured! All this
we say, is very remarkable. The figures, taken
In connection with these facts, present more Tor
| chile testimony to the 4Etna's past financial
integrity and fidelity than any words could give
| It stands among insurance companies like thu
Eddystone among lighthouses, model for al
that would safely defy the dangers Of storm ant
tempest and IRE. The Eddystone was built afte
the form of the British Oak, that becomes all tht
more strongly rooted because Of the winds thai
assai it. Like the Eddystonc the 4Etna appears
to come out of every storm not only unshaken
but the better prepared to meet the next one.
But all this relates to the past. What of thu
present condition. of. the EInai How has th
company paid these enormoua and exeeptiona
losses Why, the stockholders have put thei
hands in their pockets, and there they found tn
wherewithal to meet all dehcierciesl Since tn
first day of December, 1871, the stockhoider
have subscribed new capital to the amount 0
81 SOC, 900, and today the 1Etna's stock Is wort
slSa per share Its paid.up capital Is s3, 900, 90
but Ii has assets amounting to 6,oOO,O ,Ooo IL ha
| over three-quarters of q million cash on han
and in bank Ono need Of "shinning" there TO fin
the money for paying any ordinary draft q
sight), and the remainder OF Its assets are lnNes
| ed in such securities as u prudent man woui
select for the keeping OF the legacy upo
which the subsistence of bis family would depene
, when he should be no longer ON earth TO tax
= = care of them. That is how the ttna stand
] now. 1t is always ready to respond TO an
, honest demand. Can there be question abol
2 the future of a company that has always pee
5 conducted upon this, the very highest principl
| of commercial honorf
We feel II to be duty, as II certainly is ple'
!, sure, TO make conspicuous mention OF this tim
Y honored institution, when the facts In regard
/ its career are so remarkable important and
: teresting. Almost every one 10 concerned
: knowing where to look for iafs-which Is after a
q the cheapest-insuIance and We feel perfect
justified in expressing positive conviction TN
y fore sirsafance that Is sure" there Is no con
e pany ahead Of the old Ktna OF Hartford
LEWIS NJ. YoDER, AGENT,
q lEtna Insurance Co.,
OrrlcE NEAR THE CouR- House, spessBAI.