, 1873-08-14
INSURANCE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

and IEoa10la Efrcs. 5.
The eighteenth annual report Of Mr.. Julius L.
Clarke, 1n9nrnI,co Commissioner Of MAsaaellu-
Gotta, has just boon published. from tho tloc1l-
rnent no mike tue following interesting OK
tracts:
''1ho value OF property consumed il 1879,
though loss thau In tho previous year., reachos
e. s,aa Il wt
tho largest aggregate Of loss, whilo others fol-
low With al extraordinary array Of destruc-
tiyo freB. The actual loases in Massachusetts,
including, Of eosrso the great ,, November fire, fire
near quarter Of u million Of dollars por day;
while tho average for the ontlro United States,
computed from statisties carefully eollated week
y Ss e5'fs' fsa a ys PoSiF I 9 s.4y or ness o
but 1ittlo moro than IS per cent, or about S10A,-
100000, can be reokonod as covered by available
insurance, tho remaining $50, 00o00 being ,in
pa1.ies to raoet their obligations.
"Of the cou1panloB involved In tho Chicago
fro, LOG werc doing business in MassachuHetts,
with assets amounting to 1927 ,000,000 their re-
s5e,oo0,ooo. or l4.20 por cent: One hundrod
and ninety-two companies, as shown by data in
possession OF this department, were losors
by the Boston fro, their losses, aa adjusted,
500 900 o!o. with aanetu uggregating nearly
sl5i, ,000, ,00o thoir average ratio Of osnoa vary
ing but frfsotion from 81 por cont. Tho lossog
O1 IW9ut9-<0fG9 MnHHacuuBGCLH companies nv
ohicago wore nearly s4,5 600, thofr assota
amounting to S1G,600, 900, and their aver
ago ratio Of loss to 27.27 per cont. An now ro~
viaod, tho adjusted loaaos Of tlfty-two D1asaaehu
sotg eompeniee by the boston re aggrsgate
nearly 90. .82o,ooo, with assots amounting to
$40 500 900, showing q deficit Of nearly 81 por
cent; Thfrty-nino companies doing business
companies, we're we're rendered II insolvont
Companies wore completed to Close thoir doors s"o
IL consequence OF LOSSES by the Boston. fire,
20 Of them Massachusetts companies, viz: (
mutuals, and "a joint atook leaving only II sur
vivors Of the Inter caas."
spoaking of the fire in Boston On tho 9th Of
NoYembor last. the report says:
~ In this connccton a remarkable and almost
prophetic incident desorves record. Only q few
hours prior to the occurrence Of this
| was completing. in Liverpool his official
English insurance companies doing. business
III tho United StatoH. In hia interviews with
Mr. Henry Thomson, tho resident secrotary Of
+ the Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance
|. Company, and Mr. John II. RfoLaron, manager
of tho Royal insurance Company, both ranking
among tho most able and saguclouB underwriters
IN England, thoae gentlemen, with alngularly pro-
phetio foresight, reminded him that tho noxt
great fro of the century might bo looked for in
Franklin and Dovonshiro stroots, aud their sur
rounding localities in Bostonl Startled at tho
prediction, tho writer sought explanation. They
had recently procured perfect md elaborate
plans Of several American citioB, showing
etreots, 1anes alleys, aud structures, with their
surroundings and oxpoHures 81 vol Us tloir
! mems Of protection against fire. Their infer
/ enceB, particularly In reference to Boston, wero
lation Of risks. which would probably hive taken
effect had tho fro tlond delayed his coming"
Commenting on tho fro III Boston on tho 80th
Of May, tho Commissioner says:
s..ta. .ju1s l. I'll. "a
ps.;tmont, composed as It il Of ready md ablo
! men, NIL earnest for tllo efficient employment of
such facilities az they possess, 1t may bo said, Of
1t Is folt, TINT BoHton has roached crisis Which
| appliances in tho troatmont Of fires. Among
otler suggcationB, wo venture tho following:
!" First-prompt alarms, 80 that tho first and
alwayH vital moments of a fire may not be lost.
Second-1nstent movement Of fro apparatuR
for immediate and active operation. especially in
| sudden omcrgenciea.
| IAird--A strong hoad Of water, with full,
abundant, ind unobatr1ctod supply.
"Fourth-Tlo haat aud lnoat powarfal onginoa,
enough Of thom, aud all combining tho boat pos
| aiblo oqnipmont. -.
tho part Of Ohiof aud Assistants with surround
ings ana approaches, ana witt, pasy,agoways and ID
| exposed aud dangerous looalltios, so that no
tinlo bo Lost in WASTING water aud strongth whero
| no practical bonctlt can bo secured.
| t7IM-A palQ lfTe tlopATLIQeuI cQHlp0HDI OF
| skilled, dotormlned, and permanent mon, III
ample nnnbor, and inspired with tho dash and
bolducsa Of u courageous aud responsible esprit
do corps.
"Sorenh-A fro department invested with
| prior right-of-way, ana with evory requisite au-
fhority to command ita lold Of operation.
"HghM IA tlro department controlled by tho
most competent, practical, onergotic, alsl unli-
yilcl authority and direction.
| "Ninth-A tiro department aboyo antl beyond
tho roach OF generalization and impairment
| from political Influence and intrigue.
ltnM-Statuto law to enforce, nj far as pos
siblo tho construction Of tlro-proof buildings,
inlorior as vol oxtorlor, and to compel Auita-
| lilo protection against comtusstiblo stralotursH
and material. now or hoseattor inviting eon!9a-
grafton in cxpoaod business contrca."
' Az to tho oifect Of tho great loBaea Oh inallr-
nnco business, the report says'
"rho transactions Of these two yoars {1a71
and ~ aro, moreover, 80 closoly iltaru,ligled
with those Of 1879 TINT no satisfactory exhibit
can bo given till tho experience OF tho threo
yoara can DO collected. It IL therefore uaolosH
to attempt hero any .recapitulatlon Of co1npara
1.-Two data. It may bo stated, however. that
nmang othor results indicated In the summing
up Of those transactions, aud the with
I t1rn,va1 ~ enp3tR[ by fhn faf1urn nf