The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-02-01

"
Company has to tell in its seventeenth
annual statement. published elsewhere
in this paper. 1t is a story Of contin-
ued success; the result Of correct prin-
c;ples and wise administration. 1t is a
story Of figures and footings which
speak eloquently and TO the point, and
which prove the American one of the
foremost insurance organizations Of the
world.
There is always good, solid comfort
in reviewing a years business of this
company. It's records of each succeed
ing twelve months are pleasant eviden-
ces that
THE oLD-FAsHIoSED VIRTUES
Of fair dealing and unqualified pru.
dence still carry with them their own
reward. The American has been in the
hands of gentlemen OF high business
aud social character from the outset. =
1t has been conducted on the idea that
policy holders rights should at all
times be jealously watched and guard
ed. Ii has been managed on princi-
Piles SO obviously safe and honorable
that it is a marvel the same were not
adapted by some other company in the
very incipiency OF insurance history. -
1t has been from the hour OF its birth
a credit to its projectors and to Chica-
go, and it stands to day an honor TO
the insurance theory. and q practical
evidence that the right way is eternal
ly the best way.
The American Fire-Insurance Com.
pany is the largest institution on the
face OF the globe doing business in
IT'S OWN PARTICULAR LINE.
This line, as is now well known, con-
sists in seduously avoiding the placing
OF congregated risks anywhere. 1t viii
not insure property in large cities un.
S------y -.'''uIfinu. Iur any price. Ii
places risks only on buildings at such
distances from other buildings that a
confiagration which shall destroy two
or three structures insured by the
American is rarity, and the ruin oi
many such structures at one time ap
impossibility. This one great striking
feature carried the company intact
through the Chicago fire, though all
other local insurance organizations
were crushed forever or materially
crippled. Its risks were not in Chicago
and SO it lost only its own Office prop.
erty,--a trihe compared to the loss en-.
tailed upon the companies which had
even the smallest amount Of Insurance.
here. No fiery disaster can be sweep.
| ing enough to infiict other than
THE MINIMUM IF DISASTER
upon the American. It's risks are on
farm houses, churches, school build
ings and other structures so issolate
that no confagration can reach from
one place to another. No more than
IS, 600 is ever placed in a single policy
and it is utterly out OF the region oI
possibility that the company should
suffer by a widespread fire.
Organized since 1859, and holding
steadfastly TO the methods laid dowr
at the beginning OF it's career, the
American has grown in scope and il
influence until IL has become q leading
star in the insurance galaxy, Its mode
of business and its unvaryingly fail
treatment OF its policy holders, has en-
deared it to the public so that it hat
long held the lead over competitors in
every form. This pre-eminence, W.
find, has bred
A NATURAL ENVY,
and the business opponents of tn,
American strain every opportunity Il
diminish the prestige and shrink its in
fiuence. The despicable instrument o
the anonymous circular has beer
brought into use recently, in vain hope
to stab the American cowardly in tn,
back. We are glad to notice that thes'
irresponsible and malicious attack:
have met with the usual reception &C
corded by the public TO Anonymous
scurrilty; hurting nobody but the pro
jectors, aud serving "a n superb foil tc
set off the manifold excellencies o
the American. Masked abuse is tho
penalty which meritorious success Of
ten incurs aud il invariably results il
being a first-class advertisement fo
the object tits hoped to iniurc.
The American Fire Insurance Com
pany's instsllment plan Of payments il
a feature which time justifies and ex
perisnce indorses.
FIVE YEARS INSURANCE
is taken by the policy holder at tn,
outset, for which he has to pay bu
one-fifth part cash down, his notes be
ing accepted for the remainder. Thes,
notes he takes up annually until tn,
expiration Of his insurance. This is a
once q convenience to the insured anC
q marked element of security to IN,
company. 1t assists in keeping the or
ganization in a condition OF impregna
bic solvency. q desideratum as impor
tant to the assured as to the Compan.
itself.
In 1875 the American paid losses ol
1897 policies, involving total o
S30S, ,657 81, a proportion which give
an admirable idea OF the Judgment o
the company's officials in placing risks
and which bears
IRRKPuTABLE TESTIMONY
to the soundness of the company's ger
eral method. 1t should be Kept prom
inently in mind in reviewing the pro
portion of buildings destroyed 10 tn
total loss incurred thereby, that tn
American is by far the largest compan
of its kind in the United States. l
has insurance policies embracing q vas
area OF country. yet so judiciously ha
every one been issued that Thousand
or more building covered by insuranc
in the American may be DESTROYED j
the course OF a year without bringin
the combined loss up to the amount o
ruin sntailed in an ordinary city fire.
Nothing but a calm perusal OF th
Companys method of business an
,, history r. necessary 10 prove the Anne
leans permanent value and character
FINE TEST,
- - ~. a....; 4. -. ,o Al
quotations Of local stock; that baron,
ter which indicates so unerringly th
condition of every Chicago corporatio
The stock of the American stands a
: 80 bid, and none for sale.
OFFICIALS.
, as in the past II. z. Culver. Esq.
still President, and the Offices of VIC
; President, Secretary, and Treasures
: are held respectively by the Hon. II
, n. Hibbard, Charles l.. Cnrrisr. an
M. A. Hoyne, with Mr.. II. ID. Currie
, AZ .General Manager. The Board 9
: Directors includes the following ster
; inc names: ii. z. Culver. Charles j
Currier. the Hon. J. NJ. Bailey, ID.
Knoviton. yr., Loyal IL. Mum, th
Hon. III. N. Hibbard, M. A. Hoyn,
william VI. Ovington, Nicholas Krani
/. and II. B. Culver.
: These names mean something. The
= mean that every one Of the distii
| guished gentlemen mentioned has u
: rect vital interest in the American
: welfare. They mean that the ownel
o OF the names are men who give th
{ weight OF their high character and II