Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-01-11


The returns OF tree planting are encourag-
ing; they show that more than II, O,OOO, 900
trees have been planted in groves and cor
responding amount in line and on rOad-ways.
Tor wind brakes and shade.
The report of births for the year 1876, foots
up l8, ,725, against II ,939 for that Of the pre-
ceeding year, while the number of deaths re-
ported is 6,06l, being 84l less than in 1874,
showing tendency toward greater healthful
ness. The excess Of births over deaths in
1875 is 1864, and that of the last five years
amounts in the aggregate to "a ,O49, which re-
presents the natural increase simply, of our
population: ] } .,, 49, ,., ., ;.,;
the borders of the State from small pox du-
ring the year.
As our State has been celebrated for its
healthtulness, the commissioners showing OF
various death rates becomes natter of inter-
est. The number of deaths per thousand in
the whole State is 10 14-lOe; the average in
thirty-two towns and cities is 13 87-lOO per
thousand. The number of deaths in Mime
sofa is shown to he one to every 1O8 of the
population, which is smaller mortality than
that of any State of the Union, with one ex-
ception. The proportion tor the whole United
atstns ffs sen3rted at one death to 5 each "a of
Tie Bureau of Statistics is now in charge OF
DR.. J. B. Phillips, gentleman whose prac-
tical acquaintance with agriculture, knowledge
of the fundamental principles Of medicine,
and varied scholarly attainments peculiarly
fit him for the best performance of his COM
prehensive duties.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
take pleasure in referring to the report OF
the Historical. Society. 1t bears evidence of
the prosperous condition OF an organization
which performs an invaluable public service
by the collection, preservation and arrange
ment of the materials essential to our early
history. Its library now comprises 1900
volumes, bound and unbound; and its collec-
ton of newspapers, 600 volumes, s,-mostly
Minnesota paRerscoverng the " Mh9ls ,esoP PertEd
present time. Public libraries are moral
and educational power whose general uses are
readily recognized; but it is difficult to real
ize how important to future history are the
familiar, unprized occurrences OF the; present
which are unheeded amid the exaetions and
excitements OF the hour. Few historical COL
lections, in so young State, embrace more
valuable material for 1uture usefulness than
has already been secured by this Society.
The Secretary complains of the crowded state
of the rooms, and suggests that ultimately
fre-proof depository will be required: The
value OF its library and the irreplacuble ma
ture OF its collections. will render such means
lent management exhibited, the gratifying
success already achieved, and the importance
OF it's labors. i cannot doubt that the foster
inc care which the State has heretofore given
to the Society, will be continued at your
hands. ssLz
STATE LIBRARY.
Tie report of the State Librarian shows an
addition Of $40 volumes to theState Library,
100 by purchase and l60~ by exchange; and
that the library now comprises total of 12,-
600 books. The lack of room begins to be
seriously felt and early measures will be nec-
essary to supply the increasing demands OF
the future. . rs H. - -gz1S
INSURANCE. DEPARTMENT.
The fifth annual report of the Insurance
Commissioner, which will be laid befdke you,
shows with great clearness the condition OF
companies, doing business in this State, as
;seyeTally reported to the Insurance. Depart
,ment. It appears that at the date of this re-
mort there were eighty-nine dre and marine
insurance companies duly authorized Is oper-
ate in this State, with total assets Of ~, ,O23,
234, and with total liabilities, including paid
up capital, Of 168, ,79l; ;025. Their totalsincome
and theie total expenditures, al, ,Ul, lO2.
OF these companies, two were incorporated
under tie lawsbf this State, seventy three are
, companies of other States, and fourteen OF tor.
eign countries. Their operations In Mime
sofa during the year were as tollows:s@
Total risks written ..:..:.... 3 g 5S8, ,988
Total premiums received ...... 97, ,285
Total losses incurred ...... ....:. ,6S5
) There were twenty-eight life insurance
companies doing business in the State. With
Total assets amounting to: .:::... 1854 ,009, ,44
Aud whose total liabilities WERE. 302, ,74a, ,6a6
Their total income during the
year was .::..... .......... ..'. So.oIS,oS4
tcfal he e1G91nii tpG1oTine IS general statement Of
their bnsiness operations in this State during
Number Of policies issued. ...... 1882
Total cash premiums collected. $40, 1l8
Total death losses paid .... ...... 2l9, $50
head you are respectfully referred TO the
Commissioners report.
: Before leaving this subject, however, de-
sire to direct your attention to an act OF the leg
islature of last winter, in regard to the invest
ment of the scapitalof fire and marine insu-
rance companies, which I am convinced is
not only illiberal but unwise. / refer to the
oct requiring these companies, az : condition
precedent to doing business in the State, to
invest at least sd, 600 of their capital, re-
spectively, In United States bonds. go
L sConsidering the difficulties already sexpe-
rienced in obtaining first-class securities for
investment, except At zach rates q to serious
ly impair the profits, allew which adds TO
such difficulties without enssring the ad-
ditional solvency ofthe companies, b an ex-
ercise OF arbitrary poW11, mot only -u1ealled
for but detrimental - thA interests of the
State. xszEn9 ~ ~EE
: To assumption upon which the law stems
to have been passed, that United States bonds
afford the only means Of sate sinyest1ssat, is
wholly suuwai1anted by we'll known 6cts. II
State bonds are good enough for our school
fund whose security We watch 80 zealouSly, it
is absurd and unjust to exclude them to any
extent as insurance capital. The effect ofthis
provision will be to rule out about one third
Of the companies among whicha an solne OF