The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-12-23

within the vault stands a Hall burglar
proof safe, protected by three combination
locks and forty-eight-hour time-lock. The
vault is separated from the presidents and
the treasnrer's rooms by artistic gates of
steel. Upon this part of the structure no
| limit of money has been made, but all the
knowledge of the most expert builders of
burglar-proof work. coupled with science
and the years of experience of those long
interested in security, has been employed.
Nothing known at the time of planning
could be added.
The third floor is finished in the same
thorough manner as those below. The
actuarial department comprises all of the
offices on the easterly side of the building,
but at present only two rooms are in use.
Actuary DeBoer's Office is one of the sun
NEST and pleasantest in the building, and
| is finished in oak. On the other side of
the hall are five rooms en- suite for janitor's
use, with modern appointments throughout.
By an ingenious arrangement of inter-
changeable speaking tubes and electric
calls, communication between all of the
rooms is made easy. Another convenience
is the mail chute, running the height of the
building, Matchmaker from each floor being
dropped down into United States mail
box in the main hall The building is
lighted throughout by electricity, and is
also fitted for gas, which recalls the fact
that we have omitted to mention the chan
deliers in the various offices. They are
beautiful creations in old brass and tinted
glass, lightly differing one from another in
design, but all handsome AS regards fire.
escapes, there are two staircases at extreme
ends of the building which furnish safe
exit, even if the structure made no preten-
sion to being fireproof. Three telephones
connect the building with the outside world.
The architect who designed this fine
building is S. Edwin Tobey of No 10 Ire
mont street, Boston He is an artist in his
profession, a gentleman of culture, and
above all, taste. A glance at the following
list OF contractors shows that every part of
the work was done in the best possible
manner. The contractors were Cutting &
Bishop of Worcester, Mass, with Thomas
Osborne as superintendent; sub-contractors
for glazed brick and terra Gotta work,
Fiske, Coleman & Company, Boston; ele-
vator, Whittier Machine Company, Boston;
painting and decorating, Strauss Brothers,
Boston; Smyrna rugs, John Bromley
Sons, Philadelphia; hardware for doors and
windows, the p. & j. Corbin Company,
New Britain, Conn; linoleum, w. & j.
Sloan, New York; steam heating and
counter work, wardrobes and book cases,
Cutting & Bishop; chandeliers and electro
Tiers and fire-sets, Bradley Hubbard
Manufacturing Company, Meriden, Conn;
carpets, Joel Goldthwaite & Co., Boston;
electric wiring. w. S. Page & Co, Worcester,
and Standard Light Company. Montpelier
speaking tubes, Ostrander & Co., New
York; desks and furniture Derby & Kill
man Desk Company, Boston.
The Company and its Officers.
The National Life Insurance Company
was incorporated by the legislature of Yer
mont in 184S, and included among its incor-
porators Henry Clay OF Kentucky, Amos
Abbott of Massachusetts,, Alexander Ram
sey Of Philadelphia, Judge L. z. Redtield
and Paul Dillingham; of Vermont. OF the
original charter members, none survives.
At an adjourned meeting of the trustees,
hall ,har Tn1in
Dewey in the chair, Lieutenant-GovernorW
G. Kittredge was elected president, and Ed
mund o. Weston, Daniel Baldwin and Jul
ius Converse vice presdents. DIR. Dewey
= was appointed medical examiner, January
10, 1850, and Roger s. Howard secretary
The latter resigned August g. 1850, and
James Il. Thurston acted as secretary until
| January 3, 1852, when he resigned and was
succeeded by George w. Reed, who has
served continuously since then. None of
4 the first board of directors of 1850 survives,
and Charles Dewey and Homer w. Heaton
0 are the only survivors of the board elected
I in 1851, Mr.. Dewey having served contin-
a uously from that time At that latter meet
Y ing, DIR. Dewey was elected president, and
/ served until his death, May 20, 1877. Judge
r Daniel Baldwin was chosen vice-president,
\ January g. 1851, and served until April B,
Q 1852, when Judge I. p. Redfeld succeeded
a him and served till January 2, 1871 then
. he declined a reelection and Charles
, Dewey was chosen. Mr., Dewey continued
7 as vice-president until June 3, 1877, when
he was elected president, and Edward
2 Dewey vice-president.
: DIR. Dewey worked early and late for the
J. prosperity of the company under great dis
0 advantage. Would it have lived without
' his labors? At one time the liabilities ex-
r ceeded the assets, but guaranteed capt.
tai of 100000 treasured the patrons. The
1 company commenced issuing policies Feb
: ruary 1. 1850, and each succeeding annual
# statement has indicated a steady gain In
l. financial strength and in the amount OF
y business transacted. The insurance In
force March /, 1851 was $3.50 $50; the
e assets were S12, 965.65 aside from the guar
r, anteed capital, and the company was wait.
}. ing for proofs of loss of about 5000. Jan
y uary of that year the assets at par were
n $S,645.62, and the amount insured was