The Press., 1894-02-15
The Connecticut Mutual.

In it's clear evidences of economy, of financial strength, of ability to meet every obligation, and of prudent methods of management, the forty eight annual state- ment of the Connecticut Mutual Life h. surance Company will be of great interest to it's army of members and the public. Year after year this company has grown in the confidence of it's policy holders, as they note the constant care of their inter- ests, the steady increase in assets and surplus, the small expense ratios, the de- creasing annual cost of their insurances, and the prompt payment of every lawful claim. The company is purely mutual in it's organization and control, has assets of $61 1868, ,4O4, and clear surplus, by the company's voluntarily assumed and extra high standard of solvency, of $6, AS, ,O23.
 Its death claims, covering 1,484 poli- cies, for $3,749, ,793, were $53O,OOO less than the expected amount under the mor- tality tables in use by the company, and in no series of years in the company's history has the mortality equaled the ex- pectation.
 In year of commercial depression and of shrinkage in values, the interest pay ments upon the company's investments have been promptly made, as shown in the fact that upon it's $12, ,8O4, ,5S8 of bonds and stocks no interest is in default, and upon it's $37, ,669, ,494 of mortgage loans but $74, ,458, or about one-fifth of one per cent, was unpaid December 31, 1893.
 It's new business, while moderate in volume, was written wholly in healthful localities and at a safe and economical expenditure, which respects the interests of the older members, not bought at 8 loss of their contributions.
 It's investments are of the choicest char acter, it's mortgage loans resting upon property valued at more than three times their face value; it's real estate yielding a fair rental, and the market value of the stocks and bonds, at the close of the year, greatly exceeding their cost to the company.
 J it's dividents to policy holders, also has increased it's assets nearly million of dollars, and has carried substantial ad- ditional amount to surplus.
 Colts patent firearm manufactory at Hartford was partly destroyed by fire Sat urday afternoon. The fire started near the boiler house and when discovered had communicated to tier of closets running up three stories, near the main wall of the east armory. The building in which the fire caught was of stone and brick and nearly 400 feet long, connecting the east and west armories and three stories high. This building is practically destroyed East of the dividing brick wall it is all gone, and west of it the roof and top story is burnt off. The loss on the building is estimated at $75, ,OOO.. There were 75 Uni versal presses ready for shipment which were totally destroyed. In the attic were 50,000 black walnut gunstoeks seasoning. These were also total loss. L. D. Pierce, a nickel-plater on the third floor, lost most of his machinery. All the other floors were occupied by the Colt company for storing and packing purposes. The concerns in the west armory lose little, and that little by water. The total loss will reach $25O, O,OO0, covered by insurance to the amount of $2OO, ,OO0. The seventy five presses, valued at $30, 900, were not insured. Thirty years ago this month, on Feb. 5, Colts factory was destroyed by fire. At that time the east armory was totally destroyed. The cause of the fire then was thought to be of rebel origin. Five hundred hands are now thrown out of work, but if the boilers are intact, as it is believed they are, the shops will be running in week.