The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-01-10

1 is that of insuring the lives or thelr members for the benefit of their famil- | ies, not being matter of public re- port or information, cannot be even ap- proximately estimated, but undoubted- ly reaches many millions of dollars
 The fire insurance companies of the state have fully maintained their we'll earned position in the front rank of the institutions of their kind. During | the year 1893, 112 companies, with cash assets of $211, ,277,95 were engaged in business in this state, of which 25, with cash assets of $34, IF, All, were home cor pori tions. While the year was one Of | severity to the interests of all Of these 1 companies, their business in Conneetl- cut showed favorable results-increase | of premiums and decrease of losses-as compared with the previous year. The amount of insurance written, increased nearly $8, 900, 900. I know of no existing statistics accessible to the public, show, l ing, or from which can be learned, the l amount of fire insurance in force on Connecticut property; and would sug- gest, therefore, that sL"h change in the law be made as will pro- vide for obtaining and publishing this obviously important informa tion. From such figures as are now accessible, IL seems probable that the amount Of fire insurance in force in Connecticut largely exceeds $3OO,OOO,OOO, being to- tai of more than three-fourths the amount of the grand list of the state If you can devise some reasonable method by which companies located Tn other states not authorized to do pusl- ness here, which neither submit to the provisions of our law, nor share with other similar corporations legally here, their proper portions of the public bur dens, can be made to comply with the conditions observed by others, you will render just and important service. Any Legislation, in itself proper and desira- ble, tending to bring our laws in har- mony with those of other states, will beyond doubt, promote the common interest.
 In his forthcoming report the in- surance commissioner will probably rec ommend many changes in the law, and perhaps a general revision of all the laws relating to the insurance busi- ness. I ask your thoughtful considera- tion of any and all recommendations that may be made by him.
 Policies to the amount of scores of millions of dollars are held by our saw ings banks as collateral security for their loans; and in many other direc- tions the business of fire and life in- surance companies, in vitality impor- tant way, and to a great extent, stands exceedingly close to the interests of all the people The amount of fire insur- ance in force in this country Is probably not less than $17,0OO, 900, ,0O0.
 Besides the life and fire insurance companies referred to, there are in this state two steam boiler insurance com panies, with assets on the first day of January, 1893, amounting to $1,S65, 1886.
 The report also shows that there are, doing business In Connecticut, two Fiji delity and Casualty, one Tobacco Growers, and four plate glass insur- ance companies, designed to furnish such protection as is indicated by their respective names. In the important branch of insurance against accident Connecticut holds a leading place, and is the home of the leading company. As the reports of the insurance com missioner are made for the calendar year, statistics for the year 1894 are not yet available.
 RAILROADS.
 The length of railroad in the state, counting by single track, is about 1850 miles.
 The amount of capital stock is about $90, 900, O00O0.
 The amount of bonded and other in- debtedness is about $54,25O, ,OOO.0O.
 Gross earnings during the year were about $32, 800, O0000.
 Net earnings, $9,12S, 100000.
 Taxes paid by railroad companies to the state during the year, amounted to about $733 100000, or more than one-third the receipts of the state from all sources.
 The number of employees injured dur ing the year was 194, less than half the number, BOA, of the previous year. The number of persons employed in con nection with railroads in the state is about 24,500, and any reasonable legis- lation or regulation which adds to their personal safety in the discharge of their frequently hazardous duties, is to be welcomed. Grade crossings were re- duced in number by 27 during the year, 26 being on the lines of the New York, New Haven and Hartford R. R. com pany. The energy and liberality of that company in this direction are warthy of strong commendation. A new and very serious danger is now arising in connection with the extensive construc- ton of electric highway railways. The present law should be at once so amend ed as to prohibit the crossing of steam and electric lines at grade.
 INVESTIGATIONS OF FOOD ECONOMY.
 The nutritive value of different foods, and their proper preparation for the use of man, is a subject of vital inter- est to our people. Half the earnings of the wage-workers of Connecticut, in- deed, more than half the incomes of Christendom, are spent and must be spent for their food, and any informa- tion that enables the laborer to select his food according to its true nutritive