Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-06
The National Life

No intelligent person can doubt that the
practice of life insurance tends to promote
thrift and comfort and material well-be-
ing Nor can there be any question that
the presence of a strong and well-managed
life insurance company, possessing the
confidence Of the public. and justlfylng
that confidence by its methods of do
ing business, is a powerful element of
strength and prosperity, in any COM
munity.
Vermont is fortunate in possessing such
a company in the National Life Insurance
company of Montpelier. 1t has been a
matter of wonder to many persons in other
States that the small and rural State OF
Vermont should have among its corpora
tons a company counting its policy hold
ers by tens of thousands. and safely hold
ing itself responsible to them for many
tens of millions of dollars. The explana-
ton of this really remarkable fact lies, I'M
doubtedly, in the reputation of Vermont
ers as a class, for honesty, capacity, and
sound methods of business. The people
who know anything about us, know that
we are not community of stock gam
blers or land spectators; that economy
and thrift are here the rule and not the
exception; that our institutions which care
for the savings of the people have careful
and intelligent supervision; and that bust
ness panics and defalcations are almost
unknown among US. So believing, many
men throughout the country. who buy life
insurance, and who realize, as every in
surer OF his life must that the first and
bottom requisite is seourity-security that
the sum promised will be paid when the
claim matures--and who look next to the
question of economy in management, In
order that they may obtain the best re-
turns. for themselves or their heirs, from
the money they invest In the shape of an
nual premiums, look with favor on a YER
mont company of established reputation;
and such a company can do as tho Ma
tional Life does, heavy business in many
States of the Union, and in the great
money centres.
The general confidence so felt is, OF
course, increased by the admirable show
ings which the company Is able to make
from year to year. 1t has now been doing
business for nearly half century. Its
forty-sixth annual statement is before U.S.
The past year, as most of our readers
know, was one of unusual mortality all
over the world. The epidemic of grip,
which swept over this country and Europe,
has claimed victims by thousands, and the
effect is visible in the reports of every life
insurance company doing q large business.
| Nevertheless In spite of the wide de-
| preston in business and heavy shrinkage
| In the value OF many securities, the Ma
| tional Life shows important growth In its
business, an increase in it's surplus over
all liabilities, and an Increase OF upwards
OF twelve hundred thousand dollars In Its
net assets. Some of tho figures are as fol-
lows, and are worth study:
Received In 1895 in premiums, In
terest anu rents. 8, 290, a.;
Paid for death claims. 726,20t
Paid matured endowments and
surrendered policies. 5i4.6S:
Paid in surplus returned to policy
holders ........................... 1l2,4sl
|
Net assets, December 81, 1895. .$l1, 2S1, 3ii
Market value OF stocks and bonds
above par. 159, ~
GROSS assets. December 81, 1906. .s12 l47. rs.
Total liabilities. .................. 10704.87,
Surplus on per cent basis....... 1,A42.77
Company has 32742 policies in
force. insurins .."....,.,.......,. ss72s. "a,
1t issued 7s2s policies In 1895. in
surfing ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 15,sOs. O5;
Death claims paid policy holders