The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-01
VIEWED BY INSURANCE MEN.
They Are Eansuine Of a Return Of Sub
stantial Prosperity.
WHAT TIE REAL ESTATE AGENTS SAY
Think There VIII lie n Budding ana Bios
souiing OF Business-No Causes Tor the
Many Complaints and "Croakines
Heard on the streets,

With few exceptions the insurance
agents and real estate men Of the city
appear TO be quite cheerful over the bust
ness outlook Tor 1891. Below Will be found
some brief interviews with several we'll
known gentlemen On this subject. Otheis
Of a similar nature have been secured
by Times reporters, but lack OF space
only prevents their publication.
-. H. MlDYErIE.
Mr.. y. r. Mdyctte. OF the Fidelity Mu-
| tual LILO Association. said.
The institution OF life insurance mas
made rapid strides. Thirty years ago the
Insurance in force IN the United states
amounted to only s5SO.Ss2.2o5. and the total
payments IN the year 1850 for deaul losses
amounted to only S60h.,J9. or $i6.6SS for
/ every day in the year. The insurance IN
force IA all classes OF hfc companies Ia
/ the United States now amounts TO u.s.
/ 4!s.55S.g14. ana the payments 10 policy
i holders IN 1875 amounted to 3d.. sV',-sn, OF
/ 1876. Sogl1 for every day In The year
Under the laws q Virginia itateriL
! societies are not required 10 report 10 INC
/ state Department. and 1t IS. therefore,
/ difficult TO give accurate statistics b"l
the best Information obtainabie SHOW
/ that the insurance IN force IN Nhs'nN
/ total losses and claims PAID IN lsso Mltiih
/ the year exceeded N,25OOo. Nhie ne
/ insurance. as indicated BY the iorts"ins
figures. has made rapid strides IN ~"
past the indications arc That II VIII NC
/ more rapid IN the future.
w. Il FREEMAN. -.
Mr. W Freeman. OF the New YORK
/ Life Insurance Company said,
we arc closing the year very s'illstaC-
/ torily. having made handsome gam over
the preceding year Collections over tle
entire State have been decideIy ue'sS';
/ tho volume If new business larger ahi
OF better quality than we have hnd
Confidence having been in large
| measure restored. We are very sansuine
OF the almost certain return OF season
| of substantial prosperity. Coming I'm con-
| tact and transacting business as We 90
with business and prosperous men IN al
| branches OF trade. We base cur onserNa-
! lions ON what we consider the real facts
in ,he case. and confidently expect pros
THOMPSON BROWN & co.
Alr Thompson Brown or j. lhoI'p-
son Brown q Co. said - -,
| Though the year 1896 10 the reai
estate business has been one oil nna,n,
| rinl Storm leaving behind " the WRECKS
/ Of disannOintcd hopes. vet reuosh'Ct
| inc we could say. n might have been
"o",yy,e feel satisfied that change for
| the better i'm the condition OF pus,".S
has Lepiin. ana while we do not feel mo
! imuctus as sensiby as many eNp''.,pp,
vet evidently the heavy lowering ,'ouu51
/ OF the duh. hard times are ilt,L 80
! through them the bright sunshine W
,-oeno-i,,, Is plainly seen. Inquiries Tor
! real estate have commenced 10 ~ l.s
/ nm aud sales and inves' ments nave -.
made within the Jas 'hliN -, rcoi~
prices which could not have he'n I'a .-
! izel before Most Of the investments ar
i'm the line OF commerce ana h',hu,"
turing interests. sucn as W. o,tc.'
factories. ETC.. several OF Mnitn -
prisos purchasing and huildlnS) hdNp
commenced within the last thirty nayH.
~ is generally conceded that orr me
Of business rs the last affected by any
| change II this De- true, "hN We -,
! our waiting time. the business now u'N-H
done and the inquiries coming IN are
Indicative of "a prosperous year 'or -
The fact that property Gun hv"
| secured ar the present u'pi's'' 49,
! nos tho normal values OF Whl'h are
af least 20 per cent. more than the pres
emit value will be quite an incentive 10
Investors 10 put their money lh i,".
/ estat, that viii certainly pIonu'C u ,uo1
! snffsfaotorv returns I'm the near luiuit'
/ Tho season of quiet and rest from poU'-
ic9l and financial disturbances. assisted
| M, the present national status. mas pro-
duced this gentle budding and blossoni-
| trg ~ business which. III unhisiurhed'
u,iil most surely result I'm that truitage
of prosperity. not only IN the lire OF reai
estate. but in all the marts OF traue'
y. W. BOWIE.
Mr. y. W. Bowe said:
Real estate Is now and has been tor
two or three years very hafd 10 -
pose OF. resulting from "A combination
| of causes such AS general sihEnailoh ~
| busiuess the unusually large NUMBER or
| houses constructed during the p'tl""
Inadequate police protection for Nhsane
| houses. excessive dssrssHrlt7 "Ni'"
| means high taxation. and rear OF III
creased taxes as the inevitable result
of "A failure 20 retrench after showing
| absolute necessity therefor.
"If however in addition 10 improve
! conditions sure 10 result from settled
financial policy on the part Of the gene,
raj government the CITY Council should
remedy such of the evils rcleffed 10 us
come within its province men We may ,
naturally expect a revival i'm the real
estate market during the coming year
FOR there are always buyers when re-
turns are reasonably good
G. l.. AND II. J.. DENOON.
Mr. DcnOOn. Of the ifm or - L. -
II j.. penO0u, said ,
"Whilc the year ls6 has been looAed
upon generally as ore or amos, un-
uTcCclouJed depression, ana no uounl
many will welcome the opening OF inc
Now Year with "A feeling Oi relief. our
belief IS that the state Of an hrs eAlstinS
in Richmond has not justified The many
complaints and "croaknss dairy htard
upon the streets.
been better. but we doubt whether We
have lust cause To compllin. A. Is Vel
know. tie condition o. the money market
b. now greatly improved ana loans tNi
b made with comparative case. We
confidently expect 10 see "a season or
fair activity I'm real estate transactions
during the coming sprng and summer
with AN Improvement in prices over mo
past two or three years.
4. =. APERsON & co.
Mr.. Apperson. Of \. y. Apperson AZ
Co. said.
owing 20 the intense political excite
/ mont during the year which Is about
closing.and real estate like an other busi-
ness. has mad 70 suffer. Tho prospects
for Improvement I'm business are bright
and We hope that with She opening OF
spring the prospect may be realized.