The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-31

panies besides having previously saved
! thousands of dollars for their insured
by reason of paying them dividends.
have served to reduce the cost of insur-
ance this year and annually hereafter
| from 100000 to S150,000.
What man loyal to his own interest,"
| and that of all North Carolina does not
dofr his hat to these home companies
and who can fail to place his insurance
with them? They deserve it and besides
they now write at the reduced rate 60
per cent off and still pay dividend to
the insured, If it can be made, which
will still further cheaper insurance and
these companies have never paid less
than 20 per cent in dividends.
The people are already breathing freer
since the mighty grip of the South East
ern Tariff Association (giant trust) has
been for the time broken. Greater re-
lief will be experienced if the work of
our home companies is appreciated by all
the people to the extent of giving them
their business.
In fire insurance 1899 has been a
memorable year for North Carolina.
LIFE INSURANCE.
The life insurance business is bust
ness most scientifically correct as it is
now transacted by the solid companies
They have been on correct and solid
basis all along, but there has been as
much Improvement in the plans of the
companies during the last ten or fifteen
years as there has been in navigation
or any other business.
The modern policy is not only a pro-
lection to the beneficiary at the death
of the insured, but will serve as n
protection to the insured himself-a
good piece of property as well as pro-
lection and at a moderate cost rather
than the former expensive plans which
did this.
Then it is not strange that the public
expects every good citizen to have inSur-
ance on his life, as is shown by the
fact that on learning of the death Of
any good citizen we hear those around
us asking. not whether he had any in
surance on his life, but how much insur-
ance he had.
The total amount of life insurance
carried by the sixty-six United States
companies reported by the Spectator,
not including pure assessment compa-
MES. Is HO,SOf.SDD. JZ.UU anu LHelF as
sets are 1,46S, 100, 1880. 1T is a credit
to us that we have the largest and best
panies in the world. What can
be a greater credit to us than to
be known as the Life Insurance Nation,
for life insurance companies do bust
ness almost exclusively in the nations
which have attained to high state or
civilization.
| do not believe we realize that to
the people belong the assets of these
companies. but it is true that almost al
of this enormous sum of assets 81. 46S.-
TO-, 125.00 belongs to the people, it be-
ing held in trust for them, as PER terms
of their policy contracts.
The growth of life insurance has been
really wonderful.
Our citizens have shown their apprc-
citation and have increased their insur-
ance very largely, but not in proportion
to the increase elsewhere. However,
the prospect is that. the people of North
Carolina will soon be taking insurance
on their lives in full proportion to other
States of even greater wealth. The
year of 1900 will. | am sure. show
great stride in this direction.
CAREY J. HUNTER.