Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-03-24
STARTLING FIGURES.
On the Amount Of the States insurance
Business.
Risks Written Last Year Onc.Halt OF Stale S
Real Estate Valuation.

business in the State of Maine is some
thing that few realize, and it is only
by the careful study Of the report OF
the insurance commissioner that it can
be seen. OF course it must be realized
by all that with so many companies
doing business in the State. great
business must be done to make living
for all the agents, and the companies
themselves.
1t was in conversation with an in
surance expert that the Journal learned
few of these surprises, Thursday.
Did you know that the risks written
in the State of Maine, last year. in fire.
marine, and life insurance in all its
forms, was an amount equal to more
than one-half the valuation of the real
estate of the State of Maine. according
to State assessors report?' asked the
expert.
This was surprise. sure enough.
and the Journal asked for the figures
THE amount of the risks written in
1898 was slS4 5S1, 1862 OS of which over lis
millions was fire insurance"
Then suppose you do not know the
amount of premiums paid:' he con-
tinued.
We'll. no. am not aware of the
exact figures in that regard" was ad-
mitted.
The total amount paid for premiums
during the year in all classes of insur-
ance, was enough to make one man
fairly rich. The sum total was s.. 222.
1925
This was not all. He had other fig
ures up his sleeve to spring on the re-
porter.
What do you suppose the people of
the State received in claims and losses
that We're paid for?"
Don't know" was all the reply that
could be made.
s.'By actual figures they received ST.
O99.lSS6.4 49. This would leave a good re-
serve for the companies and the agents,
sas yol1sca see the difference between
tho py6miums and the losses.
'Ngh the companies have been
making money. it can be seen by glanc
ing at the report that the claims and
losses paid in the fire, marine and mis-
cellaneous companies fully covers the
losses incurred during the year On the
life insurance part you can best esti-
lives have been paid for, have been
bought for their real value.
THE amount of insurance written
during the year. he continued merci-
lessly, would be equal to $1,000 for every
man over u years of age in the State.
This would not necessarily be for life
insurance, but for all classes.
Now do not think that this is all the
insurance held in the State for it is not.
The report does not give the tOtal
amount held to- cover losses by fire, as
that would be very hard thing to get
at. l suppose; but it merely covers
what has been done during the year.
However. it does give the, amount of
insurance held on life.
The total number of policyholders
on straight life insurance are 60.193 and
these people are insured for an amount
equal to S56, COASTAL Then there are
| 7439 policyholders on the assessment
plan, who hold s17,6O9.251. The amount
| of insurance, or the number of policy
holders in the fraternal and beneficiary
associations is not given in the report,
| but if it should be estimated it would
! be the greatest surprise yet. Why. dc
| YOU know the amount of insurance
| held in this city by the members of the
A. o. L. W.. amounts to over 100000
Look surprised if you will. but it is so
The number of members are over SOC
| and each man holds $4,000 or more of in
surance. Figure that to suit yourself
and then estimate how much is held by
all the other fraternal and beneficiary
associations"