Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-02-23

There has been much inquiry of late
On the subject of annuities and it is
believed by the corporations doing
business in that line that the custom
of buying them, which is popular in
some parts of Europe, is growing IN
favor in this country, says the New
York Tribune. To some people who
have given the matter attention the
fact that annuities are gaining in pop
ularity is demonstration of the fact
that Americans are growing more sell
fish, that the number of bachelors is
increasing and that the class of peo-
pie who do not wish to be bothered
with matters of business is gaining in
numbers. THE business of annui-
ties," said William D. Whitney,
which is widely known in Europe, is
of recent growth here. The inquiry
on the subject is extending more and
more as the rate of interest falls.
With further drop in interest, which
is probable in the near future, the in
quiry will be more extended, especial
ly by those who are DESTROYS of Sc
curing a fixed income for themselves
or others, free from the vicissitudes of
interest, expense and worry attending
business operations. Heretofore the
rates of interest offered in business
enterprises were too great to permit
the establishment OF companies that
had to take all the risk of a probable
drop in rates Of profit and interest.
But it was hard enough to convince the
public of this. A large company, by
it's ability to average out the risk of
Individual investment by reason of the
various investments into which it en-
tiers and it's greater facility and econo-
my in doing wholesale investment
business, makes the annuity policies
attractive for persons who desire
fixed income and no bother. Another
point in connection with annuities is
that the annuitant converts his chance
of dying into interest, because in case
of death the principal sum paid for
the annuity remains with the COM
pany. For instance, if the rate of in
terest free from losses and expenses
of investment is estimated at 3 per
cent, and the mans chance of dying
is estimated at 2 per cent, then he
may obtain in the form of annuity an
investment which will yield him
per cent per annum as long as he may
live, which he could not obtain in any
other way. On the other hand, it must
be quite apparent that annuities are
not desired by persons who wish to
leave an estate to Others" The an
nuitant looks out for himself only,
while the man whose life is insured
provides for those who survive him.
The annuitant is selfish, the insured
man is frequently self -sacrificing,
denying himself luxuries and some
times necessaries in order to pay pre-
miums for the benefit of wife and chill
dren. The bachelor, the man without
family, the man who has become
estranged from his kinfolk and wants
to make sure that they shall have
none of his money when he passes
away and men past middle age, who
fear that stocks and cards may make
deep holes in their capital, have been
among the first to become interested
in the, annuity business. Some years
ago Lester Wallack and a number of
actors made up purse with which
they bought an annuity for fellow
actor who had become incapacitated.
The man received only one annual in
stallment before he died, and the !.
money which the old actor feared to
handle reverted to the annuity COM
pany. This is not an infrequent oc-
currence, because the annuity COM
uanies require no medical examine