New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-11
CONNECTICUT INTERESTS.
RELIEF TO THE WATER FAMINE-TRoL-
LEY DEVELOPMENTS IN
sURANCE AT A LOSS.


Hartford Conn. Feb. 10 CspeciaD--The
drCuth which has threatened every water sup
ply In the State brought the streams and large
rivers to the lowest point for years and in
cidentally caused much increase in typhoid fever
by reason Of the enforced use Of poor and tenn
porary supplies OF water is broken, after con-
tinuance Of five months The rains Of the last
two weeks have repIenished reservoirs to such
extent that they being drawn from
usual. and temporary supplies Of river water
have been abandoned In this city Connecticut
River water is no longer in the pipes. the Board
of Health having convinced the Water Board
that II was dangerous to the health OF the city
to use II longer. and with about One-sixth OF
the normal supply in the reservoirs they are be-
ing drawn from. The test Of faith in future
rainfall has been severe but the increase in
fever in the section Of the city where river
water has been used for domestic purposes. and
the publication OF comparative analysis Of the
water with illustrations OF bacteria. brought out
a strong protest from the people and the Water
Board forced to stop pumping from the
river. The supplementary pumps and extra ser
vice TO be used in case of absolute failure Of the
reservoirs, put in at an expense Of several thou
sands Of dollars. have not been used
ROMANCE SHATTERED.
An interesting fortune story which has
been uppermost in the city for some time has
fallen TO pieces and left nothing behind IT.
woman named Consuelo Howe. wife Of a grocer
in the southwest section of the city claimed to
have fallen heir TO $500 900 because Of her re-
lationship to the Vanderbilt family, and the
story was taken seriously by many. the details
being given in such complete form. Some three
months have passed since the announcement OF
the coming fortune was made, and within the
last week the Howes have disappeared from the
city altogether, Mr. Howe selling his grocery
business and Mrs. Howe having gone to Kings
ton-ou-the- Hudson a few weeks earlier Mrs.
Howe free in giving incidents of her COM
partnership with the present Duchess Of MARI
borough and received much attention from the
people Of the vicinity and from newspaper re
porters OF this city and from New-YOrk; but
Just before Mr. Howe left town he said ne be-
Heved there would have to be a contest OF will
before the money would be forthcoming
THE TROLLEY BEATS THE STEAM LINES.
Trolley line development is taking on energy in
the eastern section OF the State. and the season
will probably see connecting line from Daniel
sonville 10 Providence r /, and another from
Willimantic south, which will make connection
at Baltic with a line from Norwich. The latter
line practically parallels the Central Vermont
in Its through connection and the Providence
division OF the Consolidated until II reaches
Baltic The figures show that last year the
trolley lines in the State carried over hfty-nine
million passengers while the steam roads only
carried ffty-three millions, in round numbers.
The interesting fact is. however. that the
ceipts from fares on the steam roads were
larger by some $4,000 than before the troll
ley was introduced, although there a de-
crease OF nearly three million passengers This
makes II evident that the trolley lines are do
ing the short haul business and contributing
to the long haul OF the steam roads by the in
creased facilities Of getting about.
FIRE INSURANCE REPORT.
The annual report Of Insurance Commissioner
Scofeld, first section relating 10 fire insurance,
has just been sent 10 the Governor. II shows
149 companies doing business in the State. re-
cevng from all sources S147,O57.777. and pay
ing out S149. 126. 7GO. the business having been
conducted at loss. The Commissioner points
out that. while IL is that the ratio OF total
losses incurred has been greater than that OF
former years. this does not account for the IN
profitable showing on the part OF many COM
panies. The fact is that competition has been
rampant. and its spirit has pervaded the
business as to create decentralization in premium
rates. Until some means devised whereby
companies VIII provide for the establishment Of
fair and just rates based upon the experience OF
years. and the reinsurance OF risks OF companies
organized for speculative purposes is discounte-
nanced, the outlook for profitable fire Insurance
is far from enC0uraging' The Connecticut
companies make a better showing than the
foreign companies in the State their premium
receipts being nearly double their losses the
latter amounting TO 81 100000 in round mum
bers
BRYAN AROUSES LITTLE ENTHUSIASM.
Colonel Bryans flying tour through the State
on Tuesday and the speeches he made in this
city and Bridgeport brought out the interesting
fact that his audiences. while listening with
quiet approval TO many Of his political theories.
did not move TO the heights Of enthusiasm until
he touched upon the South African war. when
they went fairly wild at his pro-Boer senti-
nents His expression at the Coliseum, in this
city The British army has got 10 Lady
smith. and I hope God It never does
the signal for uprOar that was the only real
break worthy Of note that was made by the
audience into his speech. His audience here
was large one. but there were fully many
people from out OF the city from the city
limits The bulk Of the Iaboring men here were
busy in the shops. and they did not care TO
hear the speaker from Nebraska