Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-16
CASTORIA
 For Infants and Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought Signature s@t s,'e of &MEAz&zSI
Colossal Figures In Life Insurance.
 What To They Mean?

The published statements of banks, trust companies and industrial con- cerns command the attention of per sons interested in them as investors or depositors; the annual statements Of great life insurance companies are read by the mass Of the people with all the interest that attaches to the more important news of the day. It cannot be otherwise when practically every family in every community feels that It's own fortunes are closely con- operations of one or more of these tre- mendous benefcent associations.
 The Metropolitan Life puts forth a statement of it's business in 1903, pre- senting an array of figures that shows 1mpressively the intimate relations be- tween this institution and the whole people. In one item alone an amazing fact is stated. It is that giving the number of policies in force on the last day of the year-more than 7,5OO,0OO--- showing that one person in every ten, of the entire population of the United States is insured in this company. In other items they are divided and subdivided and made to apply to days and hours instead Of years. For ex- ample, this great company mas paid to
 
 since organization over $23S, S,0O0, ,000- sum that will impress the average reader merely as being vast and very | vague. There is quick comprehension, however, when We learn by little cal culation that during 1903 the amount | thus distributed among policy holders averaged $S9 a minute during every | working day of the year.
 Every day in the year 359 claims ! were paid; every day in the year more than 5000 new policies were written. At the end of every day in the year the oompany's assets were more .--an l $5O, ,0O0 greater than in the morning. | It's total assets at the end of the year were more than $1O5, 100000. Its total l income for the one year, 1903, was over | $49, ,OOO, ,OOO.
 Going back twenty years we have some comparative figures that tell a story of almost incredible growth. The company's income for the year 1883 was a little over 3,vJO, ,OOO; for 1898 a little over $15OOO.OOO; for 1903 over $49, GOO GOO; its surplus since 1883 has increased from about $627,0O0 to over l S1O,OOOOOO. When we come to the amount of outstanding insurance at the end of the year we pass the billion mark. The exact sum is $1,342,3Sl,- 457.
 The Metropolitan Life received from premiums and other sources during 1903 over $65OO, ,O00 more than in 1902. Considering the relative condition or the financial markets in these two years. this exhibit is at first surprising, I then Illuminating. In 1902 money was plentiful; public confidence in the man fold projects of promoters and man i ciers had never been stronger; times were good" In 1903 these conditions were reversed. Thousands of hitherto ] prosperous wage earners were out ol emDIoyment; others were forced to ac- cept reduced wages; the incomes oi the well to do shrank and dW1ndlad and everywhere there was a decided tendency to retrench and to Wlthhold money from investment Yet th1s WAS by far the most prosperous year Of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Cos eA l istence.
 Nothing could show more plainly what life insurance really stands fol in the minds Of the people. It IS no' regarded as a speculative venture, ou' q sure promise of security; safe shei for when financial storm clouds threat en general wreck.
 A concern like the Metropolitan Life Insurance Go is. of course. DuslnesS organization, but it is one in which al of it's policy holders are bona nae part ners. "a company of the people, by tnf Epeople and for the people, one tha' has known how to gain and how tt justify the confidence of the whole community.
 That is why no bank stockholder wll read the annual report of his own pros porous bank with keener relish thai people everywhere read this remarka ble statement of the Metropolitan Life