The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-04
COME TO KANSAS
Mutual Fire Insurance Plan
Adopted by Local Merchants.
Topeka Headquarters For Big
Line Cf Mutuals.
FIGHT THE Crust"
Merchants Believe They Can
Save Much Money.
Directors Elected and Applica-
tiOn Made for Charter.

For the purpose of smashing tbs
insurance trust, the retail merchants Of
Kansas have decided to organize mu
tual fire insurance company under the
plan successfully in operation in North
and South Dakota, Minnesota, Indiana
and other states and application was
made this morning to the state charter
board for a charter for the new COM
pany, which will be called the Mer-
chants. Mutual Fire Insurance COM
pany. Topeka will be the headquarters
and an office will be opened here at
once.
Frank NJ. Newland, treasurer of the
National Retail Grocers' association
and water commissioner of this city. is
one Of the chief movers in the new
company, which has it's. origin with the
National Retail grocers. E A Tyler,
who organized the mutual companies
doing business in other western states
whose headquarters are Chicago, is here
TO supervise the organization of the
Kansas company.
1t is expected that the Is merchants
mutual companies doing business in the
Dakotas and Minnesota will very short
ly be admitted to do business in Kan
sas, and the 10 companies will cooper
ate with the Kansas company in cor
ner1ng the Kansas mercantile insurance
business Under the rules of the organ
1zauons, each company can carry only
$1,000 on each risk. and not more than
$4,000 in any one block, but by COM
able to offer line" of policies in mu-
tGal companies aggregating about $780,
COO to each merchant. The comma MES
In the northern states have proven to
be a great success, and in South Da-
kota, in 1902. the fire Insurance cul..-
panies made a cut of SO 1-3 per cent in
rates on mercantile business to meet
the competition of the mutuals.
1t has been the experience of our
companies" said Mr.. Tyler that after
the company is well established, and has
collected reserve fund that the cost
to the merchant of insurance is almost
nothing The income from the reserve
fund is enough to pay all losses. and
the parton gets back all his premiums
in dividends" The cost of the new in
surance is fixed at old line rates
The plan contemplates the writing
of insurance only on mercantile estab-
hshments and merchants stocks. 1t
was explained fully to the meeting of
the Topeka Retail Grocers association
Thursday evening The officers of the
company have not. been elected
rms is the hst or fncorporators: F.
NJ. -Newland. ]. W. Robinson. WiIliam
Green, w H Davis, T. E. Armstrong
t ]. Coughlin,Alonzo Wolf, C. V. Wolf
E. w Hughes, w H. Wilson, H R
7Shittelsey. Theodore c. Mueller, Fred
o. Morns, V. B. Kistler, ]. S Warner
A. G. Potter. r. S. Brigham. D. H
Forbes. A B. Whiting, H A Warner
W. B. kirkpatrick. J. NJ. wallace. C.
R. Williamson. Charles s. Eagle and
J. w. ThuTston.
Newland. r. s. Brigham, William
Green. w H Davis. ]. W. Thurston,
T. E Armstrong. ]. S. Warner. T. J.
Coughlin. L. w. Forbes. Fred o.
whfttelsey. W. H. Wilson all of To-
peka. and E A Tyler of Chicago. ILL.,.
and H P. Packard of Red Field
South Dakota.