The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-07-09
1916 GREATEST
LIFE INSURANCE
YEAR IN HISTORY
Total Payment on Policies
In North Dakota Reach
$748,000
$30,643 POLICY
HELD BY BANKER
Distributions in United
States and Canada for
Year 1888, 100000

The insurance policies held by the
late Thomas Baker, Jr., amounting
to $3O,643, made the largest payment
on a single life in North Dakota dur
ing the year 1915 in life insurance
distribution, according to figures
computed by The Insurance Press.
The largest claim paid was in Min
nesota in the case Of Thomas /. Shev-
lin of Minneapolis. who died on Dec.
20, 1915, being $1,525,000. The next
largest claim was the case of Lewis
and the third largest William A.
Read Of New York city, $4,000.
Payments of $4,000 or Over.
The detailed statement of sums
distributed to beneficiaries in pay
ments of $4,000 and over in North
Dakota show a $4,000 claim at Au-
burn, the name not given; a $4,000
claim at Bismarck, the name not
given; $10,027 on the policy held by
Harvey Balderson of Devils Lake;
$30,643, Thomas Baker, Jr., Fargo;
$21 ,s99, Max Stern, Fargo; $16,oOS,
William S. Begg of Grand Forks;
$11,01S, Louis w. Dechert of Grand
Forks; $4,000, Carl w. Brauer of
Leeds; $22,396, Emil A. Morins of
Lidgerwood; $4,000. J. B. Stoddard
of Sentinel Butte; $4,000, Michael
NJ. McCrea of Sharon, and $4,000,
name not given, at Sharon, n. D.
State Policies $74s,ooo.
Total payments on life insurance
policies in Fargo for the year 1915
amounted to 100000; in Grand
Forks, $4,000; Bismarck, $1,000;
Devils Lake, $47,75O; Lidgerwood,
$39, 800; Leeds, $36,25O; Sharon. $751;
500; Hope, $21, 500; Harvey, $17750;
Forman, $4,000; Park River, $751;
500; Ramsey county, $16,500; Shell
don. $16,500; Sentinel Butte, $4,000;
Auburn. $15,750; Cando, $15,5oo;
Wahpeton, $15,500; Washburn, $15,-
$11,O0 Bathgate, $40. $50, and Rugby,
$10,750, or a total Of $748,000.
In 1916 the life insurance distri-
buttons in the United States and
Canada amounted to $75S,500, 900.
The payments for death claims, ma
tured endowments and other benefits
amounted to $476,900,000 and for
premium savings dividends paid to
policy holders), for the cash value OF
policies surrendered, for annuities,
and to beneficiaries under policies
issued in foreign countries, the reg
ular companies in the United States
in part, aggregated 1921, $1,000
Evidence of Prosperity.
The aggregate amount paid by
life insurance companies to policy
holders, who lapsed or surrendered
their policies fell considerably below
the 1915 record, indicating an i'm
provement in general business con-
ditions.
The amount returned to policy
holders in dividends (premium saw
irgs) advanced regularly, indicating
the increased economics of manage
ment and improved conditions in
other directions from which como
contributions to the divisible sur
plus.
The increase in the policy loan ac-
count was almost negligible, as shown
by the combined figures of COM
panies whose operations cover more
than 80 per cent of the business
transacted by the American COM
panies. In other words the aggre-
gate loan on policies increased only
81, S51 100 in 1915 against an increase
in 1915 of more than $34,000,000 and
an increase in 1914 Of nearly $685.
100000.
Great Insurance Year.
Nineteen sixteen was the greatest
year III IHe history VI lie IHSuTdHCS
in the United States as regards the
amount of new business written. In
Canada also the new issues exceeded
the 1915 totals and approached
closely to the biggest life insurance
year the Dominion has known. In
the two countries $4,500,000,000 of
new business was written, about $4,-
270 900, 900 in the United States and
1921, 600, 900 in Canada.
Insurance for Army and Navy.
The plan of the United States gov
eminent to cover the casualties of
war, in the army and navy, through
q system of insurance-possibly as
a complete substitute for the pension
system-demonstrate how vital a
place the insurance principle has in
human affairs. Life insurance was
practically undeveloped at the time
Of the Civil war; its employment as
means of indemnifying the depend
ents of war heroes was probably not
even considered. Now 1t may come
to- pass that the insurance method
will displace pension method and
that the United States will be the
first nation in the world to make tho
change. Within a short time the
treasury department will submit I'd
congress an insurance measure
adapted to war service. In the prep
aration of the plan, whereby the gov
eminent itself will provide insurance
operation will be given to the gov
eminent by all life insurance COM
panies.
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