The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-08
It Has Been q Good Year for
Insurance Companies.
Annual Report Made by. w. ].
Dryden, State Officer.
WRITE MANY NEW POLICIES
Unusual Call for Additional I'm.
derwriting Thru Kansas.
Mutual and Stock Concerns
Have Most Profitable Year.

Insurance companies-au except
fraternal benefit societies-did q big
and profitable business in Kansas IN
1917, according to q report today by
w. j. Dryden. actuary in the state de-
partment and Republican candidate
for state superintendent of insurance.
The Dryden report shows an enor-
nous years business for the Kansas
mutual companies, as well as for the
stock companies.
The Kansas mutual fire Insurance
companies-strictly Kansas organfza-
tions-increased the amount of irsur-
ance written in the state nearly two
million dollars. Their memberships
at the close of the calendar year of
1917 totaled nearly a half million, q
gain in twelve months OF 114,30s.
Bryden's report shows that the nu-
tua1 companies wrote insurance In
1917 to the amount of Ss7, oS4.525 as
against Se5,I11,2t5 in 1915. At the
close Of last year these companies had
Sa36,548.740 worth of insurance in
force. Membership totalled 4ss.45e.
Nor was the successful business con-
fined to the state mutual fire COM
panies. The stock fire insurance COM
panies collected premiums amounting
to $5.649,473 in 1917 Al against S4.-
ss7,3so in 1915. Losses paid in 1917
amounted to ss.ae7.s14. while in - s
more than S2,3oe.ooo difference be-
tween premium collection and losses
in 1877 does not represent profit.
Practically twenty per cent--or about
one million dollars-was paid to
agents and other expenses were de-
panfes distributed profits to stock
holders
Many New Policies.
The legal reserve life insurance
companies wrote S74,s07,e17 worth OF
new policies in 1917. as against a rec
ord for ss3.s47.ss4 in 1916. A total
of 9s,772 new policies were written in
1917, while in 1915 the total number
Of new policies were s3.o45. or 5.727
less than last year. In 1917 the pre-
MUM OF these companies totaIled
S10,226,s92, while in 1916 they were
ss.ose. asa.
Capital stock casualty and miscel-
1aneous companies collected premiums
in 1917 Amounting to s2.s7o. 40s, while
in 1916 they amounted to S1,f6S, $50
Losses paid by these companies las,
year totalled $1,15s,s42. Last year
they were Sses,ss1.
1t was the fraternal benefit societies
and organizations which suffered the
heavy jolts IN Kansas insurance cir
| cles last year Increased rates was one
OF the reasons for the slump. Gov
eminent insurance IL also attributed
\ a. oE0 VI lhc ESdJBOHS kOE tll0
OF in the business Of these companies
Bryden's report shows that during
| the year the fraterna1 benefit societies
paid claims in an amount larger tina Z
the total assessment collections. The
payment of claims last year amounted
to $4,553.723, while the assessments
were $4.447,37o. In 1916 the assess
ments were s4,s13, All and claims paid
teta1led s4.377.s45.
The number of new members re-
ported by these organizations in 1911
was 37.s14. while in 1916 the total
was 4e,g96. Yet at the end of the
last year these organixati reported
a total membership in Kansas Of 292.-
71S. The amount of insurance in
force was more than two-fifths of a
billion dollars. or to be exact. 44oz,-
747,es0 .
With the exception Of the fraternal
benefit societies, insurance companies
in Kansas last year did a fairly prof
liable business The amount of rev
business was developed to unusual
proportions and the returns show q
healthy return to the companies