The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-26
HAD GREAT YEAR
Fire Insurance Companies Pros
pered in Kansas in 1918.
Business Written Increased and
the Losses Decreased.
TRAVIS COMPLIES FIGURES
War Largely Responsible for
Big Business Boost.
Statistics Argument Against
, Continuation of Surcharge.

War conditions proved a big boostS
for the fire insurance companies do
ing business in Kansas, according to
report today by Frank L. Travis, state
superintendent of insurance. The
Travis report shows that premiums
collected by all stock fire insurance
companies in this state last year-in-
Guiding fire, lightning, tornado, hail,
marine and inland-were nearly two
and half million above those of 1917.
Losses paid, however, were $707, POI
below those met in 1917.
The Travis report is compiled from
figures prepared by w. ]. Dryden, &C
tuary in the state insurance depart
ment. They show that war conditions
caused property owners to increase
their insurance. Yet precautions
against hazards and losses resulted in
smaller fire losses in the state and
consequently a big saving to the in
surance companies in the payment of
claims. In 1918 the losses paid by
these companies amounted to but 39.5
per cent of the premiums collected,
while in 1917 the losses equaled 80
per cent.
Total Insurance Written.
Last year the risks written by stock
fire insurance companies in this state
showed an increase of $12S,464, 47O
| over the previous year. The total risks
|
last year amounted to 1871, S36,72S as
against S663, 372, 258 in 1917.
Premiums on all of these risks
amounted to $10.475, SAG in 1918, while
| in 1917 they were but $S.047,S1O. Yet
| with a total risk 128 million below
1917, the companies paid losses in
1918 of but s4,130.331. In 1917 on
smaller risks and from a reduced col
lection of premiums the companies
paid $4,S37,532 losses. These records
| I,,4 RI in
in 1913 while go per cent was paid in
| 1917.
Fire and lightning risks written in
| Kansas in 1918 amounted to 1857, 1885,
74s, or s97. 433,904 more than the 1917
| showing when the same companies
wrote risks for but $3.50, 361,844. Yet
| the losses to these companies in 1917
were $3,3O7,514, while last year. with
greater risks, they were only $2,639.-
| 710-a reduction of 1867, S04 in losses
with $97,433,904 increase in risks.
The premiums of these companies last
year totaled S6,569,647 as against
| $5,649,41 in 1917. In 1917 the per-
centare of loss to these companies was
| 1884 per cent. Last year the loss was
but 40.1S per cent on premiums col
| lected.
War Was Big Aid.
'"The war situation seems to have
resulted in a boom for the stock fire
insurance companies" Dryden stated
today. mot only did property own
ers increase their insurance but a
general tendency to safeguard prop
erty against loss resulted in protect
| ing the premiums of the insurance
companies. These companies not only
| wrote more insurance and collected
| greater premiums, but they likewise
| reduced their losses"
At the present time the stock fire
insurance companies are fighting in
| the courts for 10 per cent surcharge
| oil in IA % in
crease is asked in view of increased
| operating expense due to war condi-
| tons. While the increase in expense
for handling their business thru the
/ operating departments is not shown
in the report, the records show big
| increa Sc in gross business and a de-
cided reduction in losses to the COM
panies. The records made public to-
day will be used by the state in fight
ing the application of the insurance
companies for increased rates.
| Records of mutual companies are
not contained in today's report.