Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-02-03
perience and the law of averages.
Began Cautiously


The Hartford, therefore, began its
experiment cautiously, and during
the first year has felt its way. The
company has met and mastered many
unforeseen obstacles, and, on the
whole its experiences has strength
ened its belief in the practicability
of crop insurance. During the first
year, the company curbed its agents
desire to write crop insurance. pro-
miscuously and limited its indemnify
ing activities to certain seasons, Ger.
tain crops and certain sections Sew
erat thousand policies were written
in the South, of which several hun
dred were scattered throughout
Georgia. These policies, in the main,
insured the investments in cotton
crops, though in some instances, not
ably in Florida, the policies protect
ed vegetables.
Crop failures are general through
out the country, so that it would
SEEM at first blush. bthat the Hart
ford selected an unfortunate time for
beginning its experiment in crop IN
vestment insurance. Viewed solely
in mercenary light, such probably
was the case but the distressing sea-
son in the farming districts has de-
velOped unforeseen contingencies that
will prove invaluable in the perfect
ion of the business. 1t is the view
of persons familiar with inside de-
tails that the experience of these
lessons more than compensates for
the money indemnitics that have
been paid out.
In the South during the first
stages of the experiment, the Hat.
ford wrote policies against the cost
of the several operat ;ons essential to
the cultivation of cotton, with an al
lowance for the rental value Of the
land planted in cotton. The depreda
lions of the boil weevil as destruc
tive force and the influence of un-
favorable elemental conditions on the
crop, all contributed to emphasize
the value of the crop investment pol
lcles to the forehanded farmers who
paid the premiums and Unidentified
themselves against loss.
Law of Averages.
The Hartford Fire Insurance com
pany did not jump headlong into the
business of crop investment insur.
ance. 1t began to blaze its trail az
a pioneer in the business only after
years of study and investigation by
experts. The company is one of the
largest and most conservative insti.
tutions in America. The law of av-
erages is the controlling influence
in the insurance business, and the
law Of averages, as applied to cotton
and other crops, was the controlling
factor in the Hartford's experiment.
With the aid and co-operation of the
Federal department of agriculture
statist'cians of the Hartford worked
out the law Of averages relating to
practically every crop that is raised
on the farms of America, not only
with resnect to the country as
whole but concerning the soil and
productivity of every county in the
United States that is devoted tn ag.
ricultrre. The probabilities of the
cotton crop in Puts county, for In
stance, and without the ravages
of the weevils. had been worked on,
to precision before the company made
its ratio cards and embarked cautious
" IN the entn~nrise of writing crop
investment policies. !
The business is in IFS infancy. and
this is fully appreciated ..bv the Hart |
ford. which realizes that IRE field is
plenty large enough for eyeyy insur-
arce company. When expnrimqnts
and experience have enabled the com
ranv fully to standardize its policies
and fxe IFS rates in accordance. it is
understood the Hsrtford. VIII furnish
policy forms and rate cards to such |