Evening star., 1935-12-21
INSURANCE TOTAL
STILL RISES HERE
November Life Policies Gain
27 Per Cent Over Same
Month of 1894.
BY EDWARD C. STONE.


the mark reached in the same period
year ago, details from the latest re-
port of the Life Insurance Research
Bureau, Hartford, reveal.
New policies written in this city in
November aggregated S5,364000, gains
in business being reported by SO per
cent of the companies having Offices in
the Capital. Washington was ahead
of every other large city in the coun-
try except Los Angeles and was way
ahead of that city in the total for II
months.
In nearby territory West Virginia
made the best November record, with
a gain of % per cent. South Carolina
came next with a 6 per cent advance,
Virginia with per cent gain and
North Carolina with an upturn OF
per cent. Maryland business was off
4 per cent and off the same amount
for the II months.
Maryland's business totaled ST.
228,OOO, Virginia's S6,l07,oO0 and
West Virginias $4,269,000 North
Carolina policies totaled S6,469,0 and
South Carolina agents wrote policies
amounting TO $2,478,000. Delaware
made the best gain in all the 48
States, reporting an 80 per cent rise.
At the bottom of the list was Nevada
with an 18 per cent slump.
In the list of leading cities Wash
ington turned in a far better mark
than Boston. Chicago, Cleveland, De-
troit, New York, Philadelphia or st.
Louis. November sales in the South
Atlantic group totaled S44,44l 900
while the national total in the same
month reached S494 100000. With a
% per cent lead in | months, the full
wear should show Washington still at
the top of the new business list.
Ayres' Views Studied Closely.
A good deal of talk is heard In
brokerage houses here about the re-
cent forecast for 1886 by Col. Leonard
P Avres, vice president Cleveland
Trust Co. His prediction that the
average price of bonds in 1886 Will
differ no more than 5 per cent from
1885 is considered conservative. Some
brokers think his belief that the
average prices of stocks will not be
more than 10 per cent higher than
now, is too low, although an average
gain of 10 per cent is considered quite
an increase. Some of the statements
he made, which have aroused the most
interest, include:
The volume of industrial produc-
ton in 1886, as measured by the in
dex of the Federal Reserve Board,
will probably exceed that of 1885 by
less than II per cent. The output OF
passenger automobiles in this country
may increase, but probably by less
than 10 per cent. The production OF
iron and steel should advance by be-
tween 10 and 20 per cent. The out
put of bituminous coal is likely to be
greater by about 5 per cent. 1t seems
probable that the production of tex
tiles will be smaller next year than
1t has been this year.
ut seems probable that the value
of contracts for residences will in
crease by more than so per cent, and
that of non-residence buildings by not
over 10 per cent. The loadings of
railroad freight will probably not in
crease by over 10 per cent. The out
put of electric power will probably
increase by less than 10 per cent.
Other statistical series of great social
importance which the writer thinks
will advance next year, but not by
an average of more than 10 per cent
over the levels of this year, include in
dustrial employment, industrial pay
rolls, wholesale prices, the cost of liv-
ing, and farm income.
1T may we'll prove that the year
1886 will produce more developments
of fundamental consequence to the
future of American business than any
previous year in our history. Early
in the year the membership of the new
Federal Reserve Board will be an
nounced and the choice of the per-
sonnel may well have far-reaching
influences on the future of our money
and credit. During the year there will
be numerous decisions by the Supreme
Court which will be Of the utmost
Importance
Directors of the Security Storage
Co., 1140 Fifteenth street, have de-
clared dividend of SIPS per share on
the capital stock of the company, pay
able January 10, 1886.
The board also ratified the appoint
ment of Charles ]. Mattimore as
superintendent, who has been acting
superintendent since the death last
Spring of Frederick A. Ray.
The board took occasion to express
to Clarence A. Aspinwall, the presi-
dent, who is leaving for trip to the
Orient, their best wishes and hopes for
q most enjoyable journey. Mr.. Aspin-
wall in the course of his travels will
visit Hawaii, China, Japan, French
Indo-China, Siam, Java and the
Straits Settlements.
Financial District Gossip.
The Federal Reserve Boards pro-
posed regulations for extending mar
gin requirements to security loans by
banks will be circulated among bank
ing institutions within the next week
or two for criticisms and suggestions.
James B. Hill, president of the
Louisville & Nashville Railroad, be-
lieves that business on his lines will
hold up well during the first three
months of 1885, The railroad mag
nate refuses to make traffic or other
business predictions over a longer pc
riod.
Bank dividends, including several
extras, have come thick and fast dur
ing the past few days from the insti-
tutions in and near Washington
Banks report much better year than
1884, with increased earnings. Loans
are said to be expanding slowly, with
quantities of funds waiting to be put
to work. Higher interest rates is the
biggest wish as expressed by local
financiers.
The November utility report now
due at the Office of the Public Utili-
ties Commission will have pretty
accurate line on what the years earn
ings will be. The figures for 1C
months indicated that nearly all these
companies will return considerably