CXCII
UNITED STATES
There are some errors in the foregoing statement which can- not be corrected ; they probably result from errors in original returns, but they are not sufficient to vitiate the general state- ment as to the magnitude of the fire-insurance business of the country. LOSSES BY FIRE The losses by fire are taken from the fire tables of The Chronicle." ANNUAL PEOPERTY LOSSES IN THE UNITED STATES BY FIRES, 1S75 TO 1898
Years Aggregate Property Loss Aggregate Insurance Loss Years Aggregate Property Loss Aggregate Insurance Loss 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 $78,102,285 64,630,000 CS,265,800 64,315,900 77,703,700 74,r>43,400 81,280,900 84,505.024 100,149,228 110,008,611 102,818,796 104,924,750 120,283,055 $39,325,400 34,374,500 37,398,900 36,575,900 44,464,700 42,525,000 44,641,900 48,875,131 54,808,604 60,679,818 57,480,789 60,500,567 69,659,508 1888 . 1889 . 1890 . 1891 . 1892 . 1893 . 1894 . 1895 . 1896 . 1897 . 1S98 . Total 24 years . $110,885,665 123,046,833 108,993,792 143,764,967 151,516,098 167,544,370 140,006,484 142,110,233 118,737,420 116,354.570 a 97,017,000 63,965,724 73,679,465 65,015,465 90,576,918 93,511,936 105.994,577 89,574,699 84,689,030 73,903,800 60,722,140 49,200,000 $2,551,609,481 $1,488,102,448
a Estimated.
Life Insurance Life insurance in this country is sold by three classes of organizations — regular level premium companies (so-called), assessment companies, and fraternal orders. The number of policies in force in the regular level premium or old line com- panies Jan. 1, 1898, was 10,206,577, representing ^6,326,120,072 of insurance. In the assessment companies there were 4,039,062 members, with $7,799,428,000 of insurance in force. Thirty- five companies reporting income and disbursements to the New York Life Insurance Department showed total payments for losses, endowments, and annuities in 1897 of $92,688,307, which, with payments for lapsed, surrendered and purchased policies, and dividends to policy holders, made a total of all payments to policy holders in that year of $137,544,815. These companies paid in taxes, commissions, and other ex- penses $67,582,025, or an aggregate of $205,866,394 for all disbursements. The insurance business of the country is regulated and super- vised by State officers — in some States by insurance commis- sioners, and in others by officers designated by law, as follows :
