There are some errors in the foregoing statement which cannot be corrected ; they probably result from errors in original returns, but they are not sufficient to vitiate the general statement 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 PROPERTY LOSSES IN THE UNITED STATES BY FIRES, 1875 TO 1898
| Years | ||
| Aggregate Property Loss | ||
| Aggregate Insurance Loss | ||
| 1875 | $78,102,285 | $39,325,400 |
| 1876 | 64,630,000 | 34,374,500 |
| 1877 | 68,265,800 | 37,398,900 |
| 1878 | 64,315,900 | 36,575,900 |
| 1879 | 77,703,700 | 44,464,700 |
| 1880 | 74,643,400 | 42,525,000 |
| 1881 | 81,280,900 | 44,641,900 |
| 1882 | 84,505.024 | 48,875,131 |
| 1883 | 100,149,228 | 54,808,604 |
| 1884 | 110,008,611 | 60,679,818 |
| 1885 | 102,818,796 | 57,480,789 |
| 1886 | 104,924,750 | 60,500,567 |
| 1887 | 120,283,055 | 69,659,508 |
| 1888 | $110,885,665 | 63,965,724 |
| 1889 | 123,046,833 | 73,679,465 |
| 1890 | 108,993,792 | 65,015,465 |
| 1891 | 143,764,967 | 90,576,918 |
| 1892 | 151,516,098 | 93,511,936 |
| 1893 | 167,544,370 | 105.994,577 |
| 1894 | 140,006,484 | 89,574,699 |
| 1895 | 142,110,233 | 84,689,030 |
| 1896 | 118,737,420 | 73,903,800 |
| 1897 | 116,354.570 | 60,722,140 |
| 1898 | a 97,017,000 | 49,200,000 |
| Total 24 years. | $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 companies 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 expenses $67,582,025, or an aggregate of $205,866,394 for all disbursements.
The insurance business of the country is regulated and supervised by State officers — in some States by insurance commissioners, and in others by officers designated by law, as follows:
