INFORMATION RKLATING TO INSURANCE AND THRIFT 35 



These figures show that in the twenty-two years considered these com- 

 panies have gained in net insurance in force §26,761,294 and in sur- 

 plus 8462,421, and are thus more than holding their own with the new 

 companies. 



Some figures can be quoted to show the general position of insurance 

 against fire in Massachusetts. The com})anies undertaking insurance of 

 this kind received altogether premiums amounting to S 13,488,419 in 1907 

 — estimated dividends payable on the mutual companies' premiums being 

 deducted — to S 20,036,210 in 1916, and to the aggregate sum of 

 §157,055,653 in the ten 3^ears from 1907 to 1916, inclusively. Indemnities 

 paid in 1907 and 1916 amounted to S 7,729,583 and S 9,184,161 or 57.31 

 and 45.84 of premiums, respectively. The average percentage of pre- 

 miums paid as indemnities in these ten years was 67.89, and was much 

 raised by the large percentages paid in 1908 and 1914 — respectively 111.98 

 and 139.24 — in consequence of the importance and frequenc}' of losses. 



There were 264 companies which insured against fire in Massachusetts 

 in 1916. They received altogether $ 458,136,449 in net premiums and paid 

 S 223,634,069 in net indemnities. The}^ were distributed as follows : 



1. Massachusetts mutual companies other than manufacturers' . . 34 



2. Massachusetts mutual marine insurance companies i 



3. Mutual companies of other States other than manufacturers' . 13 



4. Massachusetts manufacturers' mutual companies 8 



5. Manufacturers' mutual companies of other States ...... 18 



6. Massachusetts stock companies 4 



7. Stock companies of other States 120 



8. United States branches, companies of other countries .... 66 



264 



Mutual companies belonging to the first group received in 1916 net 

 premiums amoiinting to S 3,033,801 and paid $ 1,052,130 in net losses. 

 Their admitted assets amounted to $9,257,806 and their liabilities to 

 S 3,931,228. Companies of the third group received net premiums arriount- 

 ing to 810,685,750 and paid §4,151,848 in net indemnities. Their admitted 

 assets amounted to 8 27,348,850 and their liabilities to 8 16,457,495. The 

 surplus of the first group amounted only to 8 5,320,389, that of thf third 

 group to 810,891,355. 



The total number of fires in Massachusetts in 1916 was 7,101, and 1,855 

 of them occurred in the town of Boston. The total sum paid in indemni- 

 ties in the whole State was 8 8^188,149.53, in Boston 8 2,250,587.26. There 

 are no data to show the losses sustained by agricultural property in the 

 year nor the share of. agricultural insurance undertaken by the mutual 

 companies of this State. It has been established however that outside 

 Boston 250 fires occurred in barns and stables of which the estimated value 

 as buildings was 8 692,687 and the insured value 8 441,397 : the loss was 



