Fire Insurance

The annual convention of the National Board of Fire Underwriters was held in New York city last week. The principal companiea of tho United States and Qreat Britain were represeuted. The Treasurer's report for tne year showed the receipts to be $134,000, and the expenditures $133,000. President Oakley delivered the annual address. The capital employed the pastyear was $55,000,0U0, an increase of $2,000,000 over 1874. The dividend on this capital averaged 132 1-15 per cent. The total amount of premiums received during 1875 by the American companies was $50,000,000, nd by foreign companies $11,000,000, a decrease of 1 70-100 per cent. as compared with 1874. The losses for the year past were $28,000,000, and the increase in the amount of risks asBumed during 1875 is $290,000,000. The loss rate during the past year steadily increased, and remunerative rates should be adhered to. The report of the Committe on Incendiarism and Arson shows that during the past year at least thirty-five per cent. of the number of fires were caused by incendiaries, whlle fully iifty-five per cent. of the property destroyed was lost by the same cause. The report recommends offering rewards for the arresl and conviction of incendiaries. The flres for the year were 3,946, and were caused as follows : l)efects, 868 ; matches, 214 ; spontaneous, 100 ; accidental, 517 ; carelessness, 777 ; miscellaneous, 343 ; unknown, 461 ; incendiary and supposed incendiary, 398 ; petroleum in all its forms, 308. Defective flues and foul chimneys causo daily lires. The report of the Committee on Fire Department, Fire Patrol and Water Supply recommended the establishmen of lire patrols in every city, and that thei should be partly sustained and support ed by the cities whore they are located New York city had not got sufiioien water supply for its protection in case o emergency. Chicago was credited with having the best tire department. A resolution was adopted conde Jiinj the law requiring companies to deposi certain sums with the State as securit; for poliey-holders. Petroleum as a lubricator was consid ered dangerous and the cause of man; flres.