The effect upon municipal legislation on fire protection and structures was most salutary. Better fire departments, improved water supplies and water-works equipped for emergencies, rigid fire ordinances, and stronger and less inflammable structures became very popular, while continuous combustibles adjacent to the business district, and frame buildings within that district, came to be regarded as offenses and menaces which cities could illy afford. Chicago, particularly, was quite willing to do the needful in these directions, and though some of its recent buildings, like Tom Hood's fir-trees, "nearly touched the sky," the effect of the fire is still apparent in the usually solid construction and in our superior fire extinguishing facilities. In the respects considered, as in others, the Chicago fire was a great blessing, as all historic fires have been since, and including the one in London in the "Merrie Monarch's" reign.

In

The effect on taxation was not as beneficial to fire insurance as it should have been. The old-time barons used to take possession of the rocky promontories and levy toll on all who passed beneath. 1871, as now, Illinois and other States levied their State, county, city and town tolls—a great burden in the aggregate. Illinois also had a law requiring a deposit of $200,000 from foreign companies. After the fire this law was forthwith repealed, and the doors immediately opened with an emergency clause expressing the necessities of the people. Otherwise, our condition has not improved as regards taxation. Reputable companies do not object to, but favor any requirement that will at once protect the people and protect the companies from irresponsible competition. But the bulk of taxation is as unnecessary to protection as unjust to the property-owner who is obliged to pay it in increased premiums. Every dollar paid for good insurance, of any class, by so much lessens the probability of the policy-holder becoming a tax on the community, and it is difficult to understand why he should be taxed for thus reducing the tax list.

If this address were not already too long, I should be glad to contrast the splendid and substantial edifices of the present with those of 1871; to show how Chicago is now the second city of the New World in population and commerce, erecting fifty miles of new buildings a year; and to introduce statistics illustrative of the city's growth in the last two decades. But, as a matter of fact, the statisticians cannot keep pace with its progress. Many of you remember Judge Cary's celebrated illustration. It has been quoted many times, but is worthy of repetition here: "No artist can paint Chicago, for when he has

made his sketches and withdrawn to his studio to transfer them to canvas, lo and behold! Chicago has outgrown the picture."

Mr. T. H. Smith

Mr. President, it is said that he who ruleth his temper is better than he who taketh a city. When Mr. Hewitt started in with his address I felt-well, five-dollar bills lying around, and I not in the midst of them! I wanted one and did not get it. But as his address proceeded I came to feel a little easier, a little better, and somewhat as they did in the East at the time of the fire: we'll give him a little more time. Then it crossed my mind that our business frequently calls for compromise, and so, if he will send me a copy of his paper I will let him off on the five-dollar bill.

I move you, sir, that the thanks of the Association be extended to Mr. Hewitt for his very able and interesting address.

The motion, seconded by several members, was carried.

The President

Now, gentlemen, I will read the report which has been handed to the desk by the committee appointed to receive the handsome gift of Mrs. Peetrey:

REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF MRS. PEETREY.

MR. PRESIDENT:

Jacob Peetrey, of Ohio, devoted his life and energies to the fire insurance business, and was an original member of the Underwriters' Association of the Northwest. He always labored for the success of this Association, and his genial presence ever adorned our regular annual meetings. Proper eulogies on his life and character have here been made, and appropriate resolutions on his death recorded.

Mrs. Peetrey knew his affection for his associates in the Northwest, and she has very generously donated her husband's insurance library to this Association.

Your committee recommend that this kind gift of this noble wife of an honored husband be accepted by this Association by a rising vote; that the books be properly labeled by the Librarian; and the Secretary be directed to communicate the action of this Association to Mrs. Peetrey. CHARLES RICHARDSON, W. F. FOX,

L. J. BONAR,

Committee.

Motion was made and seconded that the resolutions to Mrs. Peetrey be adopted. Carried unanimously.

The President-

We have at this meeting of our Association, through the various papers read, looked over the past, studied the present, and through the splendid address of Mr. Bissell, looked far enough into the future to see the ideal of the coming underwriter. We now approach the official business of this convention—the election of officers for the

ensuing year. First will be the report of the committee naming a Board of Directors for the ensuing year. After hearing the report of the committee nominating the Directors, we will take an intermission of five minutes before proceeding to the election of officers.

Mr. Frank Van Voorhis, as chairman of the committee to select a Board of Directors, submitted the following list of names as the choice of the committee:

REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO NOMINATE THE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

Mr. Holman moved that the report be adopted, which was seconded and carried.

Mr. T. H. Smith

Do not those names have to be voted upon? I have not the rules with me, but my impression is that a vote is necessary.

Mr. Holman

We can overcome that. I move you, sir, that the Secretary be instructed to cast the vote of the Association for these Directors.

The motion was seconded and carried. The Secretary cast the ballot and the Directors were declared elected.

The President—

Now, gentlemen, we will take an intermission of five minutes before receiving nominations for officers.

After a brief intermission the President called the gentlemen to order and announced the name of another applicant for membership, Mr. T. M. Luce, Special Agent for several companies, Chicago.

Mr. Howard Gray moved the election of the gentleman in the same manner as his predecessors—the Secretary casting the vote of the Association.

The motion was seconded and Mr. Luce declared duly elected. The President

I wish every gentleman in the room would offer his assistance in a slight dilemma we are laboring under in arranging for the programme this evening. There has been some delay in getting out the invitations beyond the members of the Association, hence it is desirable for all of you, when coming in contact with Managers and General Agents of the companies who are now present in this room, or whom you may meet about the city, to inform them of the fact that their invitation has been accepted, and the banquet is to be held at half after 7 o'clock in this room. The invitations are now on the way, and may reach all in ample season; but I call upon you for assistance in this direction, wherever you find it can be applied. I will further add that in the arrangement of seats this evening, the wishes of those who are to participate will be carried out as far as possible, if they are expressed to the committee in charge in the room adjoining this. As you leave, you will please secure your tickets of admission in that same room. The tables will be arranged to seat eight persons, and it is desired that those who wish to sit together should indicate their desires to the committee of arrangements.

Before proceeding to the official business, I have one more name to announce, that of Mr. F. W. Little Jr., of Pleasant Hill, Mo., Special Agent of the Glens Falls Insurance Co.

It was moved and carried that his election take the usual course, and the Secretary declared the gentleman elected.

The President

Now one other brief notice. The reprinted copies of the first five years' Proceedings are at hand in the corridor. If those who have not already secured copies to which they may be entitled on account of previous subscription, or by a present one, will call upon Mr. Adams, they can secure the volumes.

can be had at any time.

Or correspondence with the Secretary

Mr. J. C. Griffiths—

I want to say a word about the reprint of the early Proceedings. No reference having been made to the matter, it may not be well understood by the members. The reprint now completed consists of the first six years, 1871 to 1875 inclusive. There have been four hundred copies printed, and quite a number-I think some fifty or sixty -have already subscribed for this reprint. The Secretary has the names of those subscribers, and they will be entitled to the books free. There will be three hundred and twenty-five copies for sale, and it is thought the members will be very glad to pay $2.50 apiece for them. The books are very handsome volumes. I wish to urge upon the members the necessity of sending in requests to the Secretary for these copies. We will need the money in order to reprint the other four years yet to be completed. I assure the members that if they will take pains to examine the books they will be very much pleased. I read the proof of the whole and I know it is all very interesting, and I would ask that the members keep the matter in mind and let the Secretary know promptly if they are inclined to take one of these volumes. The cost, $2.50, will include expressage to the members' homes.

The President

Gentlemen, you have heard the suggestion of Mr. Griffiths, our ex-Secretary, who has had this matter in charge, and I hope you will act upon it, and that each member of this Association will provide himself with a copy of these early Proceedings. You will find it a valuable book, and it will also enable us to reprint the reports of the following four years.

Are you now ready to proceed to the election of officers? If so, we will accept nominations.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Mr. Eugene Harbeck—

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention: I rise to nominate a field man for the Presidency of this Association during the coming year. The gentleman that I name to you is a man whom you all know, and he may be properly called one of the "Old Guard." He has always been on the right side; he has always been a member of this Association; he will make you a good President, and that is all I need to say for him. He is popular, he is decisive, he is prompt. I