weeks' absence, I find awaiting my attention your valued favor of the 19th, extending to me a most cordial invitation to be present at the next meeting of the Fire Underwriters' Association of the Northwest. I would be very glad indeed to be present at the meeting, but owing to my absence I find a great pressure upon me, and as I am compelled again to be absent for a few days, I fear it will be impossible for me to go to Chicago at the time named in the invitation. Thanking you for your courtesy, and hoping that the meeting will be an interesting and most successful one, I am, Sincerely yours, D. W. C. SKILTON, President. UNDERWRITERS' ASSOCIATION OF N. Y. STATE. SYRACUSE, N. Y. DANSVILLE, N. Y., Oct. 5, 1891. H. C. EDDY, Esq., President Fire Underwriters' Association of the Northwest, Chicago. My Dear Sir: I am in receipt of yours of Sept. 23d, enclosing programme of your annual meeting, and extending to myself and any delegation I might appoint an invitation to be present on that occasion. The invitation sent to Mr. Marr I did not receive, so that yours of above date is the first notice of the meeting that reached me. I regret exceedingly that I received it too late to present to the September meeting of our Association, and as our October meeting will not be held until the 13th, any action on our part then will of course be too late. I delayed sending reply to your favor until this late day, thinking I might possibly arrange to be present with you, but important business matters will prevent my doing so. In the name of the New York State Association I thank you for the invitation, and hope your meeting will be enjoyable and successful in every respect. Yours very truly, THOS. E. GALLAGHER, President. PALATINE INSURANCE CO. (LIMITED), SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., Sept. 22, 1891. C. F. MULLINS, ESQ., Manager Commercial Union Assurance Co. (limited). Dear Mr. Mullins: I am very thankful to you for the privilege of reading a recent letter addressed to your good self by Mr. H. C. Eddy, of Chicago, Ill., Manager of your company in the so-called Northwest, also President of the Fire Underwriters' Association of the Northwest, touching the Twenty-second Annual Meeting of the Association above referred to, to be held October 7th, 8th and 9th next, being the twentieth anniversary of the great Chicago fire. It so transpired that I was in Chicago when the great conflagration took place; witnessed it from the incipiency thereof until its culmination. For several years prior thereto, I had been the General Agent for twelve States, with headquarters at Chicago, for the Pacific Insurance Company of San Francisco, Cal. I had been recently elected Secretary of said company, and had all our worldly effects packed in trunks and cases, ready for shipment to the Pacific coast. Mrs. Laton was in New York City, visiting her people there, and it was my intention to start for New York on Monday succeeding the fire, which broke out on Sunday afternoon. It was an experience never to be forgotten, and I earnestly trust that I will never see its like again. You may be sure that it would please me more than a little to take friend Eddy, and many others, by the hand, and participate in the programme of the Twenty-second Annual Meeting aforesaid, but it will be impossible for me to do so, as I am expecting General Manager Lane, of the Palatine Insurance Company (Limited), on this ground on or about said time. Please kindly intimate to Mr. Eddy my regrets at not being able to put in an appearance. After glancing over the programme which you so kindly sent to me, I am free to confess that those of us who cannot be present will indeed miss a great deal. With assurances of high regard, beg leave to remain, Yours very truly. CHAS. A. LATON. THE AMERICAN FIRE INSURANCE CO. PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 4, 1891. H. C. EDDY, Esq., President Fire Underwriters' Association of the Northwest, Chicago. My Dear Sir: I am to-day in receipt of your valued favor of 26th August, ult., conveying your very courteous request that I should prepare a paper for the coming annual meeting of your Association next month. My inclination forbids me to turn aside from your kind expressions, and indeed prompts me to accede to your desires; but I must ask you to excuse me from such an effort as your Association merits at its regular meeting, as I find myself much and closely confined at this season, and feel quite sure I could offer nothing worthy of the occasion. Your considerate suggestion of leaving the topic of such a paper to my own nomination, is, I assure you, duly appreciated. With assurances of my sincere interest in your organization and its welfare and continued influence, and with my personal regards to its worthy President, I am, my dear Mr. Eddy, Very sincerely yours, THOS. H. MONTGOMERY, President. GERMAN-AMERICAN INSURANCE CO. NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 1891. } H. C. EDDY, Esq., President Fire Underwriters' Association of the Northwest, Chicago. Dear Sir: I am in receipt of your kind favor enclosing programme for your next meeting of the Association. I regret exceedingly that the days they will be in session are ones at which I am required to be here in New York, engaged with our finance committee on matters of importance to ourselves. I have no doubt that you will have a full attendance and also a very interesting session. Regretting exceedingly that I cannot be with you, but extending my best wishes for the continuation of your Association, and kind regards for yourself, I remain, Yours very truly, JNO. W. MURRAY, Vice-President. After the reading of the correspondence, Major Bliven rose for the purpose of introducing a delegation of visitors from the East. Major Bliven We have to-day with us quite a number of gentlemen who have come a long distance. Having served some time in the field they now occupy, and having made many pleasant acquaintances in that field, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you the delegation from New England-Mr. U. C. Crosby, Mr. Boothby, Mr. Frederick B. Carpenter, Mr. Samuel G. Parsons and Mr. J. C. Hilliard. These gentlemen rose while the President said: GENTLEMEN: I wish to assure you that it is with greatest personal pleasure that I greet you this morning. I have traveled many years with each of you. I feel as if a band of brothers had come from afar off to meet me this morning. Our Association is indeed highly honored with your presence, and we hope you will enjoy your visit and come again to our future meetings. Mr. Crosby In behalf of the delegation from the New England Insurance Exchange, I desire to thank you for the cordial welcome that you have extended to us at this time, and for this invitation. I can assure you that we anticipate great pleasure and quite a little profit from thus meeting with you at this time. We already begin to realize what a very small part of this great country, geographically, the little part of New England we come from is, and we already have a feeling of inspiration and exhilaration in being with you. I thank you again for this invitation and cordial welcome. Mr. Parsons One moment. If I am allowed, I wish to say this: Fair New England greets the glorious Northwest. The sunrise greets the sunset, and as their gleaming, brilliant coruscations of light rest upon us, we bask alike in their warm rays. And Chicago, this monarch, this giant of the West, opens his big arms, hugs us to his broad bosom and says, "Welcome, my children." Thank you; thank you for this welcome. Mr. George W. Hayes Chicago, twenty years ago, gave the New England Adjusters a very warm reception about this time of the year, and we wish to greet them with equal warmth to-day. The President I wish to say that if any present desire to make an effort to see the unveiling ceremonies this afternoon, it will be necessary for them to start from this room by 12 o'clock, in order to get a light luncheon and reach Lincoln Park in season. It is possible there may be a large enough number desiring to go, to warrant us in forming in line with the regular procession. It may be possible, even at this late moment, to get a permit so to do. If in line in the procession, we will have an opportunity of seeing something; if not in line, but taking the chances of the multitude, I fear it will hardly pay many of you to go over to Lincoln Park. Although it is a pretty large park, there will be a great many who will not be able to see or hear anything of interest. Allow me to remind you that on account of the necessary change in the programme, our later sessions will be pretty well crowded. Every one of these papers, gentlemen, will be read at this meeting, and to afford an opportunity we must come together early to-morrow morning. The time set is 9:30. We came pretty near it this morning; we shall come nearer it to-morrow. We will remain in session until the noon hour, and the convention will be prolonged until all that has been set for the second day shall have been concluded, including the annual address. and the remarks of Mr. Bryan. The third day will necessarily be a short session, that is, occupying a full, long morning. In the afternoon this room will have to be given up to the proprietors of this house, to arrange for the banquet to which you have been invited. While so large a number is present, it may be quite acceptable if some papers, arranged for the morning or afternoon session of to-morrow, be read now. Would that be your pleasure, gentlemen? If so, please manifest it by saying "aye." The ayes being unanimous, the President inquired if Mr. Hubbell was ready with his paper, "What Good Things do the Mutual Companies Possess ?" Mr. Hubbell I can get my paper, Mr. President, if you will excuse me a few minutes. The President We might utilize this time if somebody would make a motion to nominate a committee on the selection of Directors for the ensuing year. Mr. Frank Van Voorhis I move that a committee be appointed in the usual way, for the nomination of Directors for the ensuing year. The motion was carried. Mr. Hubbell having returned to the room, the President said: Gentlemen, I have the pleasure of introducing Mr. H. P. Hubbell, Special Agent of the Springfield Fire & Marine Insurance Company, who will undertake to tell us what good things the Mutual companies possess. |