4 July 1877 • Elmira, N.Y. (MS, in pencil: CtHMTH, UCCL 01445)
I have learned something about insurance. My brother-in-law1explanatory note here has had a building insured for $12,000 orⒶemendation the past 6 years. Lately it burned down. They calmly called a consultation-gang of insurance-thieves to sit on the case & they decided that labor &c are so cheap, now, that the building’s was only worth $8,000! That’s what they paid him—with a request that he would sit up nights & whistle or pray for the balance, according to the will of God.
Now therefore, please reduce our insurance TO the following figures:
| Barn ——— $12, | $6,000 | |
| Furniture —— 10, | $12,000 | |
| ———— | ||
| $18,000 | ||
| Leave the house as | ||
| it was before — | 30,000 | |
| ———— | ||
| Total | $48,000.2explanatory note |
If there’s any question about the furniture being over-estimated, reduce it still further. It can’t be replaced for $30,000. Certainly not $25,000.
MS, in pencil, CtHMTH.
MicroPUL, reel 1.
See Perkins Collection in Description of Provenanceclick to open link.