In 1832 the fire insurance companies united to maintain a small fire brigade, and continued to do so until 1866.
The cost of maintenance exceeds £200,000 annually; contributions towards this are made by the Treasury and the fire insurance companies.
The continued success of the government life insurance office led in 1899 to the setting up of an accidents insurance office, and, in 1903, of a state fire insurance office.
Corporations are reached through the general property tax, but there is a small levy on fire insurance companies for the support of the local fire departments.
Insurance is another important business, for here are the headquarters of the Prudential, the Mutual Benefit Life and the American Fire, the Firemen's and the Newark Fire Insurance companies.
