-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CfXu8GSpyBADIRrlpjVwX+3D6I/Qd0fE9RyJGvlpUuJ1T2ejDEVCFMJF57Y9JYOg
 sEQUPLHJt2CLlQcD0O7FHA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000892251-03-000604.txt : 20031031
<SEC-HEADER>0000892251-03-000604.hdr.sgml : 20031031
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031031123427
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000892251-03-000604
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031030
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031031

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LABAR JOHN R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001084404

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06026
		FILM NUMBER:		03968963

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE MIDLAND COMPANY
		STREET 2:		7000 MIDLAND BLVD
		CITY:			AMELIA
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45102

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE MIDLAND COMPANY
		STREET 2:		7000 MIDLAND BLVD
		CITY:			AMELIA
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45102

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MIDLAND CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000066025
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				310742526
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7000 MIDLAND BLVD
		STREET 2:		N/A
		CITY:			AMELIA
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45102-2607
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5139437100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		N/A
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 1256
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45201
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>labarform4103003_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-10-30</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000066025</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MIDLAND CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MLAN</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001084404</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LABAR JOHN R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE MIDLAND COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7000 MIDLAND BLVD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AMELIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45102</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-10-30</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>7000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>113000</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>850128</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>By LaBar Investments, LLC which is co-managed by the reporting person and his wife</value>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>121000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>By spouse</value>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Shares held in a trust of which the reporting person is the sole trustee and beneficiary.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Lori Birkenhauer as Attorney-in-Fact for John R. LaBar</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-10-31</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----