, 1883-06-16
on snb.tnnlInIitY ItseIC


shoulder. There is lots Of fun about the
exercise, il you don't care what you say.
old Substantially Itself
Among the various functiOnaries
under pay of the United States Gov
ernment there is one whose duty is
pleasant one, if pleasure can be said
to lay in the handling Of great stores
of gold, silver, paper and other col
lateral. Not that the said official can
call the stuff used as a circulating
medium for barter and exchange his
own, but then supposed satisfac-
tiOn exists in the mere manual eXcr-
tiOn of putting ones fingers on that
Necessary article called money. The
position is that of National Bank En-
amincr, and the requirements are
that he who holds the position must
visit cities in the territory under his
jurisdiction containing National
Banks and make personal and cru
cial examinations of the funds, con-
dition and general standing of each
| banking house. His coming is like
unto the judgment day. No man
knOwcth the hour, and he is apt to
slip in at the most unexpected mo-
ment so that it is almost impossible
for banking house carried on un-
der the National Banking system to
go crooked, and make Il false cXhi-
bition of its standing. The gentleman
who holds this responsible position
| for the Pacific Coast, embracing the
three States and several territories
is Hon. n. p. Lanford, who makes
his headquarters at st. Paul, when.
ever he has ain OPPORTUNITY to grasp
| Il sufficient amount Of spare time to
call any point home. His district is
50 extensive a one that it keeps him
skipping about with considerable ac-
| tivity to get around, rs he isrcquired
| to make this personal examination
/ Of every bank at least once Il year,
| and there is a good deal Of ground to
| 20 over between British Columbia
and the Mexican line, and the Rocky
mountains and the shores of the Pa
cific. Mr.. LangfOrd arrived in Spo-
kane Falls last Monday, unhcraldcd
and unannounccd. Early in the
morning, before the opening hour,
| he called at the First National Bank
Of this city. As he had not tclC-
grlphed that he was coming there
was no reception committee in wait
/ ing, and it required time to hunt up
/ President Moore and Cashier Cutter.
/ When those gentlemen We're ap-
| priscd q his presence there was no
hasty getting around, and exciting
colloquy between uneasy officers, the
First National Bank stands too firm
| and is too substantial to fear the
| most rigid examination as to its sta
| bility and resources. The EXamin-
cr Of Banks was COurtcOusly received
and the books, papers and cash were
turned over for his inspection. Thir-
teen years Of constant practice in
/ this business makes man a profile
| lent accountant. Mr. LangfOrd hls
ACTED in his present capacity for that
length Of time, andis therefore par
| ticularly well fitted for the duties de-
| VOlving upon him. In Il very brief
| period he was enabled to pronounce
. the institution in frst-gluss cOndi-
tion, with everything running in
systematic order. and most eX-
ccllent exhibit Of prosperity. We
had the pleasure Of meeting Mr..
Langford Tuesday afternoon, and rs
we felt Interested in home in-titu-
tions inquired Of the standing Of the
First National Bank Of Spokane
Falls as compared with similar in
stitutiOnS elsewhere, and was pleased
1 to hear his endorsement Of the man
agcment Of that concern in the most
hattcring terms. lie pronounced it
to be in an unusually solid and
flOurishing condition, recon-
mcndatiOn doublyI assuring as
he is a man whd seldom COM
mits himself plainly to outsiders.
And this rigid test is not the only
one that National Banks must un-
dergo. BY the banking laws five
official statements are required Of the
local bank annually, and they may be
called for at any moment, 50 that no
preparations can be made in advance.
1t gives us great pleasure to be able
to make so favorable a report Of a
public institution in which every in
dividull is more or less interested.