The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-29
WORKING FOLKSSAVINGS.
AMOUNTS DEPOSITED IN THE
WORLDS SAVING BANKS.

First of These Institutions Established
in Germany in 1765-Those Of Great
Britain and the United States-Eng-
lands Postofflce Savings Banks.
From the Neto York Adverttser.
WThe total number of savings banks in the
entire world in 1891 was 6,532, all of which
had been established during the present
century. The progress made in the past
eighty-fve years record Of savings banks is
marvellous. The sum total Of the deposits
Of all the 6,532 banks is put down at "a ,410,-
600 900.
1t is said that bank for savings was es-
tablished at Brunswick, Germany, In 1865,
and another at Hamburg In 1878, but the
record concerning these institutions is not
very clear. 1t is generally admitted that
the history Of savings banks began in Eng
land at the CLOSE of the eighteenth century
the first proposition for the establishment of
a bank having come from Jeremy Bentham
in 1897. His particular plan, however,
failed to receive favorable consideration
from parliament, but it doubtless led to the
consideration of the praotlcular efforts that
were soon afterward inaugurated. In 1908
William Nautilus advocated system
and encourage the savings Of small
sums. Later, in 1907, q more pronounced
movement for the establishment of savings
banks was made by Samuel Whltbread. His
proposition was for national savings bank
under the direction of government officers,
the deposits in which were to be invested In
government securities. These schemes, in
their general scope, organization and meth
ods of procedure failed, as did others of a
similar character. In 1910 the Rev. Henry
Duncan of Ruthwell, Scotland, came for-
ward with another plan for savings, and
actually organized and established a savings
bank in his own parish, and through. his
writings and other efforts number of SINH
lar savings institutions were established in
various perts of England and Scotland.
The idea Of all the original promoters OF
savings banks was to encourage thrift
among the poorer classes Of people, and ill.,
duce habits of economy among the wage
carriers. 1t was later discovered that saw
ings banks might benefit and educate, in
the line OF thrift, all classes. and from that
time these enterprises have made great
strides forward.
The savings banks of England, and Of
Europe generally, have retained the origi-
nal feature of appealing to the poor. In
this country, however, up &c within q COM
paratively few years. the depositors in the
savings banks were found to belong almost
entirely to the middle and comfortable class
of people who could, aud did, annually
place sums of money in the bank without
denying themselves any comforts or luxu-
rles. Then, too, 1t was the custom for
well-to-do people to place sums OF from $500
to $1,000 on deposit, to remain accumulate
inginterest until a child or graudchild be-
came of age.
Savings banks in this country, unlike
similar institutions across the Atlantic do
not make any appeal for the deposits of
humble wage earners, and make no special
offers to educate children and young people
hlong the line of thrift aud economy. in
deed, many banks, particularly IN the large
cities, strive not to receive the accounts of
certain classes of people who would be
gladly received as depositors in the savings
banks In Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool,
London, Frankfort and Berlin, and many
other such cities. In this respect the banks
OF Europe excel those Of the United States,
but In the magnitude of wealth gathered by
the savings banks the United States has
eclipsed the old world.
During the past few years, however, q
number of institutions designed specially &c
secure small savings have come into exist
ehce and are generally in thriving condi.
Son. Among these are the dime and