The herald., 1897-10-24
OFFICE OF THE HERALD.
LOS ANGELES. October 2

annual report the establishment of a sys-
tenn of postal savings banks lends interest
to some statistics regarding the working
of the system in Great Britain, which are
recorded in the last number of the "Statis-
tical Abstract for the United Kingdom"
The figures given show a very marked
growth of the system for the decade and
half from the years 1882 to 1896, inclusive.
For example, we find. says Bradstreet's.
that the amount received by the postal saw
ings banks in the United Kingdom in
creased from el3,712S59 in 1882 to s3S, 71S,9 1894
in 1885, The amount here set down as re-
cetved includes interest credited to depos-
ttors and dividends on stock held for them.
deposits for immediate investment in stock
and for the purchase of annuities and in
surances and sums credited in respect of
stock sold for depositors and since 1884
In respect of payments under annuity and
insurance contracts. The amounts paid
increased from f10,S69. 534 In 1857 to 92S,-
4S9,32S in 1896. These amounts include with
drawals for investments in stock rnd for
the purchase of annuities and insurances
and Withdrawals. consequent on the sale
of stock, and since the year 1884 in respect
of payments to annuitants and insurants
and their representatives. The amount
due to depositors. which is exclusive of the
government stock held for them, increased
from G39 0S7. s21 in 1882 to G1OS 09S GAL in 1896
Thus, it will be seen from a comparison
of each of the items, they nearly trebled
during the decade and half. The increase
was not uniform in all parts of the United
Kingdom, Scotland, with smaller amount
to start with showing the heaviest propor-
tionate increase of the three divisions of
the Kingdom.
When we come to consider the amount
of government stock bought and sold on
behalf of depositors in the postoffice saw
ings banks in the period under consdera-
ton. we find that the stock bought in
creased from a5SS 211 in 1882 to s1, ,O7S, ,1S7 in
1896. The stock sold shows a very much
more marked increase. the amount rising
from s1S3,462 in 1882 to G1, ,1S6,245 in 1896.
Meanwhile the stock standing to the credit
of the depositors at the end of each year
increased from G1,143716 in 1882 to a6, 6,S91,-
S91 in 1896. The amount of stock bought in
1896 shows a marked decline from that re-
corded for the year 1894 and the stock sold
at a decline as compared with the year 1895,
while the stock standing to the credit of
the depositors shows a decrease as COM
pared with both the years 1894 and 1895.
The number of open accounts in the post
office savings banks on December 81 in
each of the years included between 1882
and 1896 shows an increase from 2,S5S, 976
In the first mentioned year to 6,S62 035 in
the year 1896. The statistics for the first
eight years of the period discriminate be-
tween England and Wales. From the year
1890. inclusive. the statistics for these por-
bined. They show that whereas in the
year 1892 in England there were 2.546 S17
open accounts. and in Wales 96. .9GS, the num-
bers had increased in 1889 to g. 99g, ,273 for
England and 1e3, 256 for Wales, while both
combined in 1896 amounted to 6276, 493. In
Scotland the increase was from 10S 7O1 to
2S3, $685. and in Ireland from LOG, 400 to SOL 976.
1t may be of interest to compare these
statistics regarding postoffice savings
banks with the figures in reference to trus-
tee savings banks. which are given in the
same Blue Book These figures show that
the amounts received by the banks for the
United Kingdom Increased from G9,64O 544
In 1852 to G12, ,O24.12 in 1896. The amounts
paid increased from 10327, 1874 in 1882 to
ELL, ,179 in 1896. and the amount due to
depositors increased from s44 612, ,5S1 in the
first mentioned year to G46 699, ,6S7 in the
year last mentioned.
A comparison of these figures with those
given for the postoffice savings banks shows
that the former have increased out of all
proportion to the latter in the decade and
a half under consideration. the amount due
to depositors in the postoffice savings
banks showing an increase of over &c.,
900, 900 for the decade and a half, while the
like increase In the trustee savings banks
was but little over G2 ,000 A similar
showing appears when we come to COM
pare the amount of government stock held
for deposit in trustee savings banks with
that held for depositors in the postoff1ce
savings banks. The increase in this item
was from e242, ,524 in 1882 to s1, ,OS2 24S in 1896
whereas the stock held for depositors in
the postoffice banks increased from G1.-
1876 in 1882 to f6s91, ,S91 in 1896. still
more marked contrast is presented when
we consider the number of accounts re-
naming open in trustee savings banks al
compared with those in the postofi1ces av-
tgs banks for each year. We have seen
that the number Of open accounts in post
office savings banks increased from 2, $685.
976 in 1892 to 6S62,03 in 1885, whereas on
the other hand, the number of accounts
remaining open in trustee savings banks
shows actual decrease for the decade
and half, the figures being 1862. 1893 for
1882, and only 1885 9O3 for 1896. These sta
tis.ics, taken as whole. go to show that
the postoffice savings banks have far out
run those under trustees in public favor
in the United Kingdom Indeed, the fig
ures showing the increase in the amounts
received and paid and due depositors in
the savings banks under government man
agement exhibit a growth in public sup
port and confidence which cannot be
characterized as other than remarkable.
VIM. j. Brodrick receiver of the First
National bank of San Bernardino, Is Of
fering the real estate belonging to the de-
funct institution for sale, and has Sc
cured the unusual privilege from the comp
troller at Washington to receive bids In
part cash and part receivers certificates.
Holders of certificates will thus be able
to make sure Of hundred cents on the
dollar in real estate though they may never
get 1t in cash.
Insurance
The single agency question is still being
agitated among the fire insurance man.