The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-17
LOANS and DEPOSITS
Exhaustive Investigation by
Comptroller Dawes.
OF THE COUNTRYS BANKS
Some Valuable Deductions
Thence Derived.
OF THE COUNTRYS BANKS

Washington, Nov. 1s.-Charles G.
Dawes, comptroller of the currency, has
just made public the results Of the in
vestigation which he has made into the
number of loans and deposit accounts,
rates of interest and resources of the
combined banks in the United States dur
ing the years 1897, 1895 and 1899. In col
lecting this data nearly 10000 reports
from various banks have been examined
and compiled. The investigation into the
number OF loans and deposit accounts,
and average loans and deposits is the
first ever made covering the United States
in reference TO the national system, or
banks other than national. The results
of this investigation indicate a magni-
tude of banking resources, and a rate OF
growth in number Of deposit accounts
which is unparalleled in the financial his
tory of the world. The comptroller states
that the results for the combined banks
are carefully estimated upon the basis
of ratios found to exist in the reporting
banks and that they may be regarded
as substantially accurate. He is careful
to call attention TO the fact that the
number of deposit accounts and loans
given in his figures must not be con-
fused with the number of depositors ana
borrowers, since the same individual may
have loans and deposits in several banks,
each of which would make a separate
report to the comptroller. While, there
fore, the actual number of borrowers and
depositors is much less than the numzer
of
growth in the latter is evidence of the
general growth in the number of indi-
vidual depositors and borrowers.
The general deductions fro mthe inves-
tigation covering the last ten years, is
given by the comptroller as follows:
First-That the number Of individual
depositors in the banks of the United
States is constantly increasing, as indi-
Gated by the regular increase in the num-
Der of deposit accounts of ghe combined
banking systems. estimated as follows
July u, 1889, 1908 banks reporting 6,7oS,-
971; July IS 1894. 9O5S banks. reporting
$685., 1855; June 30 1899, 9.732 banks. report
ing I.432. &c. The estimated grand total
for the year 1899, based upon banks re-
porting and statistics as to non-report-
ing banks obtained from tax returns to
the commissioner of internal revenue.
shows 13153.S74 deposit accounts in 12,S0i
banks.
Second-That there is a demand from
borrowers for the use of the greater pro
portion of the deposits of banks and
while the number Of Individual borrowers
is increasing. the depositors greatly out
number the borrowers and the increase
than the increase in the number Of de-
positors, as indicated by the rate Of In
crease in the number of loans estimated
as follows: July p. 1889. 1908 banks. re-
porting 2,1SS.541; July IS, 1894. 9.50S banks,
reporting 299O.694; June 30, 1899. 9732
banks. reporting 3,911 664 The estimated
grand total for the year 1899, based upon
banks reporting and statistics as to non
reporting banks obtained from tax re-
turns TO the commissioner OF internal
revenue, shows 5,O67, 252 loans in 1854
banks.
Third-That the growth OF the banking
systems is being characterized by a !
gradually lessening rate Of interest |
charged on loans.
Fourth-That a gradually lessening !
rate of interest is being paid upon de-
posts
Fifth-That, considering the large eli |
entage of national and savings banks, |
the average deposit of the individual or /
corporation Is slowly Increasing.
Sixth-That the growth in aggregate /
has been as follows: July u. 1888 1893 1
banks. reporting s3,475, 272. 262;. July IS, /
1894. 9.5oS banks, reporting A.0S5, os9, 4o2; /
So, $40. The estimated grand total for
the year 1899. based upon banks report
ing and statistics as 10 non-reporting
banks obtained from tax returns 10 the
Of internal revenue, IS So