The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-14
UP. SNYDER HEAD OF BIG BANK
WALL ST. LIKES PRESIDENT or
NEW WESTERN NATIONAL.
Hes Alert. Vivid. Potent; Progressive, hut
Careful; Hard worker. but Not q
Drudge; Fisherman and Baseball ID.
rector; No Spectator; ~ and Gray.

Drudge; Fisherman and Baseball ID.
rector; No Spectator; ~ and Gray.
Valentine p. Snyder. president Of the
Western National Bank. OF this city, who
is TO be the president of the new Western
National bank Of the United States in New
York. formed by the merger of the Western
and the United States National banks, has
had one Of the most Interesting, although
until to-day one OF the least spectacular,
careers In the financial history OF Wall
Street
Az president Of the new institution which
Will come int6 existence after the liquida
ton Of the affairs Of the Western National
on Jan. 81 Mr. Snyder will be at the head of
one Of the greatest banks of New York.
having capital Of $4,000 coo. A few
years ago he was private secretary. As
boy he was a bank messenger up in the
country. He is little more than ~ yea
old now. Wall Street has been watching
him. and II has seen him arrive.
MIR. Snyder was born ia Hudson, y Y,
and when he was very young he went Into
the Hudson River b INK of that place as a
messenger boy. he had only just left
school. He became a junior clerk there
and then moved to Fishkill where he en-
Bank Of that town.
Then he moved down river little
further and became connected with the
Chatham National Bank of this city. going
thence to the service Of the Third National
Bank. When President Cleveland took
Daniel Manning to Washington with him
TO be Secretary OF the Treasury Mr. Man.
ming took Mr. Snyder from the Third Ma
tional Bank to be his private secretary at
the capital
Mr. Snyder afterward filed various
places In the Treasury Department He
was for time chief clerk in the United
Statee Treasures office, Later he became
Deputy Comptroller Of the Currency in
the course Of promotion. and he was acting
Comptroller of the Currency in the interim
between the incumbency Of Henry W
Cannon. now president Of the Chase
National Bank of this city. and that of
". l.. Trenholm as Comptroller Mr.
Snyder was at that time hot yet p years
In 1887 Mr.. Snyder was appointed nltional
bank examiner in this city. and from that
service he entered the First National Bank
as assistant c ,ahier. In 1890 he began his
connection with the Western National
Bank. which was founded by Daniel Man
ming, with what was for those days al
enormous capital of g. 800 900. and IA like
surplus Mr.. SNYDER went to tha Western
National "a vica- president
The bank. after a somewhat disastrous
experience with a Cincinnati institution.
whose president engineered a kinky wheat
corner on capital borrowed from tine West
ern National, paid its lOsses and started
on most successful career, under the
auspices OF new interests connected with the
Equitable Life Assurance Society, whose
managers took large investments in the
banks stock
MIR. Snyder, a. vice-presdent of the Vest
ern National won the esteem of the late
President Henry b. Hyde OF the Equitable
Life, and in the confidence and support
thus established he ana the bank prospcred.
Three years ago Mr. Snyder became presi-
dent OF the bank, and IL. this period OF his
chleftaincy he has Justified the watChful-
ness Of the Street, whose Solons have had
their eye on him as "a coming young man
for several years past.
MIR. S.yoer l. low about ~ years old,
and although his hair is prernaturely gray
the spring oi youthful power runs througu
his personality. D.gliiied, democratic,
alert, forceful, clear, he appears in busi-
ness or at home not STRENUOUS but vivid,
confident. potent, he is busy man. but
not hurried one, having the ability to
transact much business with welcome
despatch.
He Is at his Office often at o'clock in the
morning. contrary 10 the popular notion
Of bank presidents easy hours. lie sees
of the time with his office door open, thinks,
speaks and acts quickly but not hastily,
and leaves his Office promptly at the end
OF business hours.
He is easy Of approach cheerful ready,
comfortable, and he has many friends
There IL one negative To- be recorded Of him:
his society Is not Coz lcive TO ,lothfuluesa,
either of body or OF mental habit.
Yet this active banker Of New York loves
the relaxation associated with placid Wal
kla tx.a tn 81 H..
goes summers to the Georgian bay region
of Canada to indulge ia the sport
Away from mis- desk he Il spoken OF
most conpanionable. He is a member
Of the Metropolitan, Colonial, Lawyers
and Democratic clubs and he il a director
Of the New York Baseball Club
II was said Of him some Tine ago BY a
Wall Street man Informed Of events and
people of that district, that he always had
the general situation down there well in
hand, was seldom known to be wrong,
yet was the last man IN the world To attempt
to force his opinions on other people. AL
though progressive in business dealings
II is said In the Street that he has never
been drawn into speculation, but has earned
there the reputation II careful Investor,
In 1855 MIR Snyder married a daughtero of
Mr. Charles j. 1orhcrt II san trancis,co.
His home l. on the upper West Side
Active participation In business affairs
such as T. involved in committee service,
outside his bank, Mr. Snyder has confined
to the duties Of membership on the financial
or executive committees Of the Equitable
Life and two Of tn Eq,li ablc's allied cor
porati ms The DIRECTORY Of Directors"
however, Identifies him with the following
concerns a. director or trustee.
American Deposit and Loan Company,
American Surety Company, tho Bankers
Money Order Association, Equitable Life
Assurance Society, International Banking
Corporation the Judge Company, M-rcan-
tile Trust Company, Merchants SAFE de-
post Company. Montgomery Auction and
Commission Company. National Exhibit
ton Company and the Varick and Wash
ington banks.
His salary AT tho head of the new bank
is said to be- likely TO exceed that of the
President OF tho United States