The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-06
WHEN NDOUDl, ASK The BANK
1T SUPPLIES INFORMATION AND
SERVICES or ALL SORTS.

Betting Tips Free. Also Political News
and Crop Statistlcs-And the Banker
Has Matched . Distant Customers
Dress Sample and Sent Her Servant.
Few people realize the amount Of prac-
tically gratuitous work that is done each
day by a big banking institution said an
officer Of an important Wall street bank, a
few DAYS AGO take our own case. We
receive daily dozens OF requests for nforma-
ton on various subjects which entail a lot
pensation We have to spend the time
and money to fulfil these requests. Our
competitors do it and so must We.
THE variety OF the requests is endless.
Each day brings forth something new.
Here, for instance, is despatch just in
from a country banker. a customer OF
ours who carries only a small! balance:
a depostor Of ours is very much interested
in result OF yacht races. Wishes to make
friendly bet. Can you tell us the probable
winner Of series!
-The course we took in regard to this
request Is typical Of ALL continued the
banker. I'VE turned 1t over to one Of our
men. who interviewed an expert and wired
his opinion II the depositor wagered his
money he won. We spent no time figuring
our loss or gain.
In my time here can recall hundred
inquiries that have been 70 funny "a almost
to reconcile me to the time wasted in answer
ing them. I know OF no better point than
a bank TO view the foibles Of mankind, un-
less it be that OF the ticket taker Of some
greatest show on earth
Il remember a laughable request We
once had from q banker in a small town
in the northern part of this State. He
said it had been showing for ten days,
BY ginger and as the farmers wouldn't
be able to get to town for days and things
promised to be very dull wouldn't we
send him good book to read-'something
new We had a great time selecting that
book. Our president suggested that Dantes
Inferno would probably cement his friend
ship under the weather conditions, but
that was rejected as suggestive. We
finally sent him 'Pickwick Papers, and
he's still our customer
There was also day when one Of our
men went through a fearful ordeal in a
dry goods store. The cashier of bank
! in small Western town wrote us that his
wife would appreciate it very much if we
could duplicate some cloth she had bought
there several seasons before. 1t was be-
fore the day Of the woman buyer, and
we hunted the town over for days without
success The order was at last turned
over 70 the best girl of one Of the men and
the affair terminated in a glowing letter OF
thanks from the Western woman. which
adorned the walls Of the inner Office for
| years.
II think the limit was reached, though
when we became involved in the servant
girl problem. 1t began with letter from
wrote that his wife was having an exceed
! ingiy hard time to find satisfactory ser
want. She had heard. he wrote. that very
| often one could meet an incoming steam
ship and at the Barge Office secure Tho
services Of an unspoiled Irish girl capable
| of developing into an ideal servant, Woulc
we undertake the quest?
"Of course we would. For days We hat
a representative at the Barge Office. inspect
ing incoming girls with possibilities. TIL,
| reports were models Of sarcasm. Inspec
| ton to-day of ten fat girls and eight lean
ship carrying no middlings Fat girl
quoted at exorbitant prices for unskillec
labor, and not elastic as assets. Lean girl
bid fair to eat up profits
Nevertheless a girl was found at las
who passed an examination participated
in by most Of the officers. She was escorted
in triumph to the railroad station, tickle
was bought and the find started off on he
long trip. The affair turned out well, bu
we always considered it the greatest speech
lation ever entered into by our bank.
Since that time we have had much to d,
with the Barge Office. In the West Their
are numberless Scandinavians who hav,
carved out fortunes in the new land. Whel
they wish to bring relatives from their oil
homes they usually secure the transporta
ton from their local bank. which in turl
asks us to look out for the incomers. w
do this, Of course and get them safel,
through this port and well on their wa,
10 the West,
Among the many requests of countr
banks are those for information on cro
conditions in sections OF the country at
distance from the inquirers; on politca
matters, particularly in national elections
and on the '-cIl money situation. In
Presidential year we are overwhelmed
with queries as to the result, both befor
and Immediately after election.
Information on money, Of course, is mos
sought, as New York is the money centr
of the country, and money tightness o
| easiness here determines almost who'll
the fate of interior industrial projects.
Besides the giving Of information w
have been called on constantly Of late T.
render actual service in carrying throug
| business transactions. In one instance
| at least. if the services had been rendere,
by an outsider he would have charge,
and deserved round sum. A bank in
| Western mining town wrote us that grou
of it's depositors had discovered a deposi
Of a certain species Of precious stone, an.
asked if we could find market for the ont
put. We were fortunate enough to find
| house here which was willing 10 take a.
the stones That was, Of course. promo
ton pure and simple
1T is surprising how much old silver AM
jewelry there il in this comparativel,
young country. Our out-of town bank
frequently forward 10 us consigpments o
family plate with requests that we have
appraised and sold. In many cases w
| are asked to arrange an exchange of the oil,