Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1903-12-24
SOME BANKING STATISTICS.
Extracts from Report tof the Comp
I troller Of the Currency.
Bank. of the United States Have suc-
cessfully Stood 9 Severe Strain
j -. DURING the Year. =.

Washington, Dec. 8.-The annual re-
port of William B. Ridgely, comptroller
of the currency, has been prepared for
transmission to congress. The report
starts with table giving a detailed
statement Of the resources and liabili=
ties of all the national banks of the
United States, as shown by the five re-
ports Of condition made in response to
the call of the comptroller
Comparing this statement with that
for September Is, 1902, it is observed
that there has been an increase in num-
Der of reporting associations Of AL and
net increase of $196, sol ,053.87 in ag-
gregate resources. -
The capital stock and surplus funds
OF the associations gradually increased
from $714,616,353 and $685., 763, 73O.3S, re-
spectively, on November Is, 1902, to
$753, 722,658 and $50, 1896, 6S4.26, respect
lively, on September 8, 1903.
The loans and discounts, of national
banks reached their maximum in the
history Of the system on: September 8,
1903, when they aggregated So. 48l, 49,
772. =, = -;
Information has been obtained rela-
tive to the conditions of 8,745 incorpo-
rated and private banks and bankers,
Of which 1862 are state banks, 531 loan
and trust companies, 1,07S mutual and
stock savings banks. and 1,174 private
banks and bankers. An analysis of the
consolidated returns from state, saw
ings, private banks and trust COM
panies shows an increase in aggregate
resources in 1903 over 1902 of about
1861, 900 900, and over 1898 Of nearly
1885 100000. Loans and discounts
amount to $4,296, 675. $50, a gain of
more than 1884,, 000. 900 over the amount
reported fol 1902.
From the most reliable records at
command it appears that there are in
existence in the country about $4,000
banks and banking institutions, includ-
ing private bankers. The aggregate
capital Of reporting banks is shown to
be 1881, 924,992; deposits, $1,000. 1885,
047, and aggregate resources, 81 ,3O3,-
1864.
During the past year or more our
banks have successfully stood the very
severe strain due to great decline in
the market prices of all classes of Sc
curities and the natural reaction fol-
lowing period of great business &C.
tivity and very general speculation, not
only in stocks and securities, but in
many commodities and products. There
have been, considering all the circum-
stances, fewer bank failures than might
have been expected. Those which have
occurred have been due to special or
local causes or gross mismanagement,
and, in some instances, most fragrant
dishonesty on the part Of the bank
officials. That there has not been more
trouble with the banks and disturbances
of business generally during this Pc
Rod of declining prices is also a great
evidence of the confidence of our peo-
pie In all our money and currency. II
there had been the slightest doubt as to
our monetary standard or as to any
of our currency in circulation, we
might have had a, most severe and
crisis. That we have not
only escaped this, but that there has
not been greater disturbance Of general
business shows what progress and i'm
provement there have been in all our
financial and monetary affairs
since they were last subjected to a
serious strain of this kind.