The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-03-19
THE CLEARING HOUSE
Methods of the Big Bank Ex-
change In New York City.
MARCH OF THE MESSENGERS.

MARCH OF THE MESSENGERS.
Tho Way Millions on Millions Of DOL
lars In Checks Change Holders In =
Few Minutes In the Daily Balancing
of Accounts Between Banks.
"Clearing!' That word is the order
for the shutfling of many feet and the
pattering OF thick envelopes upon hard
wood. Men with leather bags hung
against their chests like bass drums
pass up and down rows of desks at
which other men sit and as they so By
deftly hand out brown paper packages
containing the equivalent of millions in
gold. Thus do the banks of New York
transfer money each business day.
AS vast as the figures involved in the
operation are, they do not make an
impress upon the mind. One is more
apt to wonder whether the gray haired
messenger in the blue serge suit would
succeed in disorganizing the line if he
gave the wrong envelope to bank No.
40 and, if SO, whether he would be con-
demned forever by his associates. But
no one seems to make a mistake, and
the visitor has no reason to worry
about the possibility Of misplacing $685.
100000 even for half second. The
machinery of the clearing house is al
most too perfect to slip cog.
The clearing house begins to show
signs Of activity as early as $50 o'clock,
when the vanguard of bank runners
makes it's appearance. They travel In
though the veterans have not all re-
tired. Their badge of Office is a bag,
any sort of bag, suit case, telescope,
kit bag, canvas bag. Sometimes it has
the name Of the bank it came from
printed across the end. More often it
bears no distinguishing mark.
Further, it's identity is frequently
hidden behind an exceedingly shabby
exterior. That is perhaps virtue. At
all events. it is not considered good
form in banking circles to be ostenta-
tious. A strong bag even though it be
for Il fortune as new one and is less
likely to produce. burnings in the heart
of thug. So this is the reason why
the young men who sweep up the mar
bic stairs look as if they We're carrying
bags filled with their own clothing in
stead of other persons checks. Self
conscious they are not despite the loads
they carry. and one might well imagine
they were going upstairs to change
their garments for gymnasium suits.
But when the visitor reaches the floor
| above and climbs to the little gallery
at one end he realizes that not basket
ball, but another game, is to be played.
Already the players are preparing to
| take their positions. At the side walls
are benches on which delivery clerks
are sitting. their bags at their sides,
| and opposite is il solid counter divided
into about seventeen compartments, to
/ the front of which are affixed il occu-
| pied, the name plates Of different
| banks Beyond the first is second
counter and between the two rack for
/ hats and overcoats. A broad aisle with
more benches and hatracks separates
the two rows of counters from dupli-
Gates on the opposite side of the room.
Settling clerks, who take their places
OH high stools behind the outer rows
1 Of counters, face the walls. Those at
/ the inner counters face the center aisle
At the elbows of the settling clerks
stand their assistants, who are re.
quired to sign the exchange slips pre-
sented with each package Of checks.
AS the clock nears 10 one glances
from the high dome, with its row OF
electric lights, to the scene below. The
clerks at the compartments have made
themselves comfortable. The mcssen
gers standing at ease before then
have slung their bags and are ready
\ minute passes. A man appears 4,
the rostrum in the gallery and rings d
gong twice. Eyes below are uplifted
as he makes an announcement about
clear through different correspondents
That is not of particular interest, bu1
he pauses briefly and then utters the
magic word, "CIcaringr'
The messenger for bank No. crosses
the room at one end of the counters
and takes the place of No. o., who ha.
moved down Il pace. Simultaneous!
fifty other men have taken a step for
ward, and the tramping and scrapin;
of feet come regularly. No. | ha:
slapped an envelope down before th'
clerk at No. 97's compartment, dropped
a ticket into slot, offered an exchang'
slip for signing and passed on to No
96 without uttering a word. Each 0
No. is fifty associates has duplicate,
his performance in every detail, ant
so the exchanges, as they are called
have been fairly started.
In the meantime the settling clerk
are doing their share Of the work
Long sheets Of paper in front of then
are being filled out with the tota
amounts of the checks presented b
the men who are circling about tn
counters, making monOtonous but nc
!, unpleasant sounds with their fee
Suddenly, when you are just beginnin
to understand what it is all about,
halt is called. No one says anythin,
, but every one stops. You ask VIII.
, and some one says the exchanges hay
: been completed. You ask how $500