The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-14
GEORGIA BANKS IN
 GOOD CONDITION
State Institutions Show Great
 Gain In Business
GREATER CAPITAL STOCK
People of Atlanta Are Very Glad That the Stockade Investigation Has Ended With All It's
 Details.

AtlanI2v January 13.-1Speclai. IA com paratiye statement of the condition of Georgia's banks-state banks-at the close of 1909 and of 1907 has just been com pleted by the state bank examiner, Hon. J. Pope Brown. The comparison was made with the year 1907 for the reason that the new banking law went into effect at that time, and the force of assistant examiners was then increased.
 The figures for 1909 are taken from the last statement of the year furnished by direction of the state bank examiner at the close of business November 16 These are compared with the last statement of 1907.
 In 1907 there were only AS state banks as compared with GOA in 1909, an increase of 56. Balanced statements of assets and liabilities of all state banks show $s6, ,265. 800. 4e for 1907 as compared with s10s. .625, ,2S0. .eS for 1909, an increase of s22,- 35s. 4so. A.
 Loans and discounts have jumped from $50, ,SS6, SO4-2 20 to s70,SS6343, an increase of s20, ,5O0, ,093. 80. Other items show a healthy increase. An interesting feature of the asset statement is the fact that while cash on hand in 1907 amounted to $16191,- 0s9.s5 in 1909 it was only s6544, ,6Ss. .79. This was due to the fact that 1907 was the panic year when the banks were holding hard and fast to all the cash they had in their vaults and were paying obliga- tions instead with clearing house certifi- cates. Now that financial conditions are far more healthy they do not hesitate about letting go of the cash when there is occasion for it.
 The capital stock invested in state banks has increased from ST ,536 679 66 to S20. 22S. .453 05; surplus and net profits show a gain of nearly s20O0,o0o; the amount due depositors has increased from s4s,- 707.7s9 .o2 to s6s,775,7A.57. The increase in deposits over those of 1908 is still great CT. being more than $2O,Oo00OO.
 Both the increases and the decreases shown in the statement are all in fa- vor of the banks, showing them to be in healthier and more satisfactory condition than at any time within recent years. The assistant bank examiners have been in the city for the last week working on their statements and planning their routes
 
 at work again making the 1910 exalnina- tions. Under the law each bank must now be examined twice each year, and it keeps the bank examiners force on the constant go to make the rounds.
 Glad 1t Is Ended.
 Everybody is glad that the city stock ade investigation is over and that the public is to be regaled with no more of the stories of horrible conditions which have prevailed at the place, but which have now been remedied, and which council will probably take measures to see kept remedied.
 The special committee which had charge of the investigation will not make it's report to the city council until next Monday Just what that report will be there is no means of knowing. The most commonly accepted belief appears to be that while it will not result in any action against the commissioner of public works, Henry l.. Golfer, It will lead to legislation by council which will put the stockade in the hands of a responsi- ble official, separating 1t more or less from the public works department. ex- cept to the extent that the latter de- partment will, of course, direct where the labor shall be applied in matters of public improvement.
 Work of Blind Coroner.
 Blind Coroner Paul Donehoo has made a record. He has held just 15o inquests during the year 1909, the number for which the law allows the payment of a fee Any above that number must be held without cost to the county.
 These were all either tragic or mysteri- ous deaths. Seventy of them were white persons T colo red, one was Chinaman and eight were babies of doubtful color. There were IS suicides, and IS bodies were unidentified at the time of hold ing inquest Ten were murder cases. many were killed in railroad accidents, while several were burned, drowned or took overdoses of poison.
 Although totally blind Coroner Done hoo has made a splendid record. He has been strictly on the job and always gets his juries and witnesses together in short order With a remarkable sense of proximity or whatever 1t may be called. he goes about the city without other guide than his walking cane and keeps out of the way, both of pedestrians and vehicles.
 He was asked once why he did not have a guide.
 .J tried it for a while," replied. until one day the man almost got me run over bv an ice wagon and then I dis missed him. I find no trouble whatever in getting around the city by myself, and though I go slowly, ] can go anywhere