The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-27
new SCHEDULETO
. BEGIN NEXT WEEK
Earlier Closing for Clearing
House Banks Satisfactory
to General Public.
SHUT UP AT PIP. M. WEEK DAYS
Whole Banking Force Will
Remain on Duty Until
That Hour.

Beginning next Wednesday, February
!, all national banks in Richmond, and
ali state banks which are members Of
lie Clearing House Association, will
close daily at o'clock. The new
agreement Will affect all of the bank S
IN what is known as the banking dis
trict on Main Street. The West End
and Main Street banks which clear
through other banks. have not yet in
Dictated whether Will follow the new
closing hours. The Broad street Bank,
while member of the clearing house
mas petlttoned to be allowed TO close
daily at o'clock. except on Saturday.
when 1t proposes to keep open until s
o'clock, as convenience for Broad
street merchants who desire TO de-
post their cash receipts, and not keep
money in their safes over sunday as a
temptation to wandering yeggmen.
Hcncf't to Public, Too.
*. Latlfner Gordon. assistant cashier
OF the Planters National Bank, ex-
planned yesterday that the new rule
would be benef, alike TO the pub
lie the banks and to the clerks en-
pioyed TO the public he explained
there will be the great advantage that
there VIII be no going out to lunch
on the part of clerks and bookkcepers
With the longer banking hours it has
been the custom to allow the bookeep-
1880 and 2:3o, and patrons have cx-
pcrienced much Inconvenience by nct
finding their Individual booltkeepcrs Or
the bank officer with whom they de-
sired to transact business at the bank
with the shorter hours in effect, the
banks will require all officials aud
clerks to be constantly on duty with
out intermission from Q a. NJ. TO p. NJ.
daily. and from 0 to 10 NJ. on Satur-
days, the 2aturday hours not being
affected by tile change
TO the banks there will be the grea
advantage of having II moro pror,pt
balancing in the afternoon and n,,lci,
earlier dispatch Of the mails. Mr. Cor
don explained that a very large orc
portion of all bank mail goes North,
much Of 1t to New York
Certain TO Catch MnII.
With the banks not closing to tho
public until 8. and the necessity after
that Of listing checks for collection.
practically none OF the bank mail
reached the post office in time for tie
5:15 train for New York. and on busy
clally heavy, the mail may miss the
SEQ train. In that event II fails OF
delivery in New York during bank III z
hours on the following day There
IS the consequent loss Of day in set
Elements, in the return OF doubtful
checks and in interest on daily
balances and n general lack of the
promptncss and efficiency desired in
transacting public business.
Closing at . o'clock 1t Is believed
that large part Of the bank mail Will
lie classified in the banks and sen. 10
the post-oftice ready for dispatch on
the first north bound train at 5.l5
o'clock. thus relieving the congestion
In the Richmond post office just af-
ter o'clock, and at the same time
insuring delivery in New York early in
the morning. About co per cent Of all
the letter mail coming into the Rich
mend post-office for dispatch is de-
posted between 8 and S O'Clock T. NJ /,
making conditions most congested and
often the mail is not fully sorted ard
distributed until late In the night. ion,.
after the train for New York !.as
gone. The banks propose to come
early and avoid the rush" and the be-
lief is expressed by Postmaster Allan
and bank officials generally that bus
mess houses will see the wisdom OF
doing likewise