The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1913-12-09
PLENTY OF MONEY
In THE NATION
REPORT OF THE COMPTROLLER
OF THE CURRENCY SHOWS
HEALTHY CONDITION.
Billions of Money on Deposit Indicat.
ing That the People are Beginning
to Save.

| WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-There is
plenty of money in the United States
People are apparently saving more
than they used to- And the banks as
| a rule are richer.
| These were the salient points in the
annual report of the comptroller of the
currency, submitted to congress to-
day. The document is replete with
statistics of dazzling millions. 1t
shows that on June 80 last if all the
money in circulation, exclusive of the
treasury reserves, were divided among
the population, every citizen would
have $3456 That per capita wealth
is greater than it has been for a num-
Der of years.
If the wealth in the treasury were
divided among the people, every man
would get $95S. That is the highest
per capita amount since 1908.
Deposits Have Grown.
In number, capital and deposits, the
banks of the country have grown con-
siderably since year ago. On June
80, 1912, there were 2S,995 banks, with
$2,0SO,S43,5O capital and $17,494, ,067,-
606 deposits. A year later the totals
were: banks, 29,254; capital, $2,161,-
849, ,861; deposits, $17, ,935, ,764, 1874. More
over the banks have made more money.
Based on capital and surplus, the gross
earnings of national banks during the
fiscal year were greater by over 2 per
cent than during the prior year. While
there has been notable depreciation
other securities, necessitating cut in
the undivided profit account of the
banks, shareholders of national banks
received dividends at the average rate
of ia per cent as against an average
of 11.01 per cent for the prior five
years.
Increase in Banking.
Acting Comptroller Kane points |
in his report to the gigantic increas |
ing in banking activity in recent years !
Since 1900 the number of banks in op-
grafton has increased by over 109 per
cent and their volume of business, as
Indicated by deposits, shows an in
crease of over 1873 per cent. The |
banking power of the United States in
1913, as represented by capital, sur
,lus and other profits, deposits and cir
,ulation of national and other report
ng banks, together with the estimated |
mounts of funds of this character in
banks, is $23,1S1 ,545, ,433
gainst $22, 2,54S, ,706,S35 in 1912.
About Savings Deposits.
Savings deposits Comptroller
Zane asserts, 'are supposed to repre-
ent chiefly the accumulations of wage
arners and other people of moderate
leans, and by reason of this fact stat
sites are of special interest. Savings
eposits in all banks increased from
b O,4J0,1 0,1SZ,lUf III JuIlG 1917, W pO,J
SO, ,227 on June 80 last. The increase
ras per cent"
Great Sum Total.
The aggregate deposits in all banks
n June 4, 1913, roundly stated, were
17,475, 100000 so it will be seen that
lie savings account plays big part
the total of bank deposits 1t is
in the report that on June Z,
I'll, there were $17,600,000 such sa-
ngs accounts, and it is probable this
umber has been largely increased :,
lring two years. The average per de- !,
ositor reported from savings banks :,
1918 was $439.07.
Kane reported only six insolvent ma
onal banks during the year ended
ctober 81. He made no recommends
ons for new legislation, declaring
Lch recommendation "inadvisable" in
ew of the pendency in congress just
w of the currency bill.