The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-10-30
Big INCREASE In
POSTAL SAYINGS
REMARKABLE GROWTH IN re.
RECEIPTS SINCE EUROPEAN
WAR BEGAN
More Accounts Opened In Wheeling
ONCE In Past Two Months Than
During Previous Year.

The war in Europe Is proving a big
boon to postal savings In this country.
From the very day hostilities opened
across the seas p-ostal-savings receipts
began to increase by leaps inc bounds
and Withdrawals fell OF, a result quite
contrary TO h predictions OF many
weltnformed persons who. in their
imagination. saw lines OF feverish de-
p~ositors al post-onice pay windows
anxious to again return their savings
TO Inc bootleg and ~body-belt deposit
tors whence they came before in
trusted TO Uncle Sam. But the fore
casters failed to reckon on the abso-
Lutte confidence OF the American cit.
izen. regardless of the flag that first
met his eyes,. in the ability and pur-
pose Of the Government to carry out
Its obligations. not only among the ma
tons OF the earth. but with the hum
Llest ctiizen of ur land.
Two important results have fol-
lowed; thousands OF people, largely
OF foreign birth. accustomed 10 send
their savings abroad. are now patrons
OF our postal-savings system: and
enormous sums Of actual cash have
been released for commercial uses
among our " people at a time when
the need for every available dollar is
pressing.
The growth OF postal savings in the
United States has been steady and
healthy and the system has filed an
important gap between the tin-can de-
pository and the factory paymaster.
On July /. when affairs were running
smoothly here and abroad and the
transmission OF money across the Ae-
lantic was safe and expeditions. there.
vas approximately S43. 900. 900 Of pos
tai savings standing to the credit OF
about 3SS. 900 depositors. Since then
over / 100000 of deposits have been
added and the number Of depositors
has increased enormously. This un-
precedented gain Is the most striking
when IL is considered that the nel
gain in the last three months is larger
than the gain for the entire fiscal year
1914. Scores OF offices have done
more postalsavings business since the.
war has been going on than was done.
by them during the previous existence.
of the service. The increases are con-
lined TO no special localities. but have
been felt in every nook and corner OF
the country. New York City alone.
made a gain in September OF more.
than a million. while Brooklyn showed
a relatively big increase. Chicago re-
ported a larger gain in the past three
months than for the previous twelve
months. More than 1000 new accounts
we're opened during the period. bring
ing the number of depositors in that.
city up to ove $1,000.
The unexpected increase in postal
savings business has not only added
greatly to the general administrative
duties of the system. but mas brought
up many new and interesting prob
lens which have called for the careful.
personal consideration of Postmaster
General Burleson and Governor Dock
cry. Third Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral- But heir task has been tighten
ed somewhat by the promptness of de
pository banks in furnishing addition
al security to meet the abnormal de
posits. A number of the very largest
banks in the country. which have here
tofore declined TO qualify as deposit
tories for postalsayings funds. are now
among the applicants for them.
The Wheeling post Office reports
more accounts opened within the past
two months. than within the entire
previous year. and very few accounts
have ? closed or Withdrawals made.
The total amount of deposits during
this time has been greatly increased.
and II IL anticipated thar before the
holidays the amount on deposit will
have more than doubled.