The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-12-10
New York, Dec. 4. 1915.

4NS" Olhy CCNs A|AO'
The outstanding feature of the bust
ness situation is the continued in
crease in idle funds in the banking in
stitutions, Notwithstanding that the
demands for new financing and for re-
funding are becoming more acute. and
are employing an ever-increaSing sup
ply of capital funds. For illustration
of this We need look no farther back
than one week, when almost stimuli
taneously we see the announcement of
the completion of a new $50,000000
credit for the Allies, of the creation
of $50,00O,0O0 trade corporation, of
the issuance of $60,000,0O0 bond is
sue by the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road, and the practical negotiation of
a $60,O00,0O0 Russian loan through the
New York banking institutions. 1t is
also known that one-half of the AL
lies half-billion dollar external Gre
dit loan" has already been called, and
is now available for payment of sup
plies furnished by America for the
Allied Nations.
The reports submitted by the ma
tional banks of the United States in
response to the latest call of the
Comptroller of the Currency show an
unprecedented increase in deposits,
extending from the small country
banks to the large metropolitan insti-
tutions. The seventeen national banks
of New York City, commonly known
as the wall Street banks" increased
over one billion dollars in deposits
since October first last year. Con-
tributing to this total is the growth
of the National City Bank of New
York--America's largest BANKING in
stitution-from $260,O00,0O0 to $780,
100000 in deposits; the Chase Nation
al Bank from $l26,000,O00 to $256,OOO,-
GOO; the National Bank of Commerce,
from $l34,000O00 to $255, 100000; the
Hanover National Bank from $o8O00,-
coo to $l87 100000; the First National
Bank from $l0o,000,OO0 to $l760O0,-
600, and the National Park Bank from
$lO2,OOOOOO to $l60000.0O0. In Chi
cago the Continental and Commercial
National bank has expanded in de-
posts in an equal proportion, and on
November 10 reported over $2500O0,-
QUO of cash on deposit. The latest
Clearing House Association shows
that the member banks in this CITY
alone are carrying nearly $200,000,OO0l
"
prudence, but because of the lack of
sufficient demand in commercial chan
nels. This is the explanation for easy
money rates at the time of year when
rates are normally increasing instead
of declining. This may seem contradic-
tory to the Wholesale charges of usury
preferred against the banks of the |
country by the Comptroller of the
Currency, but the isolated cases which |
relate almost exclusively to the small |
er banks in the farming districts can
hardly be cited as applicable to banks |
and bankers as a class. In fact, it is |
very easy at the present time, provid- |
ed suitable collateral can be provided, |
to obtain ample accommodation in all |
the larger monetary centers consider |
ably below the legal interest rates.
Lumber and Building.
When tally was made some time |
ago of the progress made by business
In its various aspects, there was one |
division of trade that was conspicu-
ously below the average. This was the |
lumber and building trade. Particul- |
arly dlscouraging reports came from |
Spokane and the northwest territory, |
where the lack of demand and the de- |
creasing prices made the situation in |
the lumber trade a very precarious |
one. Now, however, the situation
gives every evidence of a complete
reversal in tone and there has been |
an excellent improvement in this de-
partment of business. All sections,