The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-01-21
.Business and Finances
By W. S. Cousins, Editor The American Banker

ment was temporarily suspended al
that time. On April first of 1915, the
number of idle cars was 327,O84. The
present showing is therefore very fav-
orable. A net surplus of $4,000 idle
cars is normally considered to be a
very close margin, considering the
fact that empty cars are not always at
the place where they may be most
needed, and great snowstorm might
at any time wipe out this small sur
plus.
National Bank Resources.
The excellent position of the nation
al banks of the country is emphasized
by the annual report of the comptrol-
Ter of the currency submitted to Con-
gress this week. 1t seems extraordi-
nary that in the twenty years since
1895, the resources of the national
banks have increased four-fold. 1t is
not to be understood that this incred-
ible advance has been due to the sub
stitution of the Federal Reserve Sys-
TEN for the former national bank
regime; the increase has been due
rather to the growth of the country,
but it cannot be disputed that the es-
O1 tllC L SuCldi l\SSSl Z
System has had wonderfully revivi-
flying effect on the trade, commerce
and industry of the United States.
Some years ago Uncle Joe Can
non" of Illinois said briefly in allusion
to billion-dollar congresses that this
was a billion-dollar country. This
proposition is made very apparent by
the figures relative to the Federal Re-
serve System during its first year
which ended on the 10th of November
last. All the figures about national
bank operations are in billions, from
which one may derive clear idea of
the vast magnitude which character
ize the productive commercial and
financial operations of this country.
There is widespread and reason
able prejudice among all Americans
against Capitalization; but. like most
other words in the political and finan-
cial dictionary, it has a double mean
ing. Nothing is so vicious and moth
ing is so beneficial as Capitalization.
States bank, and yet everybody de-
sires the Federal Reserve System IN
which, when occasion requires, the en-
tire resources Of the country can be
made available in an emergency
Nothing could place in clearer or
stronger light the unity and the diver
sity of the new American financial
system than the report of the Comp
troller of the Currency.
Never before have the financial in
situations of the country held such
potential strength as they do to day,
and never before have they been in
position to offer the business COM
munity such important cooperation.
The probability is that important
financing will be attempted early in
the new year, as both the railroads
and the industrial corporations bor-
rowed sparingly in 1915. There is an
immense amount of money awaiting
investment, however, and unless the
situation should become involved fur
Their, the probability is that the alb
sorptive capacity of the investing COM
munity will fully equal the require
ments of borrowing corporations.
There are abundant grounds for TAX
ing hopeful view of the outlook and
Tor expecting very good times during
the next twelve months. The country
has not yet felt the full benefits Of
the record-breaking haryests. and i. is
certain that the prosperity of our for
elgn trade will continue, since this is
the only market which can provide the
foodstuffs and merchandise which Eu-
rooe needs. Europe will, in all prob
ability send back more of our securi-
tics. which. however, are likelv to find
ready buyers in this country, as the