Evening star., 1922-07-24
HALF ACENTuRY IN
BANKING BUSINESS
Second National Celebrates
Its Birthday-Fundalnen-
tails Good.
BY L A. FLEMING.

BY L A. FLEMING.
Fifty years ago today the doorv OF
the Second National Bank OF Wash-
lnston swung open for business. just
as they did this morning only In q
less pretentious building. and with
prospects. rather than ample deposits.
good loan line and = large and
satisfied clientele
The interim between then and now
mas been marked by stirring times.
oy periods Of depression and by sea-
sons OF wonderful expansion ana cor
responding dehation. -rS
Through it all for half . century
the Second National Bank has cater
90 to its following with q service at
once embracing and able and has
come to this day and year in the
Iuu glory OF growth. in usefulness.
every department on the record basis.
with youth and ambition. with sx-
pensnce, caution and conservatism
guiding 1t through the troubled
This old ship. noated In 1872. has
nad nve pilots and promises to keep
lts NTH for many years to come.
=. Z. Mckeller. captained the start
and stayed as president from July "a.
ieiS, 10 1877, when Matthew e. Emery
look up the work and left an imprsss
on the institution that gave it stand
ing and position among the banking
institutions Of the District.
he continued At the helm through
all the years between 1877 and 1921.
taking position himself as one of the
TO speak Of the Second National Bank
- to think Of the man who piloted It
safely through panics.
Mr.. Emery died in the harness.
Then came William W. Cox. = mAn
whom the District has delighted to
from 1901 to 1913. giving the bank
the oenefit OF his experience ana
ability. retiring at the latter date ana
being succeeded by Cuno H. Rudolph.
then a retiring Commissioner of che
District OF Columbia ana a leading
dent Of the United States again called
Kim in 1921 to resume bis position as
the head OF the District OF Columbia
Commissioners.
During Mr.. Rudolph.a term Of office
a young man was hitting himself for
honors in the banking business. Mr..
Rudolph picked him from service in
another bank and MADE him cashier
OF the Second Nationsl. New York
tried to coax him away without effect.
Then came the vacancy caused by
the resignation Of Cuno H. Rudolph.
and Victor B. Deyber was the choice
of the directors for the vacancy. be-
coming president in 1891. and right
well has he demonstrated that he was
ripe and ready for the job.
That's why there are flowers at the
Second National Bank today-because
the Second National Bank. in its ca :
reer. has just finished fifty years of
going. and is going strong into the
hfty-first year.
June 80 the deposits OF the hank
totaled sa.6sl.sl6. but on the previous
call of the controller. before the de-
letion OF deposits to pay taxes, the
total was $4,12s.745.
May Be Some Bareains.
The strike situation is Assuming
some rather serious aspects The
press talk OF troops and armies NAV
be making 1t worse than it Ia, al
though at the best 1t is bad enough.
Sooner or later s1rikes will be
settled. just as theS have in the
past.
In the meantime investors should
not lose track of the facccth con
dftions are fundamentally sound, that
any reaction or hesita ton in the bus
mess recovery will be made UP by
the accelerated movement once the
end Is reached.
1t might be good advice to urge
holding tight to good Investments
and also being ready to pick UP q few
bargains if they are offered.
Big Day In Locals.
Local stocks and bonds were de-
cidedly active today and there were
many interesting features to the
market
Bank shares attracted more than
their usual attention in the bid and
asked quotation making and also ii,
actual transactions. National Bank
Of Washington was high at 1s9 and
American Security and Trust at $50
a share, while Union Trust stock sold
A. sale of Railway common was
made at 56N and the asking price
was 81, with 55 bid. The preferred
was entirely nominal, 20 bid ana 7s "a
asked.
Capital Traction shares sold at
100% to 1904.
washington Gas was quite active
at IS. In the typesetters Mersen-
thaler showed At 149 and Real Es.
tate Title brought los.
Bonds were strong and firmly held.
Railway Is were active At TAN to
7SA. Traction IS. 97li to S7k, with
Potomac Electric debenturA g Arm
at 9s%.
There were no evidences OF weak
ness in the stock or bond list.