Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-18

Washington, d. c., Oct. 13.-The
United States has more periodical lit
erature than any country in the world
and if a man sought to keep UP with
it's full volume he could spend his en-
tire time on nothing else and still be
far behind. No one can hope to be
familiar with all the publications is
sued periodically in this country but
perhaps the least known group, SO far
as the general magazine reading public
is concerned, is composed of publica-
tons of the highest quality.
This group is composed of the
monthly bulletins issued by the great
banking institutions of the country.
Business men and bankers who are
close students of current events and
take every p~recaution to be informed
are familiar with these publications,
but they almost entirely escape the
notice of the general public. They are
not advertised and they are not dis
played on news stands. Vet some of
the best literary talent in The country
is engaged in their preparation and
they are given away free.
A few of the banks restrict their
lists to customers and depositors but,
as a general rule, any person may be
placed on the mailing list to receive
these bulletins without charge.
One of the longest established and
best of these publications is the
monthly bulletin of the National City
Bank of New York. It usually is a
publication of about 15 pages, all of
which is text. rs no advertisements
are carried. This publication is edit
ed by George M. Roberts, vice presi-
dent of the bank. Roberts formerly
was director of the mint and has for
years occupied an enviable position
as economist and commentator on
business, social and political affairs.
Roberts salary probably is greater
than that Of any magazine editor
in the country, not excluding the
great nationally known monthlies.
Were he not connected with the bank
and followed the vocation of writing
for the general press, his articles
would be in greater demand n his
covers. As it is, his talents are de-
voted to the modestly conducted but
Immensely valuable periodical which
the public never sees because it does
not take the trouble to ask the Ma
tional City bank to be put on the
mailing list.
Take the current issue Of this
publication as a typical example. It
contains carefully written discussions
under the following topics: General
business conditions. industrial condi-
tions, clothes and shoes, building
operations, the agricultural situa-
ton, the foreign demand for Ameri-
can products. corn and livestock, the
cotton crop, trade conditions, the
shortage Of unskilled labor, immi-
grafton and its effects upon the
farming population, profits of in
dustrv. foreign competition, money
and banking. condition of the bond
market. initiation of the currency,
l~prices. wages and the cost of living.
scarcity of currency in Germany, the
federal reserve system, labor banks,
personal incomes, the new tariff.
Farmer Works Day and Night
The publication is by no means de-
void of human interest. On the con-
trary it is full of it. 1t tells such
stories as that of the Russian farmer In
North Dakota who, single handed, cul-
vesting season working all night on
moonlight nights as well as all day.
1t tells of the western farmer who,
with his two boys, one II and the other
II or Is years of age, raised LOO
sheep and cultivated a 500-acre farm
in addition without assistance.
At the other end of the country the
Mercantile Trust company. of San
Francisco publishes a monthly review.
Among the articles contained in the
current issue are those on Mexico's
debt. past and present; water power
in California, metal mining in Utah,
the financial situation in Japan, the
status of the Oregon lumber industry,
Hawaiian sugar and the farming sit
uation in Idaho. This issue contains
a fac smile reproduction of a map of
North America published in 1850. Cal