Evening star., 1923-01-28
BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD
MAKES FINE YEARLY SHOWING
Earnings Increase Over 1921 Spring
Credit Demands-Bank Stats Greatly
Reduced by Illness-Reserve Report.

banks that displayed a rather low
comparative ratio at this time last
year have bolstered their positions
| surprisingly. Reserve banks In the
so-called agricultural sections show
the most marked change. For in
| stance. the Richmond Federal Reserve
Bank now has reserve ratio Of
75.2 per cent, which compares with
46.7 per cent last year. The Atlanta
bank has a ratio of 80 per cent. COM
pared with 51.5 per cent a year ago.
Minneapolis has S1.1 per cent as
I against 64.4 per cent. Slight changes
are shown by Kansas City and Dallas
the former having a position of 6S4
per cent. compared with 63.5 per cent
and the latter sos per cent, as against
4S.1 per cent. The Chicago bank has
per cent.
The New York ratio is somewhat
below the figure Of year ago. being
cent. Boston and st. Louis are frac-
tionally below the January 25, 1922,
figures.
Flu Plays Havoc with Banks.
There Is hardly a banking institu-
tlon In the city that has not felt the
enects OF the recent epidemic Of flu
that swept Washington. and at some
inc loss OF officials and clerks was
| SO marked that. those unaffected had
all they could do to handle added
| responsibilities placed upon them to
nelp out In the emergency.
While many forced to remain home
on account of colds and other ills
have been reported as quite i'll, no
serious results have SO far been re-
ported and. according to word re-
| ceived yesterday from nearly all so
connned' the great majority of the
desks.
| Finance Corporation Report.
! The condition Of the international
ment issued by Its president. Ernest
| E. Herrell. shows that at the close of
business. December 81. 1922, the
company's total current assets, ac-
cording to report Of the American
| which s1,SS5.387 Is in collateral notes,
| trade acceptances, open accounts pur-
chased and other secured loans. and
sl56,465 in cash on hand and in
banks Capital fully paid amounts TO
through sale of common stock totals
| s126.168. Undivided profits amount
to s16,l57. The company has set
aside s5o,751 reserve to cover pos
adjustment and s66,S43 as contingent
! reserve.
Commenting on the activities Of the
corporation, Mr.. Herrell states:
| so far this year, the business OF
| the company has shown an increase
| Of approximately S150.000 over the
| report of December 81, 1922, which
| gives satisfactory indications for a
healthy growth during 1923"
Condition OF Reserve Banks.
An increase Of s59,s0o,oo0 in dis
counted and purchased bills. offset by
! liquidation of an equal amount OF
, government securities, largely Treas
ury certificates, is the outstanding
| feature OF the Federal Reserve
Boards weekly consolidated bank
| statement issued as at close of brsi-
ness on January "a. 1923. Cash re-
/ serves show a further gain for the
! week of $500, 900, the total Of S3,221..
$4,000 setting a new high record
since the opening OF the federal
increased by s21,sOo'ooo. federal re-
| serve note circulation declined by
| s3i.300,000. while the reserve ratio
| shows rise for the week from 76.1
| TO 76.4 per cent.
Gold reserves of the system show
an increase for the week of s2,60O. 900
| Shifting OF gold through the settle.
| ment fund accounts for an increase
of the gold reserves by the Cleveland
! bank by s17,200,0O0; Richmond and
| Minneapolis report an increase oi
$4.100.ooo each, while smaller in.
creases totaling s4.S00.o00 are showr
for the Kansas City, Atlanta. Chicago
and San Francisco banks. Holding:
Of paper secured by government OBJ
legations show an increase for tn,
week from $2S4.00O,00O to S341 500 600