Evening star., 1928-12-16

ing every convenience lot JIle pdtTOIlS.
The main floor has high ceiling with
a mezzanine across the front. In the
rear is a lounging room and from the
front of the lobby an imposing stair
! case leads to the basement where new
, safe deposit department is to be oper-
! ated. This department has safe OF
/ the latest type with 15-inch doors, the
/ modern safe deposit boxes, metal booths
! and grilles.
! The second floor, which has sepa-
rate vault for the bookkeeping depart
/ ment, will be occupied by the banks
boo&keepers and the clerical force.
! The third floor provides large direc-
! tors room across the front of the build
ing, with paneled walls and Stucco CELL
ing. To the rear of this are file and
(. stationery rooms, lunch and rest rooms
An electric elevator connects the sew
eral floors The new bank was de-
signed by Appleton P. Clark, jr, con-
struction was carried out by the Samuel
j. Prescott Co. and the safe deposit
vaults installed by the York Safe &
Lock Co.
Bank Organized in November. 1885.
Following the first preliminary meet
ing on November 2, 1886, the charter
was issued by the controller on Janu-
ary 81, 1887. Brainard H. Warner was
the first president, serving until April Z,
1891. when E. S. Parker was placed at
the helm. On June 8, 1897, Albert F.
Fox was chosen president, holding the
Office until october Is, 1922. He was
retired at his own request after the
bank had made splendid strides under
his long administration. He is still an
active member of the board.
James A. MeSSer was the next preSl-
dent, retiring at his request in May,
1924 He was followed by Frank j..
Stryker, the present encumbent. Mr..
Stryker began his career at the bottom
in the banking profession. His first
banking position was with the CONNER
cial National in 1905 as a Stenographer.
He went from there to the Federal Ma
tional as secretary to the president,
later becoming note teller and then
assistant cashier He joined the Co
lumbia staff in 1922 as cashier and vice
president, and two years later was
placed in charge of the bank.
During the past few years the bank
has enjoyed steady growth in deposits
and profits and has added $15O,OOO TO
surplus. The officers feel that tne en-
largest euuipment means the entry into
q new era of advancement The pres
ent board of directors is composed OF
the following business and professional
men of Washington: :,
Harry Blake. w. Clarence Duvall.
John Joy Edison, L. Whiting Estes, 2.
Fpnton Fadeley, Albert F. Fox, Ernest
q Guy. David j. Kaufman, George M.
T,eimbach. James A. MeSSer, Joseph n.
Milans, John H. Miller, Theodore W.
Moves. Walter S. Pratt, jr.; B. Francis
saul. Frank j. Stryker ana Jonn N.
Swartzell.
Weekly CIearings Ahead Of 1927.
Bank clearings in the United States
for the week ending December $, as
renorted to Bradstreet's, aggregated
sl4 3O7. .842. 900, against $16,092, ,7l9,OO0
last week and $10,775, ,768,0 900 In CORE
Suonding week last year. This week 5
total shows a decrease of II per cent
from last week, but gain OF 32.1 per
cent over the like week year ago.
washington bank clearlngs Tor the
week totaled $50, ,163, 900 Tor the week
ended December 3, against the sllgn1iy
higher figure for the previous week OF
$34. 900. The clearlngs. however,
showed an increase of 1853 per cent
over the corresponding week in 1927.
baltimore showed a decline in clear
ines over the previous week and also
the same week last year. Richmond
had a decline over the previous week
but the totals were almost exactly the
same as in the corresponding week
year ago.
Endowment Fund Over $6,0O0,O00.
John B. Larner, president of the
Washington Loan Sc Trust Co, at
tended the meeting of the trustees OF
the endowment fund of the National
Red Cross Society held here few days
ago. Charles j. Bell is another Wash
ington financier on the board and Sec
retary Mellon is chairman. The an
nual meeting is always held in the
Office of the Secretary of the Treasury.
It was reported at the meeting that
the Red Cross endowment fund Is now
in the vicinity of $6,000000 and that
during the past year a gift of securities
having par value of 81 ,000,0 and now
worth a great deal more than that,
was received during the year. The in
come from this large sum Is used for
Red Cross emergency work.
Mr.. Larner has been treasurer OF the
fund for several years, having been
asked to serve in that capacity when
John Shelton Williams was Secretary OF
the Treasury.
District Bank Declares Extra.
President Robert N. Harper stated
yesterday that the directors OF the Dis
trict National Bank had declared the
regular quarterly dividend of per
cent and New Year dividend of l
per cent. both payable to stockholders
of record December %, checks to be
mailed December 81,
The District National was organized
in 1909, having succeeded the private
banking business of Harper & Co. The
initial capital was 100000, and 1t has
been increased on two occasions until
today it has 81 100000 capital and $780,
600 surplus. In addition to this it has
a substantial fund remaining in the
undivided profits of approximately
$l60,000.
Its first business was conducted al
1415 G street. 1t then purchased the
building at 1404 G street and demolished
it, building upon the site its first bank
building, a 10-story structure. During
the World War the banks business
necessitated the purchase of the ad'
Joining property, giving it banking
building of SO feet frontage.
Poole Put On Advisory Board.
President John Poole of the Federal
American National Bank, has beer
elected a member of the Federal ad-
yisory council of the Federal Reserve
system. The local banker will rep
resent the Fifth Federal Reserve Bank
of Richmond, his election being by the
directors of the Richmond Bank. .
Last year Mr.. Poole was president o.
the Stockholders Association of the
fifth Federal Reserve district, the mem
bership in which comprises all nationa
banks in Maryland, District of Colum
bia, Virginia, part of West Virginia
North and South Carolina, togethel
with all other banks in those State
which belong to the Federal Reserv
system.
James C. Braswell, president of tn
Planters National Bank, Rocky Mount
N. c., has been elected alternate on tn
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