Evening star., 1937-01-27
COLUMBIA BANK
IS 30 YEARS OLD
Deposits Rise From $780,
533 Mark to SIS, 366, ,527
in 49 Years.
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

growth at Oil F. street northwest, Ine
milestone being observed in a quiet
manner by the officers and directors
of the institution, of which Frank j..
Stryker is president.
The bank has a record of which
any financial institution might well be
proud Deposits on December 81.
1887, totaled 1890, 0,533.z2, growing in
the 49-year interval to $5,366, ,527.68
on December 81, 1886. Capital assets
in the form of capital, surplus and
undivided profits stood at $267, ,744.12
on December 81, 1887, and December
81, 1886, had grown to S756,65595.
The banks records show that pre-
liminary meeting was held on Novem-
ber 2, 1886, at the office Of H. B. Warm
er & Co., 916 street, "the purpose
of which was to organize national
bank on F street" The articles of
association, dated November Is that
year, were signed by the following
Washington men, who also became the
first board of directors:
Brainard H. Warner, John Joy Ed
son, Samuel NJ Bryan, George TrueS-
dell, George c. Maynard, Alexander T.
Britton, Samuel Ross, A. F. Fox, My
ron M. Parker, H. K. willard, w. E.
Barker, David L. Morrison, Stilson
Hutchins, John E. Herren and Charles
G. DuncanSon.
Charter Granted in 1887.
The charter was granted by the
Treasury Department on January 81,
1887. In the five decades since the
Columbia Bank has had only five pres
idents, Brainard H. Warner, elected
November Is, 1886; E. 6 Parker, elect
ed April 7, 1891; Albert S. Fox, placed
IN Office June 8, 1897; James A. Mas
ser, named to the presidency october
S, 1922and Frank j. Stryker, who was
placed in charge Of the bank on May
/, 1924.
The bank has had six vice presidents,
the names including three Of the men
who were later advanced to the presi-
dents chair-A. T. Britton, elected
November Is, 1886: Albert F. Fox,
January 20, 1891; Charles B. Bailey,
June 8. 1897; Benjamin w. Guy,
April 27, 1909; F. J. Stryker, October
5, 1922; L. Whiting Estes, May l, 1924,
and James A. Messer, January IL,
1884
E. S. Parker was the banks first
cashier, being elected November %,
1886. Next came P. NJ Hough, chosen
on May 5, 1891; Clarence Corson, June
%, 1892; Frank j. Stryker, october
5. 1922; John n. Seitz, october 16,
1924; Arthur N Mitchell, January Is,
1925, and Robert II. Lacey, April 10,
1880.
The Columbia has practically al
ways been in the same location, al
though it occupied temporary quarters
in the old LIE Droit Building pending
remodeling of its permanent quarters
at the time of organization. In Febru
ary, 1928, the old building at Oil F
street was razed and the present very
attractive structure erected, the new
quarters being occupied on December
II Of that year.
In addition to President Stryker,
the present official staff is composed
of James A. Messer, vice president;
Robert H. Lacey, cashier; Albert E.
Yeatman and Sheridan S. Kleindienst,
assistant cashiers. and Walter B. Guy,
attorney. The Board Of Directors in
cludes Harry Blake, G. Fenton Fade
ley, Ernest C. Guy, David J. kaufman,
James A. Messer. Joseph H. Milans,
Edgar Morris, Theodore W. Noyes,
Walter S. Pratt, jr., Andrew Saul,
Frank j. Stryker, John n. SWartzell
and Harry S. Wolf
ID. c. Store Stocks Higher.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Rich
mond reported today that stocks of
goods on hand in Washington depart
ment stores on December 81, 1896,
were 1877 per cent higher than on the
same date in 1885. Stocks, however,
were 81 per cent lower than at the
end of November, rejecting the re-
markably heavy Christmas trade. Dur
ing 1886 stocks in the stores here were
turned 4903 times, against 4.467 as
the average for the fifth district.
AS already noted. department store
trade in Washington was 80 per cent
ahead of December, 1885, and for the
full year was 96 per cent above the
1885 record. The figure was also
fractionally ahead Of the 1886 average
for the whole fifth district, 9.6 per
cent.
Collections in Washington in De-
cember were 27.8 per cent of bills due,
in Baltimore 80 per cent and in the
whole district 30.3 per cent of receiv-
ables due at the beginning Of the
month.
B. & o. Operating Net Climbs.
The Baltimore & Ohio R. r. today
reported net railway operating income
in 1886 as $50, ,185, ,305 compared with
S24,184,983 in 1885, or a gain of S6,-
000,332. Freight revenues were up
more than $25,000,000 during the year
and passenger revenues showed a
gain of S1,293,467. Operating ex-
penSes increased by over Sl8,000,000.
Net railway operating income in De-
cember totaled $2,613,352, an increase
of $63c,178 over December, 1885.
Freight revenues mounted S2,679,775
and passenger returns were $77,506
higher than a year ago. Expenses
also increased.
Fine Red Cross Responses.
Washington banks reported today
LLldG very ScAACA Jus ouDSCI IPLIOIlo are
being received to the National Red
Cross relief fund. Posters were put up
today telling patrons at what windows
the gifts are being received. Many
calls for more receipt blanks showed
how fast money was coming in.
Victor B. Deyber, secretary of the
Washington Clearing House Associa-
+nI
burgh that the Eastern Regional Bank
ing Conference will open tomorrow
without any delay. Train service is
normal and all plans ready. Mary
land, Virginia and West Virginia are
among the 18 States and the District
of Columbia which are to be rep