[Volume XXV
THE CHICAGO BANKER
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ment shows that American farm land is not wearing out, as is often stated, but that on the other hand it is producing better crops to-day than twenty years ago. For comparison he places Iowa land thirty years ago at ioo per cent. At the end of the first ten years it was 97 per cent. At the end of the next ten, 94 per cent. And now it is 108 per cent. Secretary Wilson again urged Iowa farm land as the most satisfactory investment possible for the Iowa capitalist.
No Decision Rendered
No decision has as yet come from Judge Clark, relative to the cases involving a number of Northern Iowa banks who were victimized by Cashier Standring of the defunct Cor-with State, at Corwith. There were 307 cases all told involving claims of over $300,000 though the claims of the banks themselves relate to $70,000 only. The claim is made that notes upon which Standring borrowed were forgeries, and Judge Clark set September 2d for hearing the arguments of attorneys upon this proposition. The banks interested in the $70,000 deal and persons representing banks are the Grundy County National, George M. Rea of Dysart, T. B. Raymond, G. W. Mason and the People’s Savings of St. Benedict; Ruth Rysart of Dysart, the Des Moines Savings , the Garnavillo Savings, and J. L. Has-well of New York.
President Weare Very 111
George Weare, president of the Iowa State
has been selected by the democrats to introduce the bill in the senate and back it up. Then there is the question of the taxation of railway terminals. Again Senator Saunders, of Council Bluffs, has a bill providing that road taxes shall be remitted to all farmers who equip their wagons with wide tires. These with miscellaneous other measures indicate that the session will be at least a fortnight in duration, probably longer.
The Iowa State Fair
The Iowa State Fair is over, and in every way it was the most successful in history. More than 200,000 people paid admissions to the gates. Preliminary financial reports show that the total receipts were $136,096.76 as against $94,416.29 last year. The biggest day was Tuesday when the receipts were $33,-292.80. The crowd was largely composed of farmers who were interested in the display of Iowa wealth as shown by the tremendous displays of cattle, hogs, and agricultural products. The large attendance is considered indicative of the prosperous condition that exists throughout the state. Merchants figure that visitors left in the city between $1,000,000 and $2,250,000.
Shortage of Silver Coins
In this connection, the banks suffered the entire week from a shortage of silver coins. Each night, the deposits of state fair receipts started the institution out in good condition the following morning, but before the day was over silver coins would be exceedingly scarce. Quarters and half dollars were especially shy. All banks had plenty of bills and gold, but change seemed hard to get. Bankers say they have never noticed the effect of the fair to such an extent in any previous year.
Three New Banks
Three new Iowa banks are announced. The new People’s State, at Mason City, has opened its doors and is starting out in an excellent manner. The bank is capitalized for $50,000. W. R. Fleming, formerly of Armstrong, is president. William Ontjes, formerly with the State Bank of Waterloo, is cashier. Howard T. Fuller, formerly of West Union, is assistant cashier. The directors are: George H. Hughes, J. D. Glass, E. E. Pratt, E. G. Dunn, W. M. Colby, D. A. Mitchell.
Another new bank is the Clutier State, at Clutier. The capital stock is $25,000. Capitalists at Clutier and Dysart are financing the institution. John Skrable is president, and J. P. Novak is cashier.
On September 21st, a new bank is to be opened in South Sioux City. M. O. Ayers, president of the Dakota City, Neb., bank is to be president. The capital stock is to be $10,000.
A Des Moines Visitor
Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson was in Des Moines last week. While here he made the statement that an investigation covering many years by the agricultural depart-
Des Moines, September 3.—Interest in Iowa has been centered this week in the special session of the legislature called by Governor Cummins to amend the primary law so that the people will be permitted to express their preference on a successor to Senator Allison at the general election in November. While the primary law is the chief object of the session, other things will be considered, so it is expected at time of writing. That Governor Cummins will be chosen senator for the short term from December until March, seems certain. But aside from politics there are bills and measures already drawn among which is the inevitable bill providing that the state guarantee bank deposits. The democrats are backing this measure in hopes for one thing, of embarrassing the republicans preparatory to the coming election. Details of the measure have not been made public at this time. It is said that Senator Jamison, of Osceola,

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