[Volume XXV
THE CHICAGO BANKER
20
MECHANICS-AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK
OF ST. LOUIS
CAPITAL $2,000,000	SURPLUS $2,500,000
Superior Facilities Offered to Correspondents
L. A. BATTAILE, Cashier C. L. ALLEN, Ass’t Cashier
H. P. HILLIARD. Vice President	EPHRON CATLIN, Vice President
J. A. BERNINGHAUS, Ass’t Cashier G. M. TRUMBO, Ass’t Cashier
WALKER HILL, President J. S. CALFEE, Ass’t Cashier
		
St. Louis		Kansas City
grain of all kinds, fruits, dairy products, in a word include all products of the farm, and exclude the value of oil and gas productions, and it is safe to say that the aggregate value of this year’s products will exceed by $50,000,000 that of the year 1906. The products do not exceed the amount of 1906, but the prices are at least 20 per cent higher. Land in Kansas has increased at least one-quarter in value in the last firm years.
“The banks of the state passed through the stringency of the last fall and winter with but two failures, both small banks! and no loss to depositors. The aggregate deposits to-day are in excess of the deposits at the beginning of the financial trouble last fall. There is a fair demand for loans at an interest rate of 6 and 7 per cent. The 923 banks of Kansas are furnishing the money to move the v he: t crop, without calling on the East for funds.
“To sum up, the farmers of Kansas never before received such prices for their products as they do to-day, nor never were in more prosperous condition. The only line of business that is suffering a depression is the railroads. The annual reports of the railroad companies for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1908, show a decided decrease of net profits compared with the fiscal year of 1906-07.”
Shepley, and N. A. McMillan, vice-presidents; A. C. Stewart, counsel; Isaac LI. Orr, trust officer; F. V. Dubrouillet, treasurer; F. X. Ryan, assistant secretary; J. S. Walker, assistant treasurer. Mr. Ryan was made assistant-bond officer in addition to his other office.
Mr. Orr, who has been acting secretary, relinquishes that office to T. H. West, Jr., who is now secretary of the Broadway Savings Trust Company. This change takes effect November 1st.
In Correspondence with Comptroller
St. Louis bankers are in correspondence with Comptroller of the Currency Murray in an effort to have the headquarters of the new national bank examiner’s district, which embraces Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska, located at St. Louis, instead of Kansas City. Mr. Murray has stated that he placed the headquarters at Kansas City partly because the chairman examiner resides there. It has been suggested to him that St. Louis is a more accessible point, and that the importance of this city as a banking center entitles it to the headquarters.
Kansas Very Prosperous
Vice-President P. I. Bonebrake, of the Central National of Topeka, says the farmers of Kansas were never so prosperous as now. When asked for his views on the business outlook, he replied:
“Kansas is 400 miles long by 200 miles wide. It has 105 counties, 100 of which have railroads. It has 11,038 miles of operated railroads. Valuation of all taxable property' as assessed for 1908, $2,451,550,000. This is supposed to be about 80 per cent of the true cash value. The wheat crop of 1908 is estimated at 70,000,000 bushels, valued rt 90 cents per bushel at local depots, $63,000,000. Corn, 140,000,-000 bushels, at an average price of 50 cents per bushel, valued at $70,000,000. The secretary of the state board of agriculture places the value of eggs and poultry sold in the last year at $10,500,000. Include the sales of live stock.
Thomas LI . West resigned last week as president of the St. Louis Union Trust Company, and was elected to the newly created office of chairman of the board of directors at the board’s annual meeting. John D. Filley, who has been one of the vice-presidents, was elected president to succeed Mr. West. Thomas H. West, Jr., was elected secretary of the company.
The changes had been planned by the directors, but were not heralded about in advance in bank circles. A like step was taken three years ago by the Mississippi Valley Trust Company, when the then president, Julius S. Walsh, was made chairman of the board, and Breckinridge Jones was advanced to president.
Mr. West stated that he will continue in the management as actively as ever and the company’s policy will not be changed. Mr. West became president of the St. Louis Trust Company when it was started in 1889 and continued as such when the St. Louis absorbed the Union Trust Company.
Mr. Filley went with the St. Louis as vice-president in 1891. Next to Mr. West he has always been the principal executive officer in the management.
The following officers were re-elected: Robert S. Brookings, Henry' C. Haarstick, John F.
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NOTICE to BANKERS
Cll you desire to secure the services of an experienced bank officer, cashier, bookkeeper or clerk, correspond with The Walter H. Hull Company, Marshalltown, Iowa. We investigate carefully the past record of all applicants and none but competent men given consideration. We have on our lists bankers with available capital anxious to invest in good bank propositions. All correspondence confidential if desired.