[Volume XXVII
THE CHICAGO BANKER
18
in the most competent and considerate manner is our constant study.
Irving
!/Rational Exchange 5Bank
West Broadway and Chambers Street New York City
RESOURCES TWENTY - NINE MILLIONS
The LIVE STOCK Exchange National BANK
of CHICAGO
Volume of Business for Year 1908 Exceeded
One Billion Two Hundred Million Dollars
Prizes for Chapter Members
One hundred dollars by Joseph Chapman, Jr., of Minneapolis, for the best ten minutes’ impromptu speech on any one of the five subjects:	Agriculture, The Tariff, Trusts or
Combinations in Business, Immigration, and Guaranty of Deposits. The subject is to be drawn when the candidate takes the floor at the national convention to be held at Chattanooga in June. Each chapter will be allowed one candidate. Chicago candidates will be tried out in the debating society meetings.
One hundred dollars first prize and $50 second prize is offered by the Institute for the best papers on a central bank, either for or against, of not more than 5,000 words, subject matter to be confined to the benefits of, effects of, or objections to, a central bank of issue. Little time should be given to the detail or organization of such a bank as the contest is for arguments for or against the principle. Judges to be appointed by the Institute will select the four best which will be delivered on the convention floor for final decision.
One hundred and fifty dollars by Clearing House Section of the American Bankers Association through the Institute for the three best papers showing the advantages of the use of numbers in the transit department of a bank, to facilitate the collection of country checks.
One hunderd dollars by the Eastern Township Bank of Canada for the best paper on the Canadian Banking System. The example so frequently cited over our Northern border by currency reformers, makes an especially interesting topic. The banking system with its asset currency which expands and contracts with the needs of business and shifts from quarter to quarter, wherever the demand is, like the parts of a well oiled machine, is looked upon by many of our best economic writers as the ultimate solution of our currency troubles. So papers which handle this subject in a thorough manner are bound to attract attention and have their weight in currency discussion besides winning a prize.
Forward the papers when prepared to the Educational Director, 11 Pine St., New York City, who will submit them to the judges for decisions which will be announced in ample
best class of graded schools are ten months in duration, and even when the salary is but $50 a month, the teacher will receive $500, while for seven months at the same salary but $350 will be received, and when the salary is but $40 the entire year will yield but $280. But poor salaries, poor surroundings, petty annoyances, privations, sufferings and sacrifices are not the only obstacles in the path of success of the rural schools. One of the most trying discouragements is the lamentable tenure of office. Until better salaries prevail, better conditions exist, better trained teachers are furnished, more interested directors are elected, those who know what teachers and children need, what are the limits of a teacher’s duties, what conveniences must be furnished, and what privileges must be accorded to her as well as what responsibilities placed upon her, this lack of office tenure will continue, and never will these schools along the country side, in this country or any other country rise above the low level of a most discouraging mediocrity.
In closing Prof. Nightingale said:	“These
schools are having my closest thought, my deepest interest, my keenest solicitude. In conclusion let me express my earnest appreciation of the patience with which you have listened to me, on a subject which does not come within the purview of your daily thoughts, and let me ask you to extend the hand of cordial fellowship to the teachers of your children, that are or are to be, and let us al unite fervently and faithfully to do all within our power to bring about the highest welfare, physical, mental and moral, of the great army of youth, the richest heritage any generation can leave to its successor.”
New National at Jacksonville
The Fourth National now organizing at Jacksonville, Fla., will be under the following management:	W. C. Powell, president; John
H. Powell, vice-president, and E .D. Walton, cashier. The bank will have $400,000 capital and $100,000 surplus and expects to open for business January 10th.
V*
Calcasieu Trust and Savings Bank
The Calcasieu Trust and Savings Bank of Lake Charles, La., will, on January 1st, increase its capital to $150,000. Surplus, $100,-000. The institution will open a branch bank at Winder, La.
ment, or else pay for this work from their own pockets.
What kind of material can be secured to face these discouragements, to perform these thankless tasks, to make these sacrifices and assume these burdens for the little money that is so grudgingly paid? Are they teachers of experience? Far from it. They are largely young girls fresh from the high schools, with no adequate training for the profession, the most exacting in which humanity enlists, with little knowledge of child life and less wisdom for their important task. Why are such people employed? Because no others can be secured. The normal schools maintained at the expense of the state, do little or nothing for these rural schools, and it is not a matter of surprise. It is true that the farmers and gardeners owning large tracts of land in these rural districts, and the non-resident property-owners, the latter of whom care little for the schools, share in the taxes levied for the children’s education, and thus help to support these same normal schools which give them nothing in return. But these state institutions do not graduate a sufficient number of well-trained teachers to supply 20 per cent of the teachers needed every year in the better class of schools, and how then can it be expected that these normal students, who have been at the expense of from, two to four years’ special instruction for their calling will accept positions paying a mere pittance and full of discouragements and privations, when places open to them with fair salaries and where they may have comforts, privileges and opportunities for improvement and advancement? The normal schools are conducted in the interest of the better class of the graded schools. The rural schools must accept what they can get, and they get teachers of very little professional spirit, or professional knowledge. Again, even when a fairly good teacher may be obtained, the directors often discriminate in favor of the poor teacher, because she will “keep school” for a less salary. In a very large • number of the rural schools of Cook county the salary is $40 a month, and the board is $3.50 a week from Monday to Friday. Some of the schools pay $45 and a very few $50. It must be borne in mind also, that generally the less the salary the fewer number of months constitute the school year. Many schools are open but seven months, leaving the teacher stranded for three months with nothing to do by which she can earn money. The