Professional and industrial history of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Volume II, Part 35

Author: Davis, William T. (William Thomas), 1822-1907
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: [Boston, Mass.] : Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 952


USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Professional and industrial history of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 35


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68


The financial condition of this bank, as reported to the comptroller of the currency at close of business, March 6, 1893, was as follows:


RESOURCES.


Loans and discounts


Overdrafts


1,053.95


$430,457.40


313


BANKING INSTITUTIONS.


U. S. bonds to secure circulation


50,000.00


Due from approved reserve agents


32.863.69


Due from other National Banks


14,092.38


Check-books


308.98


Real estate, furniture and fixtures


8,000.00


Current expenses and taxes paid


4,073.23


Premiums paid


2,000.00


Checks and other cash items


2,722.39


Exchanges for clearing-house


9,371.68


Bills of other national banks


4,923.00


Fractional currency (inluding nickels)


93.68


Specie (including gold treasury notes)


39,714.00


Legal tender notes


14,869.00


Redemption fund with U. S. treasurer (5 per cent. of circulation)


2,250.00


Total


$021.792.68


LIABILITIES.


Capital stock paid in


$200,000.00


Surplus fund


10,500,00


Other undivided profits


13, 242.72


National Bank notes outstanding


45,000.00


Individual deposits subject to check


327,988.29


Demand certificates of deposit


4,075.00


Certified checks


2.857,72


Due to State Banks and bankers


18,128.95


Total


$621,792.68


1


As an interesting summary of the condition of the banks of Boston, and also as a more convenient form for reference, the following table is given, made up from the reports of March 6, 1893, showing the capital, the surplus and undivided profits of each bank, with other items which directly bear upon their condition. As will be seen, the sixty national banks of Boston represent a capital stock paid in of $54,600,000. The banks also show a surplus of $14,881.558, and undivided profits of $1,488.968. Expenses and taxes paid amount to $1,212,981. The un- divided profits, less expenses and taxes paid, were $6,275, 98%. A com- parison with the returns for December 9, 1892, shows the following changes: The surplus has increased $460,100, the undivided profits have increased $1, 828,945. The undivided profits, less expenses and taxes paid, have increased since the last statement $1.285,382. The amount of United States deposits held by the various depository banks of the city at the date of this statement was $249, 465, divided among two banks as follows: Shawmut, $204, 206; Merchants, $45, 259.


BANKS.


Capital Stock.


Surplus.


Undiv'd Exp.and Profits, taxes pd


Prem's paid.


Atlantic National


$750,000


$300.000 872,093 812,042


$7,000


Atlas National


1,500,000


200,000 278,527


15,269


Blackstone National.


1,500,000


230,000 120,218


30,025


1,000


Boston National


1,000,000


154.000 120,092


18,365


8,000


Boylston National


200,000


315,000 137,059


17,350


Broadway National


200,000


150,000


116,024


14,421


Central National.


500,000


100,000 338, 283


17,157


Columbian National


1,000,000


155,000


90,309


20,178


31,500


Commercial National


250,000


5,000


23,990


8,641


2,000


Continental National ..


1,000,000


200,000


192,358


13,6681


Eliot National


1,000,000,


500,000


121,700


14,512


Everett National. .


400,000


39,458


34,6-18


12,735


15.400


Faneuil Hall National.


1,000,000


200,000 237,537


19,476


First National


1,000,000


1,000,000 327,944


34,881


First Ward National


200,000


100,000


24,518


9,546


6,500


Fourth National


500,000


100,000


17,541,


20,002


Freemans National


800,000


135,100


90,761


15,188


Globe National


1,000,000


65,500


92.714, 26,519


5,500


Hamilton National


150,000


200,000 129,313


15,171


Howard National


1,000,000


200,000 118,627


27,574


7,00


Lincoln National,


500,000


49,500


35,000


15,781


,000


Manufacturers' National.


500,000


41,300


102,996


17.203


28,249


Market National.


800,000


105,000


80,359


19,162


8.000


Massachusetts National


800,060


100,000


44,981


17,139'


6,000


Mechanics' National


250,000


100,000


42,788


18,6-13


Merchants' National


3.000,000


1,500,000 244,343)


62,034


Metropolitan National


500,000


67,000


32,724


10,271


7,725


Monument National


150,000|


160,000


10,610


4,342


5,600


National Commerce ..


1,500,000


300,000 309,073


33,206'


National Commonwealth


1,000,000


300,000


174,254


23,510


National North America.


1,000,000


200,000


215,326


12,466


National Redemption


1,000,000


400, 000|158,548


4.1,265


55,000


National Republic __


1,500,000


1,000,000 292,840'


39,245


National City


1,000,000,


108,000


50,858


19,966


National Eagle


1,000,000


112,200


112,005


20,374


7,6,00


National Exchange.


1,000,000


250,000 246,997


28, 128


National Hide & Leather


1,500,000


300,000 152,417


27,408


National Market, Brighton


250,000


50,000


19,925


38,459


5,000


National Rockland


300,000


150,000


42,364


8,-101


National Security


250,000


200,000 190,306


5,961


25,000


National Union.


1,000,000


400,000 236,943


11,322


National Webster


1,500,000


242.000


98, 7401


21,933


New England National


1,000,000


North National


1,000,000


350,000


95,372


19,268


14,060


()1d Boston National


900,000


250,000!


70,4671


17,503


47,522


People's National


300,000


175,000|


31,650;


10,802


Second National


1,400,000


900, 000 270,918


40,830


Shawmut National


1,000,000


Shoe & Leather.


1,000,000


85,000 103,335


19,826


23,844


South End.


200,000.


10,500


13,243


4,073


7,000


State National


2,000,000,


400,400 194,198


12,275


Suffolk National.


1,500,000


300,000 152.179


12,825


Third National.


2,000,000


95,000 102,158


48,710


90,000


Traders' National.


500,000


50,000


44,240


29,607


47,500


Tremont National


2,000,000


375,000


99,982


11,405


5,000


Washington National


750,000


300,000


54,680


22.538


Winthrop National


300,000


10,000


65,312


9,686


1,375


National Revere.


1,500,000


140,000


600,000 151,481


24,155


Mount Vernon National


200,000


50,000


54,623


10,435


22,735


7,250


Bunker Hill National


500,000


350,000


200,000 100,561


33,313 192,000


NOTE .- The writer of the foregoing chapter on the history of the financial institutions of Boston was greatly indebted to gleanings from the files of the Commercial Budetin, which contained valu- able material on this subject.


BOSTON CLEARING-HOUSE.


BY DUDLEY P. BAILEY.


THERE are now in the city of Boston and vicinity about one hundred banks, of which the sixty national banks of Boston represent a capital of $54,600,000. Of these sixty banks, fifty-three with a capital of $52,700,000 are associated together to form the Boston Clearing-house, which, though an entirely voluntary association without any corporate privileges, wields a mighty power.


Each of these banks in its daily dealings receives large amounts of checks and drafts on other banks, so that at the close of the day's business every bank has in its drawers a large number of checks and drafts thus due it by other banks. It is also the debtor of other banks which have during the day received its bills and checks drawn upon it.


Before the establishment of the Clearing-house, on March 29, 1856, it was necessary for each bank every morning to make up its account with every other bank, and to send its porter to pre- sent the bills and checks so received to the debtor banks for pay- ment. The balances of their indebtedness were adjusted by pay- ments in gold. This course, which became laborious, complicated, and even dangerous, was obviated by means of the clearing-house system, through which the settlements are so quickly effected that the exchanges adjusted through it, amounting in one day to $31,321, - 817, were settled within an hour and the balances within a short time afterwards.


The exchanges are prepared at the bank by sorting the checks re- ceived according to the banks on which they are drawn, the totals held against each bank being entered upon a blank called the " Settling Clerk's Statement," of which a sample is given below, the " first debit " representing the cheeks received the day prior to the clearing, and the second or "total debit," the total including those received in the morning mail. The column " Bank's Credit" is left vacant and is filled up at the Clearing-house.


GLOBE NATIONAL BANK. Settling Clerk's Statement, April 22, 1893.


No.


Banks.


First Debit.


Total Debit.


Bank's Credit.


No.


1


Massachusetts National


118.28


6,118.28


50.00


1


National Union .


75.96


75.76


1,287.50


2


3


Old Boston National


3,982.02


3,982.02


4


State National


2,009.42


2,122.58


4,500.00


1


New England National


599.25


38.95


5


Tremont National


1,401.00


1,401.00


405.20


6


Columbian National


50.00


1,268.57


195.56


9


National City


320.69


9


10


Washington National


16.50


10


11


North National


159.74


2,971.82


5,410.55


11


12


Atlantic National


14.70


14.70


93.15


12


13


Merchants' National


1,310.88


8,356.05


664.57


13


14


Traders' National


5.70


5.70


14


15


Ilamilton National


9.00


9.00


34.42


15


16


Market National


69.91


69.91


16


17


Second National


28.00


1,156.73


3,518,56


17


18


Atlas National


10,054.68


10,054.68


648.13


18


19


Shoe and Leather National


164.14


164.1-1


112.6-1


19


20


Shawmut National


603.49


2.884.05


1,284.63


20


21


National Exchange


869.01


3,251.14


761.10


21


23


National Bank of N. America


99.26


2,099.26


164.00


24


26


Eliot National


7.00


15,376.50


306.00


26


27


Howard National


430.83


430.83


399.87


27


Suffolk National


36.93


36,93


1,142.49


25


29


Globe National.


29


31


Freemans National.


203.05


31


32


Boylston National


63.36


68.36


1,264.50


1,147.82


1,397.82


145.33


33


33


Boston National


223.55


223.55


334.64


34


36


National Hide & Leather


11.59


294.04


294.77


36


5,399.99


105,686.79


32,307.33


89


40


National Revere.


40.25


21,173.11


1,222.00


40


41


National Bank of Republic


162.69


162.69


20,100.00


42


43


Mt. Vernon National


610.83


610.83


20.75


43


44


'Third National ..


70,00


70.00


$06.32


41


45


Everett National


12.19


45


16


National Security


110.70


110.70


1,887.86


16


47


Broadway National


213.45


47


48


National Bank Commonwealth


355.08


355.08


1,775.97


48


49


Central National


22.45


505.97


49


50


Manufacturers' National


7.00


7.00


30.00


50


51


Fourth National.


26.84


17,647.81


5.1,141.20


51


53


Merchandise National


228.04


228.04


243.95


54


50


Mechanics' National


13,374.40


25,200.15


93.49


55


56


Commercial National


7,374.07


18,200.20


50.40


56


Footings.


51,128.80


271,232.36


150,655.56


Balance.


120,576.80


22


24


Faneuil Hall National


11.70


311.12


9,175.33


23


National Webster


46.33


46,33


22.16


25


Blackstone National


49.90


241.41


2,950.36


1,053.80


41


42


Continental National


292.26


292.26


65.30


Metropolitan National


50.00


53


Lincoln National.


271,232.36


1-


1,000.00


National Eagle


National Bank of Commerce


National Bank Redemption.


First National


15,950.00


e


FHRandall


317


BOSTON CLEARING-HOUSE.


The mode of doing business at the Clearing-house is as follows; Each bank is represented at the Clearing-house by a settling clerk and a messenger. These representatives assemble at the Clearing-house at or before 10 o'clock every morning. Each settling clerk brings with him first, his settling elerk's statement made up at his bank before leaving, which he retains; secondly, a credit ticket, which he hands to the manager on entering, which is filled up on a blank in the following form:


No. 1.


CREDIT TICKET.


BOSTON CLEARING-HOUSE.


IS9. .


Credit Globe National Bank $271,232.36.


A. B., Settling Clerk.


The figures from the credit tickets are rapidly entered by the manager or clerk in a blank called the "Clearing-house Proof" in the column headed "Banks Cr.," representing the amount of the checks brought by the different banks to the Clearing-house. When these entries are made they are footed while the exchanges are in progress.


Each bank has a number in the Clearing-house and a desk num- bered to correspond with the number of the bank. At precisely 10 A. M. every settling clerk must be in his place inside the desk appropriated to his bank, with his settling clerk's statement. On the outside is each messenger having the actual cheeks or other matter to be exchanged with the other banks. The manager calls the Clearing-house to order and sounds the gong at precisely 10 A. M. At the sound of the gong each messenger moves one desk forward or to the left and deposits the checks and other Clearing-house matter drawn on that bank with its settling elerk, and at the same time drops in a small aperture in the desk an exchange slip, so called, as follows, showing the totals drawn upon that bank :


48


318


SUFFOLK COUNTY.


No. 33, BLACKSTONE NATIONAL BANK,


FROM


No. 13, Merchants' Nat'l Bank,


38,965 DOLLS. 39 CTS.


In this manner the messengers advance from desk to desk, depositing with each the checks drawn upon the bank there represented and the exchange slip, until each has passed entirely around to all the desks and comes back again to the point from which he started in front of the desk of his own bank. This occupies usually five minutes.


The messenger then receives from the settling clerk of his bank the checks and other matter left at the desk by the other messengers, and returns with them to his own bank.


The taking up of the exchanges usually occupies three minutes more, so that within about eight or ten minutes from the time the ex- changes begin at the sounding of the gong they have been fully com- pleted, and the messengers have left for their respective banks with the checks they have received. When received at the bank they are delivered to the Clearing-house clerk, by whom they are examined and entered, or returned, as the case may be. All checks not good must be returned by one o'clock.


As fast as the exchange slips and cheeks are received they are entered in the settling clerk's statement in the last column headed " Banks Cr." and rapidly footed.


Each settling clerk, as soon as he has footed the credit column of his statement and carefully revised the work, strikes a balance be- tween the total debit and the total credit exchange, which shows how much his bank is to receive or pay.


He then copies these footings into what is called a " balance ticket" as follow :


349


BOSTON CLEARING-HOUSE.


No. 29.


BOSTON CLEARING-HOUSE.


BALANCE TICKET.


APRIL 22, 1893.


Dr. Globe National Bank, Amt. Recd. $ 150,655.56. Cr.


Amt. Brot. $271,232.36. Balance, $ .due Clearing-house. Balance due Globe National Bank, $ 120,576.80.


A. B., Settling Clerk.


These balance sheets as fast as they are filled out are passed to the manager. Some of them are handed up almost immediately after the close of the exchanges, perhaps by ten minutes past ten, and they con- tinue to come in until nearly half-past ten, by which time the proof must be made under a penalty of a fine upon the delinquent bank ac- cording to a scale fixed in the Clearing-house regulations.


The total of the amount received, as shown by the balance ticket, is entered on the Clearing-house proof in the column headed "Banks Dr." and the balance in the proper column. The amounts received and the balances are then footed. If the totals on both sides agree, the work is correct, the proof is made and the clerks are at liberty to go. If they fail to agree, it is evident that an error must have been made, as the amount of checks brought and the amount of checks carried away must be exactly the same. For instance, on a certain morning there is a discrepancy of $199.90. The manager immediately announces, "The error is $199.90." The clerks immediately procced to examine their figures for the error. In a few minutes one of the clerks reports that he has discovered an error of ten cents, which makes the error $200, which is announced by the manager. The clerks continue to examine their figures and in five minutes more, at 10.40, the error of two hun- dred dollars is discovered and corrected, the proof is completed and the clerks are allowed to withdraw. The two banks whose clerks have thus detained the whole force for ten minutes are subjected to a fine of $2.00 each.


The following is a sample of the Clearing-house Proof :


BOSTON CLEARING-HOUSE PROOF


No.


BANKS.


BALANCES due to Clear- ing House.


Banks, Dr.


Banks, Cr.


BALANCES Due to the Banks.


No.


1


Massachusetts National.


199,548.47


288,909.29


89,360.82


1


2


National Union.


9,179.07


151,066.67


141,887.60


3


Old Boston National


142,518.65


174,804.41


32,285.76


B


1


State National.


242,888.87


346,905.19


104.016.32


4


New England National


518,473.37


638,318.06


119,844.69


5


6 Tremont National


192,102.02


216,288.60


24, 186.58


6


8


National Eagle


97,865.67


199,190.67


121,325.00


9


National City


34,411.99


172,539.88


138,127.89


9


10


Washington National North National


53,271.72


332,684.84


279,413.12


11


12


Atlantic National


24,200.99


66,927.21


42,726.22


12


13


Merchants National


349,615.59


1,466,163.41


1,116.547.82


13


14


Traders National


27,413.09


124,371.54


96,958.45


14


15


Hamilton National.


19,101.81


325,423.74


113,530.37


16


17


Second National


451,089.14


677.623.13


226,533.99


1%


18


Atlas National


145,449.47


179,493.52


34,044.05


18


19


Shoe and Leather Nat'l.


301,686.63


337,630.28


35,943.65 - 19


20


Shawmut National.


1,821,982.82


1,613,738.25


20


21


National Exchange


2,145, 645.51


1,607,760.81 $29,768.32


21


23


Nat'l B'k of N. America.


161,520.53


346.106.74


184,586.21 1,839,04


24


25


National Webster


192,382.78


274,850.26


82,467.48


25


26


Eliot National


23,840.08


97,443.35


73,603.27


26


27


Howard National


151,880.93


370,335.92


218,454.99 24,103.10


28


29


Globe National


439,229.25


746,028.97


306,799.72 29


31


Freemans National


80,219.61


161,497.07


81,277.46


31


32


Boylston National


93,280.86


87,158.44


33


Blackstone National


161,560.32


400,694.25


239,133.93


34


36


National Hide & Leather


316,154.89


503,101.39


186,946.50, 36


37


Nat'l Bank Redemption_ First National


436,174.65


518,773,78


82,599.13 39


40


National Revere


743,836.77


946,435.62


202,598.85 40


41


Nat'l Bank of Republic.


849,818.27


1,132,012.72 126,044.93


4:2


43


Mt. Vernon National.


30,427.86


64,321.02


33,893.16


43


44


Third National


140,090.07


998, 125.04


858,034.97


44


45


Everett National


15,749.83


36,332.66


20,582.83


45


46


National Security


88,626.25


190,769.18


102,142.93


46


47


Broadway National


36,096.26


145.547.69


109,451.43


47


48


Nat'l B'k Common wealth


1,021,303.44


1,043,538.69


22,235.25


48


49


Central National


56,566.01


136,900.28


80,333,37


50


51


Manufacturers National. Fourth National


141,117.57


183,990.64


42,873.07


51


52


Metropolitan National


21,380.21


60,940.66


39,360.45


52


53


Winthrop National


26,576.54


109,730,00


83,153.46


5,025.75


54


55


Mechanics National


103,220.22


113,315.26


10,095.04 55


56


Commercial National


70,314.88


85,599,83


15,284.95 56


AGGREGATES


3,106,849.75 20, 460, 711.91,20, 400, 711.91,3, 105, 849. 15,


282,194.45


41


42


Continental National


110,707.75


236, 152.68


1,866,653.80


583,842.77 37


39


Nat'l B'k of Commerce


482,195. 14


1,211,963.46


24


Fanenil Hall National.


112,665.83


119,504.87


28


Suffolk National


454,237.49


478,340.59


6,122.42 113,072.23


340,645.10


227,572.87


34


Boston National


1,282,811.03


306,321.93


15


16


Market National


12,944.70


126,475.07|


29,559.43


10


11


Columbian National


137,937.73


219,323.40


81,385.67


124,738.93


154,298.36


8,318,92


139,496.59


131,177.67


49


50


53


Lincoln National


182,641.34


187,667.09


23


27


208,244.57 433,884.90


EXCHANGES.


.189 ..


381


BOSTON CLEARING-HOUSE.


After the completion of the exchanges the next step is the payment of the balances. The debtor banks are required to pay their balances at the Clearing-house on or before 12:15 P. M., and the creditor banks to receive them on or before 1:30 p. M. The manager gives a receipt to each of the debtor banks paying balances and receives one from the ereditor banks. Balances must be paid either in coin or in such other currency as the laws of the United States require, or in such certifi- cates as shall be authorized by the Clearing-house Association, except that sums less than $1,000 may be paid in bills of the debtor bank. Should any bank fail to pay the balance due from it at the proper hour, the amount of such balance must be immediately furnished to the Clearing-house by the several banks in proportion to their respective balances against the defaulting bank resulting from the exchanges of that day, and the manager makes requisition accordingly. The amounts so furnished to the Clearing-house constitute claims on the part of the responding banks respectively against the defaulting bank. Any such responding bank may cancel its exchanges of the day with the defaulting bank by tendering repayment to the debtor bank of the amount, if any, of the checks and other items received by it (the creditor bank) through the exchanges of the day at the Clearing- house, from or on account of such defaulting bank, and receiving in return all the checks and other items delivered to the defaulting bank. If the defaulting bank shall fail to return such checks, the creditor bank may notify its depositors and customers from whom said checks and items were received of the non-payment and detention of such cheeks, which notification shall be equivalent to the return of such checks and items to depositors of the same, and the amounts thereof may be charged to their respective accounts, it being understood that the banks receive such checks and items payable by other banks for collection and as agents only. Errors in the exchanges and claims arising from the return of checks or otherwise must be adjusted be- tween the banks directly and not through the Clearing-house, and cheeks not good must be returned at or before 1 o'clock.


The New York Clearing-house, -the first in this country-had been in operation nearly two years, and its usefulness had been fully demon- strated before steps were taken to establish a similar institution in Bos- ton. A meeting of the representatives of the Boston banks to consider the expediency of establishing a clearing-house, was held at the rooms of the Merchants' Bank on Thursday, September 22, 1855. Franklin


382


SUFFOLK COUNTY.


Ilaven, president of the Merchants' Bank, was chosen president of this meeting and William Thomas, of the Webster Bank, secretary. The president read a paper prepared by Waldo Flint, president of the Eagle Bank, in favor of the establishment of the clearing-house, which docu- ment had been approved by twenty of the Boston banks, representing more than two-thirds of the banking capital of the city. A committee of eight was thereupon appointed to carry out the objects named in this paper. This committee was composed of the following gentlemen : Andrew T. Hall of the Tremont Bank, Waldo Flint of the Eagle Bank, Benjamin E. Bates of the Bank of Commerce, Thomas Lamb of the New England Bank, Almon D. Hodges of the Washington Bank, George W. Thayer of the Exchange Bank, Franklin Haven of the Mer- chants' Bank, and Daniel Denney of the Hamilton Bank.


As one of the obvious effects of establishing a system of daily settle- ments between the banks would be to compel the less conservative in- stitutions to curtail their operations, some opposition was developed to the change. It was urged that the money market was already strin- gent and the rates of interest high and that the clearing-house, by bringing bank transactions to a striet daily specie test, would restrict loans and increase the stringency. To this it was answered that the tightness of the market was due to the encouragement given to specu- lation by some of the banks and that the conservative influence of the clearing-house settlements was just the thing needed to remedy the evil. The opposition proved of no avail. The committee appointed September 22 proceeded with their work and prepared a constitution and rules for the Clearing-house, which were presented, adopted and signed at a meeting of bank officers held at the Merchants' Bank on January, 15, 1856. At this meeting Franklin Haven was chosen chair- man of the association and William Thomas secretary. A Clearing- house Committee was also chosen as follows: Andrew T. Hall, Tre- mont Bank; Waldo Flint, Eagle Bank; Thomas Lamb, New England Bank ; Almon D. Hodges, Washington Bank; Benjamin E. Bates, Bank of Commerce. Henry B. Graves was chosen manager.


Rooms were engaged on the third floor of the Granite Building, form- erly owned by the New England Bank, at the corner of State and Kilby streets. The site with other adjoining land is now covered by the "Exchange Building," so called. The clearings were made in this room until the association removed to its present more commodious and convenient quarters at 66 State street on October 22, 1883. Of the original officers Franklin Haven is the sole survivor.


383


BOSTON CLEARING-HOUSE.


The Clearing-house commenced operations March 29, 1856. The following banks, twenty-nine in number, -the constituent members of the association-participated in the first day's clearings:


Massachusetts Bank,


Market Bank,


Union


Granite


Boston


(now Second National)


State


Atlas Bank,


New England


Shoe and Leather Bank,


Tremont


Shawmut


Columbian


Exchange


Eagle


Bank of Commerce,


City


Bank of North America,


Washington


Faneuil Hall Bank,


North


Webster


Atlantic


Eliot


Merchants'


Howard


'Traders' .4


Suffolk


Hamilton


Blackstone


The exchanges on the first day amounted to $2, 780,000, and the bal- ances to 8384,000. The heaviest exchanges ever made in any day were $31,321,812 on July 2, 1889. The lightest exchanges were $1,311,917 on May 24, 1862. The largest balances resulting from any one day's transactions were $4,072,438 on July 2, 1889. The smallest balances in any one day were $150,811 on August 15, 1856.


In June, 1856, the Globe, National and Maverick Banks joined the association. The Freemans and Boylston became members June 1, 1851; the Hide and Leather in May, 1858; the Bank of Mutual Re- demption in October, 1858; the Bank of the Metropolis in November, 1858; the Safety Fund (now First National) in February, 1859; the Re- vere May 10, 1859; the Bank of the Republie February 5, 1860; the Continental and Mount Vernon November 14, 1860; the Third National June 1, 1864; the Everett National and National Security April 1, 1868: the Broadway National in February, 1840; the National Bank of the Commonwealth in June, 1821; the Central National in May, 1823; the Manufacturers' National in July, 1873; the Fourth National in July, 1825; the Metropolitan in August, 1845; the Merchandise in November, 1845; the Lincoln in 1883; the Mechanics' and Commercial in 1888. The Globe National and Maverick Banks were represented in the original organization, but did not perfect their membership until later. The Mechanics' Bank was expected to join as number thirty, but did not actually enter until 1888, when it came as in number fifty-five, the




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