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Thus it will be seen that through the War Finance Corporation, the federal land banks and the joint stock land banks about one and one-half billions of dollars of loans to quicken agricultural prosperity have been advanced to date. In February, 1923, Congress provided for releasing from payment those farmers who had borrowed money for seed rye and seed oats, and whose crops had failed, and also that farmers who had made payments on their loans, but who failed to reap a harvest, should have restored to them from the guaranty funds of the government the amounts which they had paid. Items in this account are not large, in the national totals, but disclose the paternal efforts of Uncle Sam. Federal land banks, under the farmers' seed-grain loans, extended in Wichita, St. Paul and Spokane amounts aggregating $4,200.882, of which $1,818,166 have been released. Amounts refunded under the act of February 26, 1923, total $124,399.74. The agriculturual credits act of 1923, amending the federal farm loan and the federal reserve act, provides for twelve federal intermediate credit banks in the same cities as the federal land banks. These intermediate institutions are authorized to discount agricultural and livestock paper for and purchase it from banks, incorporated livestock companies, agricultural credit corporations, saving institutions, various kinds of farmers' co-operative associations, and other intermediate credit banks. Direct loans to co-operative associations must be secured by warehouse receipts or mortgages on livestock. ### 22 BANKS CLOSE IN ONE STATE. With all these established government agencies to further farming conditions supplemented by the special current movement to meet the present northwest emergency, relief, specially through the restoration of public confidence, can be expected. To check the possible spread of demoralization seems to be realized now as a common necessity; for the trouble, beginning with the small and somewhat mismanaged banks, has spread to larger institutions. Since January 1, more than twenty banks have closed in South Dakota alone, with total deposits of over $15,000,000. The Sioux Falls Trust and Savings Bank, with deposits of $5,600,000, and Sioux Falls National Bank, with deposits of $2,900,000, represented more than half the amount involved. Until these two banks suspended operations, banking troubles had been confined almost solely to country districts and to small banks. South Dakota is not alone in the acute banking situation, as several bank failures have been reported in Montana, Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota and other states, in which is included perhaps one of the largest failures in the Guaranty Trust Company of Kansas City, which was capitalized at $750,000. ### LOCAL SECURITIES PRICES. The following latest "bid" and "asked" prices for unlisted securities are quoted for the guidance of holders of these issues. BONDS.