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THIS WEEK IN MISSOURI HISTORY (Compiled by The State Historical Societies of Missouri, Columbia Floyd C. Shoemaker, Sec.) Financial Crisis of 1860. Shadows of civil war cast a gloom over financial conditions of Missouri and the United States in the fall of 1860, reaching an abrupt climax in this State on November 28. when all St. Louis banks but one suspended specie payment. Paradoxically, the financial crisis had come at a time when business seemed favorable. But the presidential election of November. fears of the coming war drove the country At St. Louis on November of all banks met to consider suspension of specie payments. The was against but two days later at the first action The Bank of the State State Bank the Merchant's Bank but finally had suspension, they consented to the insistence The Bank, having fused attend the onference, bank in the continued spe payment November 28. Branch banks throughout the State followed banks The United ex a in From condition that = darkest in business history that time the country had prosperity A of river and had transportation completed a restoration of The spectre of civil war, pended by 1860, Circulation in the face of good business conditions, so frightened capital that another im Missouri alone had in $4,000,000 from July 1859 August 1860 Even the bank of the West. the Bank of the State of Missouri, not always redeem its circulation Financial conditions changing rapidly Missouri's financial condition than her neighbors' but this unstable added to Missouri's Arkansas had no banks and had but There in of that In the the to law went bank 1861 to support one The Ex Bank continued its Louis of the War fractional currency Although forbidden by law. the Bank of St Louis, in August of 1861 issued small notes and other banks ed. As small change was scaree. the currency passed freely Though Missouri banks, as Missouri people, were divided by the War, they were able to render