15862. Fourth National Bank (New York, NY)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
290
Charter Number
290
Start Date
September 19, 1873
Location
New York, New York (40.714, -74.006)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
7f1aed62

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals

Other: This submission contains two distinct episodes across years: a 1871 closing with a receiver appointed, and the 1873 panic-era run in which the bank remained open.

Description

During the Panic of 1873 the Fourth National Bank experienced a fierce run (Sept 19–23, 1873) but repeatedly met demands, refused some clearings (e.g., for Henry Clews & Co.), paid out large sums, and did not suspend. Bank officials (Calhoun, Lane) stated the institution was able to meet all demands and the run subsided. Classified as run_only because there is no evidence the bank suspended or entered receivership.

Events (5)

1. February 27, 1864 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. September 19, 1873 Run
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Panic following failures and suspensions (Jay Cooke & Co., Fisk & Hatch, Henry Clews & Co., and other heavy failures) created general panic and heavy withdrawals from banks in New York.
Measures
Paid out large amounts (reported $300,000 and up to $300,000+ on some days); participated in Clearing House loan-certificate arrangements; refused to clear bad correspondent checks (e.g., Clews & Co.) as a protective measure.
Newspaper Excerpt
A run commenced on the Fourth National Bank.
Source
newspapers
3. September 20, 1873 Run
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Ongoing panic/contagion from major brokerage and trust failures in mid-September 1873 led depositors to withdraw funds.
Measures
Bank declared sound; continued to meet demands; took and carried loan certificates to relieve currency pressure.
Newspaper Excerpt
The run on the 4th National Bank continues, but the institution still holds out.
Source
newspapers
4. September 23, 1873 Run
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Final days of the panic when confidence was returning; bank had earlier faced the 'fiercest run of the panic' but continued payouts and use of certificates reduced pressure.
Measures
Held loan certificates as reserve; paid out currency; emphasized ability to meet further demands.
Newspaper Excerpt
Mr. Calhoun of the Fourth National Bank... 'This bank does not propose to suspend... we have no fear whatever'... 'We have been carrying $1,200,000 of [loan] certificates.'
Source
newspapers
5. June 18, 1914 Voluntary Liquidation
Source
historical_nic

Newspaper Articles (16)

Article from Memphis Daily Appeal, December 20, 1871

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

MONETARY AND FINANCIAL MATTERS, [LATEST REPORT BY TELEGRAPH.] NEW YORK. NEW YORK, December 19.-The gold market closed weak, at 108%/109. The stock-brokers were large borrowers of gold to-day, and sold the same to obtain currency to carry their stocks. Loans were from 7 per cent. per annum to 1-16 for carrying. Clearings, $46,500,000. Money-The feature of interest in Wall street to-day was the money market, which has been more stringent than any dav this month. Loans were made as high as 1-18 per day on governments, and scaree at that price. Again, currency is flowing to the interior; in part, for insurance settlements in Chicago. The express companies have made some heavy engagements for an outflow of currency this week, and in some quarters these engagements are estimated at $5,000,000. Southern State Securities-Were dull, and last call. The closing quotations new, heavy were: on Missouris, 97; Virginias, 64; Virgintas, old, 61; Tennessees, old, 641/2; Tennes sees, new, 641/2: North Carolinas, old, 31 North Carolinas, new, 13. United States Securities-Governmentbonds were dull and steady throughout the day. The closing prices were: Five-twenties of 1881, 117% five-twenties of 1862, 109% fivetwenties of 1864, 110; five-twenties of 1865,111 1/4; five-twenties of 1865, new, 113% five-twenties of 1867, 1151: five-twenties of 1868, 1151/; ten-forties, 1091/4: currency sixes, 1183/8 Stocks and Bonds Stocks opened dull, but were strong with Lake Shore and Western Union as features before brokers made up bank accounts. The market sold off slightly, but subsequently advanced Greater improvement was in Pacific Mail, Wabash, Lake Shore and Erie. There was a little more activity in the above mentioned stocks, but the list was dull. A small broker's firm, on the bear side of Pacific Mail, failed this afternoon. It is stated that the Fourth National bank was correspondent of the Ocean bank, and was run by politicians. Henry Perkins has been appointed receiver of the Fourth national bank, which was closed by action of the clearing-house. The deposits amount to between five and six hundred thousand dollars, which, it is believed, will be paid, but the surplus and capital stock have vanished und the mismanagement of the offlcers. The bank was in trouble two years ago. No funds of the city treasurer were in this bank, having recently been withdrawn on the new city treasurer taking possession. This withdrawal. probably. hastened the suspension of the bank. During the investigation of the committee of councils, it was discovered that the bank-building had been transferred to one of the sureties within sixty days, and the transfer is believee to be bogus. NEW ORLEANS. NEW ORLEANS, December 19 -Gold, 1091/ Sterling exchange, 1183/4: sight, 1/6/14 discount. LONDON. LONDON, D mber 19.-Atthe close -consols, 921/@92B/: U Lated States five-twenties of 1862, coupons, 921/8; five-twenties of 1865, coupons, 935/ five-twenties of 1867, coupons, 93% tenforties, 91% PARIS. PARIS, December 19.-Rentes, 56f. 65c. FRANKFORT. FRANKFORT, December 18.-United States securities -five-twenties of 1862,


Article from The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, December 20, 1871

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

NEW YORK CITY. NEW YORK, December 19.-The last city swindler exposed is the Collector of Assessments, who has pocketed half a million dollars in four years. The incumbent, one Starkweather, was appointed by Tweed in 1867. There was but a small audience at the Cooper Institute last night to celebrate the treaty of Washington. Addresses were made by J. B. Miles, Elihu Burritt and Dr. Brine. Resolutions were adopted hoping that the negotiations for the Washing treaty might be the present adjustment of the difficulties on a peaceful basis. It is rumored that the Grand Jury have found indictments against three or four newspaper editors for false vouchers; also that n prominent morning newspaper is indicted for libel on a city judge. The Times says the grand jury should investigate the facts concerning the claim of $5,000 paid by the Board of Auditors to Judge Bedford for extra legal services. The ball of the Tweed Association, which was advertised for last evening, did not take place. The Citizens' Reform Committee voted that hereafter the offices of mayor, aldermen and water commissioners should be elective. The immigration officers at Castle Garden have called the attention of the Gov. ernor and Secretary of State to the fact that parties in England are sending criminals to this country. Small-pox is spreading in Jersey City, Hoboken, Newark and Trenton, and special hospitals for the patients are being assigned in those places. At a meeting of the Federal Council of the Internationals last night, the Crispin, Jewelers' and Typographical Unions affiliated with and became part of the Internationals. It is confirmed that Heenan, Cook and Dumphry, minor Tammany thieves, have left for Europe. Warrants have been sent for their arrest. There was a large crowd at the Court of General Sessions early this morning in expectation that Mayor Hall would be put at the bar, but up to noon he was not known to be under arrest. His counsel held frequent consultations with the District Attorney yesterday and this morning. The Grand Jury summoned for the December term were discharged to-day, the body serving for November holding over till the 1st of January. The indictments presented yesterday were against Tweed, who will be rearrested thereunder. Also Hank Smith James M. Sweeney, a brother of Peter B. It is stated that the Fourth National Bank was a correspondent of the Ocean Bank, and was run by politicians.


Article from New-York Tribune, September 20, 1872

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

WALL-ST. MORE QUIET. SEVERAL HEAVY FAILURES REPORTED-CHANGES IN ERIE. Comparative quietness followed, yesterday, the wilder feeling of the previous days in Wall-st. The effect of the heavy speculation and unsettled prices of the past few days has been to increase the list of failures on the Stock Exchange by the addition of two unimportant brokerage houses known as G. D. Munro & Co. and Samuel Lapsley. Considerable discussion was excited in financial circles by the failure of John Fox & Co., merchants, of Mincing-lane, London, with liabilities amounting to £500,000, or $2,500,000. They have connections with several American houses, and their suspension was caused by the recent failures in Baltimore. Another failure in the grocery trade was announced-that of Messrs. Phillip Dater & Co. of No. 112 Wall-st., for many years engaged in that business. It is believed that they had accumulated large stocks of tea, coffee, and sugar at high prices, and that the repeal of the duties on those articles, with the depreciation in price, was the immediate cause. Still another house was reported to have suspended, but the name was not obtained. Money was comparatively easy yesterday afternoon at from 5 to 6 per cent, although earlier in the day it had been lending at from 7 per cent currency to 1 per cent commission. Much feeling was created by the operations of Henry N. Smith, formerly of the firm of Smith Gould, Manton & Co., who is said to have combined with others for the purpose of locking up money. Mr. Smith, accompanied by a porter with several sacks and a carriage, proceeded to many of the banks in Wall-st. and its vicinity upon which he had certified checks, presented them to the respective paying tellers, and demanded legal tenders. His demands were refused at the City Bank in Wall-st. and at the Bank of Commerce in Nassau-st., Mr. Vail, the cashier of the latter institution, declaring that he would not pay the checks in that manner, as by doing so it would be a practical connivance at locking up money. Mr. Smith insisted upon having legal tenders, but was informed that his checks must take the usual course and be redeemed through the Clearinghouse. At the Fourth National Bank payment was refused at first, but finally granted. About a month ago it was resolved to place the maintenance and operation of the Erie Railway under the control of Vice-President Diven, and to divide the organization of the road into three departments, those of transportation, road, and rolling stock. Yesterday President Watson made public an order carrying this change into effect. An order from the Vice-President appoints Robert M. Brown Superintendent of Road, with full charge of the track, bridges. building, docks, and wharfs, and with headquarters at New-York. It also appoints Harnden D. V. Pratt of Elmira, formerly Division Superintendent, as Superintendent of Transportation, with charge of the movement of cars, loconotives, passengers, and freights, and with the responsibility of safe and expeditious transit. Myron E. Brown of Buffalo is appointed Superintendent of Rolling Stock, having full charge of locomotives and cars and the Company's repair shops.


Article from Wilmington Daily Commercial, September 20, 1873

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

SECOND EDITION. THE FINANCIAL TROUBLES. Situation in Philadelphia. QUIET AGAIN RESTORED. More Suspensions in New York. PHILADEDPHIA, Sept. 20. Third street is comparatively quiet, this morn ing. The run on the Fidelity Trust Co. has almost entirely subsided. The Union Banking Company at Fourth and Chestnut, did not open, to-day, but placed a placard on the door which stated that, owing to heavy demands, a suspension of a few days had been It a run, yesout about terdsy, resolved on. paying suetained seven heavy hundred thousand dollars. It is a State Institution, issuing no notes, and the suspension only affects depositors At Jay Cooke & Oo.'s bank, (matters are progreasing quietly. The clerks are busy in preparing a statement which before a members but un of will the be firm, laid this cannot meeting take of place the til after the arrival of the steamer Russia on board of which two members of the firm are passengers. The Russia is expected to arrive on Monday. SECOND DISPATCH-MORE SUBPENSIONS IN NEW YORK. NEW YORK, Sept. 20. The Union Trust Company has suspended until Monday, on account of money out on call loans not having been paid in. White and Co., also suspended. Stocks opened a little better, but declined a gain on the announcement of above suspensions. THIRD DESPATCH. New York, Sept 20. Edward Haight & Co. have suspended. The extensive leather firm of Horace Carr & Son, of Woodbury, Mass.. has suspended with liabilities of $100,000, and assets $15,000. The senior partner has disappeared. FOURTH DISPATCH. New YORK. Sept 20. E. Moorhead and K atchu n and Balkaap have suspended, Nothing is doing in Government securities and stocks are feverish. Saxo and Rogers have suspended. The National Bank of the Commonwealth has suspended and there is a rumored dafalcation in the Union Trust Co. FIFTH DESPATCH-SALES OF STOCK FORBIDDEN. NEW YORK, Sept 20. The President of the Stock Exchange has forbidden outside sales by members of the Board on the penalty of expulsion. Proposals to sell bonds to the government aggreated two million, six hundred thousand dollars, at 109 to 112. It is impossible to give stock quotations. SIXTH DISPATUH-THE STOCK EXCHANGE CLOSEDMORE FAILURES. New YORK, Sept 20, The Stock Exchange, was closed at noon by order of the President of the Board to avoid any further panic. Six additional broker firms are announced as suspended. Stooks opened at an advance, but fell from 2 to 25 per cent, on bank failures baing announce ed, SEVENTH DISPATCH-PHILADELPHIA STOCKS EXCITED. PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 20. Philadelphia Stocks are excited. Penna. 6's are quoted at 105; Reading, 99; Penna. R. R. 97; gold, 111. EIGHTH DISPATCH-MORE BANKS AFFECTED. NEW YORK, Sept, 20. The National Trust Company is closed, and the clearing house have thrown out certified checks of the Continental Bank and,Merchants Banking Association. NINTH DISPATCH-THE UNION TRUST co.'s DEFALCATION. NEW YORK, Sept. 20. The run on the 4th National Bank continues, but the institution still holds out. Notice has been given that no general clearance can be exto to pected day, certified dealers in finding manner. it impossible get checks a proper The Bank of North America has suspended at Albany. The defalcation in the Union Trust Company amounts to half a million. At Albany, Squires & Sons' Banking house has failed. TENTH DISPATCH-NO MORE FAILURES IN PHILADELPHIA. PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 20. There have been LO futher failures here. ELEVENTH DISPATCH-OOCE'S LONDON HOUSE. LONDON, Sept. 20. Cook's banking house continues to meet all its demand. The Lutherans.


Article from Wilmington Daily Commercial, September 20, 1873

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

JENKINS & ATKINSON. Publisher. WILMER ATKINSON, w For Terms, Etc., See Second Page. Latest General News. Very little remains to be added to the telegrams in last evening's COMMERCIAL, in reference to yesterday's development, in the finanwere no in or cial either flurry. Philadelphia There New further York, suspensions, of any important houses, except that of E. D. Randolph & Co., in the latter city. Quite a number of brokers, and small "operators," squeezed in the stock decline. The run on the Fidelity Trust Company, in Philadelphia, was fairly met, and the bank remained open an hour after time, to meet it. In New York, the Union Trust Co,, and the 4th National Bank were now open. but both declared their soundness and met all demand. At a meeting of Na tional Bank Presidents in New York last night, it was decided to units in support of each other, and disregard the reserved restrictions into-day's dealings. This is expected to relieve the financial community and assist in restoring confidence. A despatch from Washington, received after midnight. announces that the Secretary of the Treasury has directed the Assistant Treasurer at New York to buy $10,000,000 of bonds to day. A dinner in honor of the Army of the Cumberland was at on given Pittsburg, Thursday night. General Sheridan presided, and among those present were President Grant, Generals Sherman, McDowell, Hooker, and other distinguished persons. The President on entering the room Was received with great enthusiasm. President Grant and family will return to Washington in the latter part of next week, to remain for the season. Prof. King's Buffalo bailoon landed. on Thursday evening. near Oxford, in Chenango county, N.Y. The Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of O d Fellows yesterday transferred, through the Western Union Telegraph, a gift of $400 from the Grand Lodge for the suffering of Odd Fellows of Shreveport. The engineers are at length at work, surveying the proposed route of the Breakwater & Frankford R. R. Mr. Jno. B. Wingate and assistant are to run three separate lines and submit estimates of cost of construction before either line is decided upon. The yellow fever continues its ravages in Memphis. and all the trains leaving that city are filled with fugitives. New CASES of fever are reported in all parts of the city, and the Life Associations have forty to fifty persons engaged in attending the sick. The house of William Crouch, near Williamstown. Ky., was burned, on Tuesday night, and hie wife, two children and an orphan, named Dann, were burned to death. At Saxonville, Mass., on Thursday evening, Josiah Bigelow plunged a knife into his wife's throat. inflicting a wound that will probably prove fatal. He then gave himself up to the police. Pierrepont Thayer, a well-known actor. committed suicide at Pioche, Cal., on Thursday, by taking poison. The Terre Haute Iron and Nail Works, at Terre Haute, Ind. was burned yesterday morning. Loss. $175,000. Insurance. $73,000. including $5000 in the Franklin, of Philadelphia.


Article from Wilmington Daily Gazette, September 20, 1873

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

INCREASED EXCITEMENT IN WALL ST. STOCK SPECULATORS CAUGHT. NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2 P. M. The celebrated Banking House of Fisk & Hatch, Wall street, New York, whose failure is announcod, was one of the most extensive and substantial in the country. They were agents for the marketing of h h Central Pacitic, Kansas Pacific, and Chesspeake & Ohio bonds. They have been most successful and extensive financiers, and the involvement of their house has naturally led to the prostration of others having heavy business relations with them. The following additional failures have been announced: Day & Moose, Hay & Werner, Beers & Edwards, Eugene J. Jackson, Thomas Reed & Co., Greenleaf, Morris & Co. W. H. Warner & Co, Geo. Bolton Allen, Theo. Bedal, Whitemore & Anderson, A. M. Kidder & Co., S. H. Smith & Seaver. The gold market is greatly excited under the general disaster that has fallen on the street. Opening sales were at 1191/2 but soon declined to 112, then advanced rapidly to 1131/4 at 11 a. m., since which time fluctuations have been 11234113. Foreign exchanges are demoralized. Mr. Norris, of Greenleaf, Norris & Co. who have failed, is Vice President of the Stock Exchange. The brokers who have failed are those who dealt in speculative stocks. A run commenced on the Fourth National Bank. President Augustus Schell, of the Union Trust Co. says notwithstanding the run on that institution is can stand any amount of monetary pres sure.


Article from New-York Tribune, September 20, 1873

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

together in the post-office, and talked to them about Jay Cooke," and Fisk & Hatch," and the Fourth National," and the "Northern Pacific," and New-York Central" and "Western Union" and 'Vanderbilt" and all the rest of the soul-stirring topics that everybody is so fluent about, in such a way as to extort admiration and excite envy. To such a person the street" on Friday was an exhilarating spectacle, He was here, no doubt, viewing it with enthusiasm. He stood on the curbstone opposite the Fourth National Bank and watched the crowds passing in and out with intensest interest. He knew it was a crisis," and he wondered at the nonchalance of a young clerical person who sat in a window and ate peanuts with great self-possession and no end of shucks. He looked from the marble steps of the Sub-Treasury into the windows of Jay Cooke & Co. and Fisk & Hatch, and felt a pang of regret that these penniless gentlemen should be 80 suddenly reduced to a crust of bread and rags. Down Broad-st. & river of umbrellas flowed and meandered and bumped about in the most mixed and confusing fashion ; a kind of freshet of toad-stools, or wild breaking up of a bed of mushrooms. There were umbrellas upon umbrellas, and he got "points"-umbrella points-from all quarters. The infuriate bull punched him in the stomach, the bilarious bear went waltzing by, thrusting him in the ear as he passed; small boys jostled him and howled, and a friendly bystander, holding an umbrella so as to lead a trickling stream just inside his shirt-collar, contributed moisture and mellowness to his emotions. In the Stock Exchange, where he straggled unchallenged by the young person in gray, who on ordinary occasions stops you with the bland inquiry, " Who do you want to see ?" he took heaps of comfort. Indeed it is doubtful if he would have understood the matter thoroughly if he had not visited the Stock Board. There everything was plain. Small boys with large mouths came whizzing by him and grasping the rail poured a bulging mouthful of soprano into thespace where two or three hundred men were enacting the parts of popped corn in a skillet-every man a kernel-men with their trowsers turned up at the bottoms, bounced out of the ring and wrote something on a pad, and then danced round the edges howling for somebody who invariably wasn't there-other men held up their hands and their fingers and shook them at each other, and made their mouths go as though they were saying something; a man with a white neck-tie and benignant mien stood up in a pulpit at intervals and hammered till the crowd flocked round him; then he said something to them, or read a hymn, or a telegram, or an anecdote, or some such thing, and they all grunted and scattered away then he got them together again and had an auction ; the smallest possible boys used some of the profanest possible language, and everything was just as clear and translucent as the Treasury bookkeeping. It was a great joy to him to have things so easily untangled. He looked at it with unalloyed delight for an hour and a half, and went away with only a single question left unsolved, and that was, whether he was enjoying the first symptoms of the delirium tremens, or had his hat full of bumblebees. There are some people in New-York who do not understand the cause of the panic. This gentleman found out all about it, and will explain it to his constituents on his return. There is no doubt in his mind that it relates to the moving of the crops.


Article from The Rutland Daily Globe, September 22, 1873

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

ADDITIONAL SUSPENSIONS. The Effect in London, Washington and Philadelphia. THE PROSPECTS. NEW YORK, Sept. 20. Bankers and brokers, who generally do not come to business till ten o'clock, are again hastening to Wall street on the early trains and boats. The feeling of solicitude is less, however, than yesterday morning. Notwithstanding the temper of the last throng who swayed in and around Fifth avenue hotel last night was far from buoyant, a feeling of confidence prevails this morning based on the determination of the banks to stand by each other and the order of Secretary Richardson to buy ten millions in bonds to-day. The Hoboken, N. J., bank it is thought will have to go under after the reorganization following the recent defalcation of $67,000. Ninety-four thousand dollars, realized from convertible securities were deposited for safe-keeping with Fisk & Hatch. On the announcement of the crash yesterday morning the treasurer came over for this money only to learn that Fisk & Hatch had suspended. Unless it is recovered the bank is in a hopeless condition, and will also carry down with it the First National bank of Hoboken, the funds of the two being common property and both being controlled by the same board of directors. Fisk & Hatch state that having been engaged in no speculations they are confident of recovering themselves when the storm has spent itself. Randolph & Co. say if money goes down to reasonable figures they will soon resume; that their suspension was precipitated by the fact that the Fourth National bank did not certify their checks in time. They deny all connection with Thomas Scott and say the report of their being associated with him arose from the fact that one of the partners is his (Scott's) son-in-law. White, De Freitas & Rathbone expect to resume soon. President Calhoun of the Fourth National bank said last evening that the bank had paid out three hundred thousand dollars during the day and is abundantly able to meet all further demands. COURT ADJOURNED ON ACCOUNT OF THE PANIC. The court of general sessions was adjourned early yesterday, to give the jurors and court officers an opportunity to look after their bank accounts and securities. ATTEMPT TO STOP LETTERS IN THE MAIL. A number of telegrams were received at the post office yesterday, requesting the postmaster to withhold the delivery of


Article from New-York Tribune, September 23, 1873

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

FINANCIERS IN HIGH SPIRITS. THE BANKS PERFECTLY SAFE-ALL 'DANGER PASTTHE GOVERNMENT'S ACTION GENERALLY APPROVED-THE MORAL OF THE PANIC DRAWN. Financiers, who croaked at the Fifth Avenue Hotel on Sunday, and predicted the failure of every bank in the city, chuckled over their folly yesterday. The banks were not besieged with depositors, as had been anticipated, and everywhere confidence had taken the place of despondency. A TRIBUNE reporter called upon a few of the leading bank presidents to learn their views and intentions regarding the present financial crisis. He found them, without exception, cheerful and busy. FOURTH NATIONAL BANK. Mr. Calhoun of the Fourth National Bank. upon which there has been the fiercest run of the panic, appeared suave and cheerful, and responded readily to the request for his views. Mr. Calhoun-" This bank does not propose to susSir. You see there is a at and remember the now, pend, you raid line of Friday the teller's and desk Satfurday, but we have no fear whatever, and have prepared ourselves for any demands that may come upon us." Q What do you think of the possibilities of a general prostration A. I think there is no fear of that. The worst is over, here. How it may be in the country I can hardly say, but we are safe, unless the panic should be great enough in the country to react upon us and renew the trouble. Q. Has the action of the Government been beneficial ? A. Very beneficial. I understand that two millions of bonds have already been taken, and that people are turning in their bonds very readily. The issue of a portion of the forty millions would have increased the good, if it could have been done legally. But as, according to the opinion of the officials, it could not be done, the next best thing was done. Q What is your own opinion. Mr. Calhoun, of the legality of the issue A. I defer to the authorities. The Treasury laws were enacted. you know. over 30 years ago, and were made very stringent. I am not familiar, enough with the Repealing act, of which Reverdy Johnson speaks, to say whether he is right or not. I should think, however, that he speaks by the card." Q. Have the bank Presidents found it necessary to take any further measures to relieve the smaller banks A. No, nothing whatever. The loan certificates'appear to be affording the needed relief very well for the present. We have taken a number ourselves because we had a run on us which somewhat diminished our currency, and we thought it would be well to have them on hand, BANK OF COMMERCE. Robert L. Kennedy, President of the Bank of Commerce, was so very busy that he found time to say only a few words on the important subject. "We feel strong as ever, Sir," he said. "We are not threatened by any financial complications with failing banks and have no fear whatever of a failure. The erisis is over. The Government is doing the best, probably, that it can do under the circumstances. The Five-Twenties are coming in very


Article from The New York Herald, September 23, 1873

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

The Union Trust Company in the Hands of a Receiver. Six Millions of Currency Disbursed by Sub-Treasury. Meeting of the Jay Cooke Firm To-Day. "E"CRISIS" IN THE COURTS The change in the aspect of Wall street from the turmoil and painful agitation of last week was strikingly noticeable yesterday. The closing of the Stock Exchange, the government declaration to buy an unlimited offer of five-twenties, the action of the banks in resolving to issue loan certificates, and the intervention of the Sabbath all contributed to calm the troubled waters and induce a better and clearer view of the situation. Friday and Saturday will long be remembered for the fierce and unprecedented excitement of the street. It was uncommon and at times feariul enough to make men tremble for the prospect ahead. A deep pall of impenetrable clouds hung over the monetary skies, and no where seemed to appear a solitary ray of light to illuminate the course of the future. Sunday evening the darkness broke, and Monday morning Wall street, with a few exceptional features wore its OLD-TIME APPEARANCE. There were no hurrying crowds, no pale and anxious groups, no heavy fringe of vacant eyed spectators on the sidewalks. In fact, had not the Stock Exchange been closed there was little to indicate that the street had so recently passed through a terrific financial nurricane. A tolerable calm settled down in the morning, and there was every appearance when the day ended that the period of panic was passed, and that with ordinary prudence the old state of things will in a few days prevail. THE ACTION OF THE PRESIDENT on Sunday night was very generally canvassed, but the preponderance of opinion was in favor of the course he selected. Had he yielded to the clamor of the big guns of the monetary world and stepped outside the law by loaning the currency reserve to the banks, those who, in the rash thought of the moment, implored him to commit the illegality might have been the first to condemn him. The feature of yesterday, in connection with the panic, was the unusual withdrawal of money by depositors from the savings banks. This is to be deplored, for of all other institutions the savings banks should be triply guarded from the disastrous innuence of a panic originating among speculators in Wall street. HERALD reporters visited yesterday THE SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS on the east and west side of town, and furnish accounts of what they saw in another column. The policy of keeping THE STOCK EXCHANGE closed until further notice met with general approval, as there is yet some time needed to arrange matters and allow the excitement of the hour to die out. When this is accomplished, and when the Exchange opens again, reasonable prices for settlement can be made. THE GOLD EXCHANGE voted to keep the Gold Room open, but to allow no dealings in gold on the penalty of loss of member ship. It was resolved to place the quotation of gold at 112 as the price and as a basis of clearance. There IS still a good deal of talk over THE PLAN DISCUSSED at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, Sunday, to meet the crisis. It appears the first proposition was that the Treasury should put anywhere from $20,000,000 to $40,000,000 legal tender in the banks as a deposit for which the associated banks should be responsible, Commodore Vanderbiit offering to deposit with the sub-Treasurer $10,000,000 as an additional guarantee. The proposition was declined because of no legal authority for the act, and for the reason that a few banks would reap the whole benefit and profit, to which the banks, not government depositories, would not assent. The plan that was finally agreed upon was that the Treasury should buy five-twenty bonds at fixed rate, privately, as shey were offered, until, if necessary, the legal tender reserve and the currency balance were exhausted. To this plan, which, it cannot be denied, works so far only ID milk and water way, the objections are that it obliges people to sacrifice the best securities in the market and which are sale to keep any time that the people who hold these bonds are not those who need the money, and that the institutions having these bonds, where they are savings banks, will probto use their reserved right of thirty to notice than ninety ably prefer days' from their depositors, bonds, and rather that accept a low price for institutions like insurance companies will consider it the most prudent thing to hold on to their bonds. The Treasury received offers for $3,339,150 PIVE-TWENTY BONDS YESTERDAY, being the issues to which purchases were these confined. Along with the amount taken in on Satbe about $6,000,000 currency will thrown urday, on the market, from which it be expected much relief will be may With the exception of the Bank experienced. North America, the Bank oi the Commonwealth of and the Fourth National Bank, there comparatively no run on the rest of the banks. The com- exhouses abstained from increasing the citement, mercial and few large amounts were withdrawn dein cases where business imperatively except manded. To-day will, in all likellhood, be squiet as yesterday. It will be devoted chiefly to consult tation, and the opinion prevails that the Stock Exchange will remain closed, and as consequence, stock there will be no quotation the volume of of transactions will be reduced. The condition THE TWO TRUST COMPANIES' affairs will be found narrated in another place, and be the statement of Jay Cooke & Co. cannot tail to read with interest. The HERALD reporters supply a mass of information, gathered from bankers and others. on the effect of the panic on American securities abroad, and the views of leading merchants on the situation are also given. The way in which the Brooklyn banks weather the storm is also told, and the reader 18 referred to the financial column for further statistical and speculative information. THE JAY COOKE FIRM. Messrs. Pitt Cooke & McCulloch arrived yesterday by the Egypt. To-day they will meet the other Cooke & affairs of the to in partners consuitation gentlemen in decline the on firm the or Jay speak firm. reference Co. Both and to hold these the a crisis. They LAT that were at sea when the storm


Article from New-York Tribune, September 24, 1873

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

PRESSURE UPON THE BANKS. CURRENCY EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE-DEMANDS FOR LOANS POURING IN FROM THE COUNTRY-THE CROPS MUST BE MOVED. upon of the downtown to ascertain their viewa. A reporter the banks Presidents of THE of TRIBUNE many called, leading The yesterday, questions asked had reference chiefly to the demand for loans from city customers and e drain from banks out of town. The reporter found a marked difference between the banks doing business for the brokers and those transacting a strictly mercantile business. Money was scarce everywhere, and discounts could not readily be obtained. The best commercial paper was offered at two per cent a day, but the money could not be had. OUTSIDE DEMAND FOR LOANS. W. K. Kitchen, President of the Park Bank, told the reporter that the calls on the bank were not very great from the city, as they paid large amounts only on certified checks from the Clearing-house, and the demand for loans was not so large as one might suppose. The demand from country banks, however, was simply enormous, and could be in the banks to country amounted to not be raised in an banks met. banks which could The in the deposits city hour. a belonging The vast not sum, haven't got it; they ought to have taken on Saturit day the action which they took on Monday, and was a great mistake that they failed to do so. To a customer who called for a loan-We will let you have the money as soon as we can. Send around to your customers and make them pay up. This is a good time to collect in money. THE COMMERCIAL WORLD NOT AFFECTED. Geo. S. Coe, President of the American Exchange Bank, said that his institution was not a brokers' bank, and the demands for loans from merchants were not greater than usual. The commercial world was not affected in the least as yet, and he saw no reason why they need be. The out-of-town demand for money is always large at this season of the year, but is larger now than usual owing to the panic. Their deposits are small in proportion to their capital, and they are meeting demands from all sources. He looked upon the trouble as a stock-brokers' affair which need not troubln outsiders. The stock gamblers, he said, were drawing money from the banks, and stood ready with it in their pockets to buy stocks whenever they could put them down low enough. MONEY NEEDED FOR MOVING CROPS. John E. Williams, President of the Metropolitan Bank, told the reporter that they did a strictly commercial business, and were not affected in any way by the panic. There was great demand from out of town for money with which to move the crops. That was the cause of the trouble. "Our wealth in us poor and when a sudden call for grain Wall-st. Cooke's made failure created in currency, money Jay in it was n't in the city. The wheat was nor one was in a good." never 80 Every large the foreign hurry demand crop to get so his crop to the sea, and his bank sent out $100,000 a day for five or six weeks. The demand had somewhat increased, and some of the country bankers had gone wild. One man was day or two ago who had $70,000 on deposit and $40,000 in greenbacks in his pockets, and still wanted to get a discount. Mr. Williams told him to go home and cool off. The national currency, Mr. Williams said, is all out of the city; there is probably not more than $1,000,000, and perhaps not more than half a million in the banks. If they had all been paying out gold they would have been compelled to suspend. The great trouble was caused by the large amounts of worthless railroad bonds and stocks forced on the market by false representations. A JUBILANT BANK. At the Fourth National Bank the aspect of things had greatly changed since Monday. There were few persons at the paying teller's desk, but there was a long line of depositors at the window of the receiving teller reaching half around the bank. At 3 o'clock the line had not been shortened, and half an hour later it numbered 26. Mr. Lane, the cashier. told the reporter that they had found themselves a creditor bank at the Clearing-house, and were feeling quite jubilant over it. Heretofore they had been on the debtor side. The worst of the trouble, he thought, was over; there would still be ruin among the bankers, but the trouble of the banks, he thought, was over. After the suspension of Henry Clews & Co. a report was circulated on the street that the Fourth National Bank had suspended. The reporter returned, and was told that the report had probably arisen from their refusal to clear for Henry Clews & Co., but that the situation was unchanged since the former visit. The cashier pointed to the line of depositors, as if this were a sufficient answer to all questions of their elvency. A THRUST AT BROKERS' BANKS. W. H. Scott. President of the Hanover National Bank, said that they kept no brokers' accounts, and there was no unusual city demand, while the number had increased from the not be met: pouring the of panic their in, began. depositors and could Demands largely country there was since were currency to meet no which did a who dealt in business; fears for enough the the bankers banks in the city strictly them. stocks banking He would had not probably have to go down before things became settled. BROKERS MAKING SETTLEMENTS. Tappan, President of the Gallatin National Bank, said that the demand for loans was light. The brokers seemed to be settling up their affairs, exchanging stocks, and getting rid of collaterals, rather than incurring new obligations. There was a process of liquidation going on all around. They had no correspondents except in Philadelphia, and the out-of-town demand was limited to that city, but the demand from there was heavy. NO UNUSUAL CITY DEMAND, The reporter found everything quiet at the Continental National Bank. T.G.S. Flint said that a report had been telegraphed all over the country on Saturday that the bank had suspended; and the result was that their out-of-town customers were calling in their deposits. There had been a tremendous run by letter telegraphal day Monday and yesterday, and they did not know what was the cause until yesterday. They had responded to all calls, and unless there were a change within a few days they would liquidate their entire out-of-town indebtedness. The false report was circulated in had been no unusual denot how much ruthem, but it had inthe mand. mor country, had He caused could and there say certainly harm been city the inrious to their customers and to many from whom


Article from Nashville Union and American, September 24, 1873

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

The Shylocks May Precipitate a Panic Jay Cooke's London House Throwing out His Drafts. Four Bank Failures in Petersburg,Va The Ce-operative Plan.j NEW YORK, Sept. -Every banking institution in Brooklyn with single excep. tion was represented as the meeting of the presidents yesterday It was determ that in Case of run on any of the banks all of the others would come to its assistance. It was also resolved that the savings banks, if necessary, should take advantage of the thirty days clause in the charter. number of poor women and laboring men have gathered at the savings banks awaiting their opening, but nobody seems to think that anything like run will take place. The Priests Allaying Panie Wm. Quinn, Vicar General of New York, was at the Emigrant Savings Bank yesterday, advising depositors to leave their money with the bank where it was safe He promised to be on hand to-day. Gen. Hillhouse has declined to give the names of the sellers of bonds, on the ground that some sellers are connected with savings banks. To announce that they had sold bonds might bring discredit upon their banks, which the facts do not warrant, 10 A. M. The governing Committee of the Stock Exchage have decided not to open to day. 10:45. The Gold Exchange is opened and regular transactions being made. The excite ment on the street seems to be ceasing and wearing itself out, and better feeling ap pears to exist. The brokers have congregated in front of the Stock Exchange and formed street market, all the sales being for cash The following are the quotations Central 91 to 92 bid; Harlem 105 bid offered: Lake Shore bid; Wabash bid; Rock Islaud 88 bid: St. Paul 35 bid; Ohio and Mississippi 30 bid; Union Pacific and bid; C. 21 bide H annibal and Joseph 20 bid; Western Union Tel egraph 66 bid to offered; Pacific Mail 341 to 36 bid. Noon. Ten million of bonds have been bought Subat the -Treasury. The Process of Inflation. The Assistant Treasurer has received 20. 000.000 greenbacks from W hington, and is ready to buy all bonds offered. 2:80 P. M. The suspension of Henry Clems & Co. is announced They say that at present they have no statement to make, save that temporary suspension has been deemed advisable. This failure tends to revive eitement The paid $1,250,000 tenders to during the past days, and it was the general they would pull through, but to-day Fourth National bank refused to clear checks, aithough the firm had 800,000 securities against which 300,000 had been drawn. M. Assistant The Gold closed at 112 Treasurer day bought $3,205,000 bonds Henry Clews & Co. state that during the past four days they have paid out one and half millions in money, and made the most forts to-day to raise money on their securities, but finding it impossible to do 80 were compelled to suspend. The Ten Million Bank Pool Used Up. Mr Camp of the Clearing House, states that the ten million of loan certificates have been used up to to- -night. There will be meeting of associated bank rs to-morrow 10 o'clock at the Merchants' Bank [to debate the advisability of issuing more certificates.] Night Dispatches Another Surprise Like Jay Cooke's. Up to two o'clock this evening the monetary situation might have been summed sentence: Confidence restored and the backs are conducting business as usual. Just as the street was beginning to feel that the end of the panic had been reached painful rumor started at 20 minutes to o'clock, that the house of Henry Clews Co., had suspended payment. soon the was made clowd collected in front of the building. The word that their checks were refused payment the Fourth National Bank reached the banking house about half past o'clock. and the closing of the doors followed announcement It is stated that an rangement will be effected by which an early resumption will be secured,as there abundant securities in possession of house. Immediately after the closing of the doors number of prominent capitalists were eagerly seeking Mr. Clews, who was not in the office, and the assistance neces. sary to puli through the day would undoubdtly have been given had there been suspicion that the bank would refuse paymentof Henry Clews & Co.'s checks. The fact of the suspension created as much citement as the suspension of Jay Cooke Co. The news left the street at the close of business in condition of great excitement and the headway made in restoring confidence may great measure be lost. The Savings Banks, etc. The run on the Savings Banks continued to day. but most of them adopted the time rule for paying creditors, the excitement soon subsided Where ver a case necessity transpires or that person wishing to draw requires few hundred dollars business purpose, tbe banks accommodate ;where with excitement causes the them drawal the banks do not oblige. At some of the banks the oficers say that the forcement of the time rule regarding drawing of deposits is demanded by their largest depositors and in one case adopted in deference to such Several of the largest banks paying demands to of the poor people of Brooklyn became alarmed regarding their money in the various Saving banks there and drew Only one bank took advantage of the rule, the others paying as usual. The was not heavy Further Panic at the of the Option kylocks, The Post says the banks have gone through the panic far all right. It must be remembered, however since Saturday the business of the banks has been simply ith merchants. the active of stock exchange firms having by the claring up of the exchange pended. These firms probably 500 accounts with the banks. Friday aturday's business at the stock has to settled. money who have failed to get responses on loan called, might rush in and force sales under the rule which would thing into panic again and the banks. To prevent such state of affairs been recommended that the governing mittee appoint sub committee to prescribe regulations by which ments may be made before the Exchange opened. the duty the present time of lenders and borrowers to treat parties to contracts with as much liberality and forbearance as without absolutely sacrificing their legal rights. o There will undoubtedly be found merci-


Article from Alexandria Gazette, September 24, 1873

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

again in commotion. It was at length announc ed that the house of Henry Clews & Co., an institution that for supposed stability and the magnitude of its operations was equal to Jay Cooke & Co. and Fisk & Hatch, had failed. The feeling of alarm has begun to permeate the mercantile community, and the course of the New York banks in refusing accommodation to merchants upon reliable paper, while in a state of virtual suspension themselves, has tended to increase it. The Baltimore American says: "Our Baltimore banks have acted wisely in pooling their assets in the Clearing House and thus making ready for an emergency, but this must be regarded as a precautionary measure." The Baltimore Sun says "Though there is still much of a reassuring character, the continued run on Savings banks in New York, and the complications of yesterday mix the situation unpleasantly, and serve to intensify ap prehepsion. In regard to the Petersburg banks is thought that some of them at least have weak northern connections, or are the out growth of banking houses that have had too much to do with speculative railroad enterprises. So far as the herd of New York stock gamblers is concerned they seem to have resumed their wonted activity. to the suspension of Henry Clews the firm states In four & regard Co. days they that during and ahalf the past have paid one millions in money. They made the utmost efforts to raise money on securities, but finding it to do SO were compelled to sustheir as only and have no to temporary, pend. impossible They regard further suspension statement make save that they "deemed suspension advisable. The cashier of the Fourth National Bauk, which threw out Clews & Co's. checks to the amount of $200,000 says the bank did SO simply because their account was not good. There no over draft but would have been had allowed it. no remained on as they greenbacks the was bank The hand, firm and which paid until could DO securities, of they had amount, nothing susClews & Co. say they pension. a negotiate large remained National had $800.000 but Bank, in securities in the Fourth against which checks to the amount of $300,000 only had been drawn. The firm paid out $1,250,000 in degaltenders to depositors ing the past few days. everal capitalists offered assistance to Heury Clews, one alone over one hundred of the tendering The association Banks the thousand of Baltimore, of dollars. resolved to adopt the New banks for issuing 75 cent. of or representing yesterday York per bills loan plan bank certificates, payable with other securities deposited by any a committee appointed for the purpose, which certificates shall be used in settlements at the Clearing House and be received by creditor banks. The arrangement is not to extend be yond the 1st of November next, the certificates 6 cent. bonds, or are meantime government bearing Clearing gold per House gold interest. certificates certificates, When deposited, the are to represent the par. of Petersburg had over two hundred dollars in the of that one McIlwaine The commission thousand city & Co., city, State, suspended of the bauks largest firms in the are reported suspended. The directors of the Citizens Bank of Petersburg have decided to suspend. A dispatch from Richmond, dated yesterday afternoon, says: "The feeling here this safternoon has been one of the news DO nervousness, from Petersburg. resulting There principally fact have from been of them runs on any of the bauks; in some claim to have done more business in receiving deposits than usual. The directors of the Dollar Savings Bank have decided upon sospend ing to-morrow. The President states that the assets more than enough to pay all depositors. but being in are of not are immediately principally available. National collaterals, Banks A meeting and they four of the Bank of Virginia and and Insurance evening the Banking officers State of the Company They the this Merchants resolved to sustain each other. expect to have sufficient funds to-morrow to stand any run that may bc made.' Telegrams from various points indicate an improved feeling, though accompanied by some In Philadelphia all the that were under temporary tles the unfavorable State have banks resumed, reports. except Union and difficult the Citizens, which will soon resume. All the national banks stand firm. A dispatch from Wif mington, Del., states that Messrs. John McLear & Son, bankers, and Delaware agents for Cooke & Co., had suspended. Reports from Trenton, N. J., are favorable with no failures. The at N. hes failure of Clews & a news run of the Albany, Y. market Co. ceased. had in Chica- The depressing influence in the grain go, but there were no failures and no runs on banks of any kind, and all demands were paid without asking notice. There has been no disturbance in financial af Cincinnati, and nothing has occurred the routine, except millions city rumor there ffairs in outside that ten ordinary bonds for the South- the ern railroad had been negotiated in New York through a German house. A colored man named Buchanao, tried in Washington, yesterday, for killing his wife in May last, was acquitted. It is expected that the President and his family will return to Washington, and occupy the President's House, on Friday next. The New York Herald gives an illustration


Article from The Rutland Daily Globe, September 24, 1873

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

FEW MORE FAILURES Tuesday's News, NEW York, Sept. 23. 10:15 im THE TIDAI WAVE RECEIDING Gold opened at 112. The following notice is posted until The further stock exchange orders." will remain closed The governing B.O. committee WHITE, will Secretary. meet half-past nine to-morrow. 10:50 p.m. -The excitementon the seems to be wearing itself out, appears to exist. Brokers gregated feeling and have street in front of the stock exchange. and formed a street market. all sales being for cash. The following are the quotations Central 91 and 92 bid: Lake Shore, 82 bash, and 110 50 offered: Harlem. bid: 109 bid Wit. bid: Rock Island. 88 bid: Paul, 85 bid: Ohio and Wisconsin, 30 St. I. Union Pacific, 21 and 22 bid: C. bid C. 21 bid Hannibal and St. Joseph, and 20 bid : Western Union Tel., 66 bid. 70 of Pacific Mail. 343 and 36 fered The bid. gold exchange is open and doing business as usual, gold 1141. 000 The bonds sub-treasury this morning. have purchased 83,500, The Union Trust Company are still paring a statement which they expect premake public late in the day. Noon Two millions of bonds havebeen bought Street at the sub-treasury to this hour. quotations now Ohio, 30 bid : CenWabash. 18 bid : St. Paul, 36 bid : tral. 93 Lake Sdore, 82 bid, THE SAVINGS BANKS banks 12:10 P. m. & light run on the savings is being continued. The their banks strictly adhere to the provision smaller charters which requires a notice of from tors. thirty to sixty days from heirdeposi. of The Bowery. Citizens'. Union, time Dime and Bleeker street savings bank con. to make payments up to 8100. THINGS DOWN TOWN. 12.15 P. m. There is but little more than lower the usual number of people in streets of the city, beyond the about the Stock in stocks. The gatherings are ten dickering Exchange, financial the small who presents the appearance of cen. after great manifested to have and is no lassitude, desire struggle. exhaustion the There stock exchange re-open. except by those wanting to purchase for investment. and brokers generally would like to have it continue closed during the remainder of remark among them is will materially thin number this The disaster general the out week. that the of brokers as was the case Black Friday, thus making more business with for those remaining. BONDS PURCHASED 12:30 p.m.--Gold 110 bid. The sub-treasurer has purchased 88, 100 bonds up to this hour. including Satur- 169. day and yesterday. 12. 45 P. -TheStreet quotations stocks are: Lake Shore 80: for 92: Northern Central Union Pacific S New Western York 65: Eric 58: Pacific Mail 31: Ohio and Mississippizo: Northwestern 40: Rock Island M.C.C.& L 22 St. Paul, com mon. 36 Wabash 15 ABOUT BANKS The Bank of the Commonwealth keeps its doors closed. The run on Fourth National has ceased. MORE GREENBACK Assistant Treasurer Hillhouse in greenbacks from Wash. morning. to the ington twenty this millions prevent received possi. bility of becoming embarrassed in the pur. chase of bonds, QUIET IN FINANCIAL CIRCLES 1 p.m. - Affairs are still quiet with prospect of continuing so. GOLD EXCHANGE BANK CLEARANCES of the Gold bank The clearances Exchange are complete. and the balances be paid as usual. FOOLISH DEPOSITORS Several depositor> are in line in front of the Union dime savings bank this morning, The president says they can all have their money. SMALL CROWD AT THE FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL The crowd at the Fifth Avenue Hotel last night was small and quiet. compared with previous evenings. SLOW-MOVING ALDERMEN. The board of aldermen have decided the special meeting not today, to hold called for to take action on the financial erisis. MENT. THE CRISIS OVER-PRAISE OF THE GOVERNPresident Kennedy of the Bank of Com. merce said last evening that government is doing that over. it probably The the the crisis best is can. President Kitchen of the National Park bank says that for reasons ped All the discounting only morning prudential it stop journals unite in express ing the opinion that the panic is over. AN OVER-DRAFT SETTLED. John Bonner, the banker the overdrew his account at the bank of North America to the extent of several hundred thousand dellars, has made a satisfactory settlement bank. Large orders from all over the be brokers with received the continue country to to for the purchase of stocks, so that lively bidding is anticipated when the Stock Exchange reopens. THE SUB-TREASURY yesterday declined to the of the sellers of bonds to the ernment, Gen. names Hillhouse the gov- give on ground that suspicion against the into the market to those might Some who sellers be directed rushed solvency realize of were connected with savings banks, Gen. Hillhouse has not to bonds of '81, as the dent thorized did buy been prosi- aunot believe he had a legal tight to take the bonds not yet due.


Article from Delaware State Journal, September 27, 1873

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

Financial. A CHECK TO CHEERPULNESS-FAILURE OF HENRY CLEWB & CO.-A PANIC IN PETERSBURG VA. New York financial circles were again thrown into excitement Tuesday afterternoon, pension of by Henry the announcement Clews & Co. of The the house suswas believed to be exceptionally strong. The cashier of the Fourth National Bank which threw out Clews & Co's check to the amount of $200,000, says the bank did so simply because their account was not good. There was no overdraft, but would have been had the bank allowed it. The firm paid until no greenbacks remained on hand, and, as they could negotiate no securities, of which they hold large amounts, nothing remained but suspension. Clews & Co. say they had $800,000 in securities in the Fourth National Bank, against which checks to the amount of $300,000 only had been drawn. No decision has yet been reached at to the resumption of the Union Trust Company. involuntary bankruptcy has been filed agains t the company by Kendrick & Co., bankers on Wall street. The petition is based upon allegations that the Company refused to pay a check of the petitioner, for $52,000, on the 30th of August, on the ground that the check had not been through the clearing house. The Times refering to the company's affairs says "the prevailing feeling is that resumption should not be attempted, or permitted, at any time." The showing of the concern, that paper says, "is deplorable, reflecting severely upon what is known ou the street as the Vanderbilt clique, who are in the trusteeship of the Union Company. They lent a very large part of $8,000,000 trust deposits to their own roads, and on their own fav orite stocks, besides suffering the young and irresponsible secretary of the company to manage the affairs of the office, month in and month out, iu bis own way, and to finally abscond, when the trouble came, as a heavy defaulter. " For some reason, which nobody we have met can comprehend, the panie seems to have struck with peguliar force at Petersburg, Va., where four banks suspended Tuesday, and there are rumors of heavy commercial failures. In Baltimore the certificate system adopted in New York is to be established to assist clearances, but all was quiet. At Richmond there were no runs, but a there was a good deal of nervousness on account of Petersburg. At Chicago the news of Henry Clews & Co.'s failure depressed prices, but there were no failures of grain dealers as was rumored in New York. At Philadelphia all continue quiet.


Article from New-York Tribune, October 22, 1873

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

CURRENCY RESUMPTION. P. OPINIONS OF W. K. KITCHEN, SHEPHERD KNAPP, APCALHOUN, AND _RESUMPTION MONEY PROACHING C. BY NATURAL PROCESSES PANIC ABUNDANT-WHOLESO EFFECTS OF THE ON THE BANKS. The question of an early resumption subject of payments by the banks was again the currency investigation by TRIBUNE reportere, yesterday, of an bank officials. W. K. Kitchen, said that while be believed was a bad one at the arrangement of among the Park the Bank. beginning, President the Park it pooling would Bank be.injudicious to break it up hastily. The rather no benefit from it, but on the contrary was to derives all the large banks must, but its effect distress amoug weaker institutions, a | reflex of distress among all. to freely, and would doubtless as save loses. quent ing in as prètty Currency continue and giving was conse- com involume. His own bank was able crease accommodation in to merchants as it was to, much but it had paid out a great part of its deposits. Further and not able to give as much as it would wish. The was this, there had been no practical suspension. ability than of currency according to each bank's doubtpayment the rule throughout. Bank reforms would would prove less was out of the trouble, and so far it was grow a beneficial panic. Over-certification he to evils which would be one the banks that had been in the habit had already learned caution. certifying believed have of the been remedied, that way. The of and over- Park Bank itself had never done business in 33 Shepherd Knapp of the Mechanics' Bank, No. Wallsaid he did not believe it best to force full resump banks st., of currency payments just now. Most of the tion had paid out a large proportion of their deposits some of them might be seriously depleted paid and the understanding that currency would be if freely should get abroad. It was better to let the the currency out work its way back gradually, and, with great influx of gold here from abroad, he thought specie payments might be the result. That, of course, would it be better for everybody. Although we could not use for currency, yet it afforded a solid foundation upon and which all values and all paper could stand steadily, a continued apparent suspension of currency seemed to up the event of a resumption of specie. had been entered The likely pooling hurry arrangement into endangered, by the solid banks because the weak ones were and it would be unwise to break it up before all are fully prepared. He knew of no intention on the part and of the large banks to withdraw from it, he certainly had formed no such intention himself As to the loan certificates. they were already being retired. The Mechanics Bank had purchased $300,000 of them at the beginning in order to relieve the merchants and to be ready in case of an emergency; but recently they had returned them and taken back their securities. There had, indeed, been more than twenty millions issued, for it was understood the Committee could issue ad libitum after the last ten million was issued. He (did not know, therefore, just how much therew to be redeemed, nor when they would all be redeemed. Other banks, doubtless. found the loan certificates very convenient. The Mechanics' had no use for them. It had continued to give merchants about as much accommodation as they demanded, and its discounts had increased $160,000 since the days before the panic. One reform likely to grow out of the erisis was a reform in the matter of over-certifying checks. His bank at present required full securities before it certified anything. P.C. Calhoun, President of the Fourth National Bank. said.there had never been any practical suspension. The banks have all paid National bank notes. and there is now an actual surplus of currency in all the banks. A man was there yesterday rushing about to sell $100,000 of National bank notes, and he could not find a buyer. The currency is coming in in great quantity, faster than it ever aid before, and because of the accommodation afforded by loan certificates. it accumulates in the bank If man comes with a check for $100, $400, or the counter, of course; if $500, vaults. he is paid over the amount is larger, $1,000 or $2,000, he is paid by certified check Reporter-As to the loan certificates, Mr. Calhoun, are they likely to soon redeemed if Mr. Calhoun-They could all be redeemed at once, the holders care to do it. We have been carrying $1,200,000 of them, merely to relieve the needs of our customers, but we could return them to-day, if we wished, take back our securities. But we do not think it We consider the loan a best and to so. certificates very good substitute for currency, and while they continue in use the actual currency accumulates. It is not drawback on any of us to make use of them. Brokers' checks are all certified, and always will be certified as long as there are any brokers' checks. The pool arrangement of the Associated Banks does no harm, and ittmay do good. The banks I believe could all draw out of it now, but it might strain some of the weak ones, and again threaten the mercantile interests. It is better to keep up the pool, although we larger banks suffer a little by it, than to break two or three mercantile houses, and have distrust and panic on us again. The accumulation of currency forms very desirable reserve to facilitate, when necessary, the movement of the various crops. But even in that particular, matters are exceedingly easy. A gentle man from the South was here to-day, who says that there is currency enough in the South to move the cotton crop provided we can give them slight advances on five and ten-day bills, due when the cotton arrives. So you may say that currency payments are resumed. There will be no formal proclamation of resumption by the Bank Compittee. Currency will simply assert itself. and in the course of the week every bank in the city will be paying currency as freely as ever. J. E. Williams, of the Metropolitan National Bank. had time only to say, when asked as to the prospects of an early resumption of currency payment, that he thought it best to let it come about naturally rather than to force it by any formal action by the banks. THE IRON TRADE SUFFERING FROM THE STRINGENCY. A TRIBUNE reporter yesterday conversed with several extensive dealers in iron, both American and imported, to obtain their opinions as to the present condition of business and the prospects for the future. Edward Oothout of the firm of W. Oothout & Co., No. 3 CHiff-st., said that the iron trade is now almost at a standstill. The transactions of the past month have been little over 50 per centrol those of the same time last year. Money does not come forward to set in motion the products of the mines and mills, and to move the crops. Moreover, dealers want both confidence and ready means to sustain them in giving orders. At the beginning of the panic collections came in pretty well, but as the alarm and the consequent monetary stringency spread over the country, the receipts stopped, and now there is little coming in. Many of the mills and employing firms are embarrassed to pay their MCD. and either defer full payment or give part of what is due in orders on some bank. In the case of the larger mills and houses this difficulty is chiefly due to the limitations put on currency payments by the banks. Mills and firms which have less resources, beside trouble from this cause, find difficulty also because they can little or and because their not meet their Merchants get their not more. Some usually sell money among obligations nothing, and the will promptly. trustworthy, buy debtors cannot now buyers, do most can only meet their bille with