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THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1917 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICB 1918 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1917 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICB 1918 LETTER OP TRANSMITTAL. F ederal R eserve B a n k , Boston, Mass., January 15, 1918. Si r : I have the honor to submit herewith the third annual report of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston covering the period from January 1, 1917, to December 31, 1917. Respectfully, yours, F r e d e r ic H . C u r t is s , Chairman and Federal Reserve Agent. H on. W . P. G. H a r d in g , , D. G. Washington, Governor, Federal Reserve Board TABLE OF C O N T E N T S, Page, Financial results of operation................ ......................................... .. - ....... . . . . . . . . General business and banking conditions in the district..................... .................. Discount operations........................................................................................................ Acceptance business.......................... ................................................... . ...................... United States bond transactions. .............. .............................................................. Municipal warrants purchased.............................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................. Reserve position of the b a n k ...................... ...................................... ........................ Membership in the district........ ......................................... ....................................... Relations with member b an k s..................................................................................... Relations with State banks and trust companies..................................................... Policy in regard to discount rates and purchase of acceptances ........................... Credit departm ent.........................................................*.............................. .............. Member-bank deposits............................... ......... .................. ....................... Periodic reports regarding member banks.............................................................. . Educational and publicity w ork........ .................................... ............................. ., Government deposits............... ..................................................................................... Certificates of indebtedness ........................................... ....................... ................... Liberty loan campaigns...................... ......................................................................... War-savings certificates........................... ............... .............. .......... .......... .............. Federal Reserve note issues.............................. .......... ........................... .................. Internal management of the bank...................... . ............... .......... - ................... .. Check clearing and collection.................... . . , . ........................................................ Gold settlement fund................................... ........................................ ........ ........ .. Bank of England sterling gold accou n t................................................... .................. 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 10 11 11 13 14 15 15 15 16 17 17 18 IB 1.9 20 21 21 SCHEDULES. 1. 2. 3. 4. Income and expense.................................... .................... .......... .......... . Comparative balance sheet, 1917 and 1916...................................................... * Money rates in Boston....................................... ..................................................... Chart showing bills discounted, including member banks7 collateral notes held at close of business each Friday................. ............ ................................ 5. Chart showing total investments at close of business each F riday................. 6. Chart showing amount of acceptances held at close of business each Friday. 7. Acceptances purchased for own account............................................................. 8. Acceptances purchased for other Federal Reserve Banks......................... . 9. Acceptance liability of national banks..... .......................................................... 10. Chart showing cash reserve at close of business each Friday......... ................ 10a. Chart showing gold reserve at close of business each Fr i da y. . . . . . . . . ___ 11. Member banks liquidated during 1917......... ............................................. . 12. New members.................................................................................. - ...................... 13. State banks admitted to system................................ ............................................ 14. Borrowings of national banks in New England................................................. 15. Number, capital and surplus, and deposits of eligible nonmember banks.. 3 22 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 26 27 27 28 28 88 29 2^ t CONTENTS. Page. 16. Banks granted fiduciary powers under section Ilk of the Federal Reserve a c t ........................................................................................................................... 29 17. Banks granted permission to accept up to 100 per cent of capital and surplus. 29 18. Discount rates........................................................................................................... 30 19. Reserves of national banks in New England...................................................... 30 31 20. Member banks’ deposits at close of business each F riday................................ 21-22. Charts showing Government deposits.............................................................32, 33 23-24. Certificates of indebtedness.............................................................................. 34 25-27. Liberty loan subscriptions and allotments.................................................... 35 27a. Character of Liberty loan payments.................................................................. 36 28-30. Federal Reserve note issues..............................................................................36, 37 31-32. Check clearing and collection ................................................................ ........ 37, 38 33. Gold settlement fund operations........................................................................... 38 34. Maturities of invested fun ds.................................................................................. 39 35. Distribution, by maturities, of bills discounted for member banks............... 39 36. ClassiG cation, by maturities, of investments......... ........................................... 39 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. IN TKOnUCTION . The year 1917 has been momentous in the history of this country through its entrance on the side o f the entente powers into the great European war against the central powers in the struggle o f democ racy against autocracy. The change o f financial and commercial activities of the country, brought about by the declaration of war by Congress, has been felt in Xew England, owing to the character o f its industries, probably as much as, if not more, than in any other portion o f the United States. The Federal Reserve Bank o f Boston has played no small part in assisting the Government and the New England banks in financing the new requirements brought about by war conditions. War was declared on A pril C, 1917, but previous to that time a large portion o f the industries in the district were occupied in manufacturing arms, munitions, and other war requisites for the allied powers. The high cost o f labor and o f such raw materials as wool, cotton, leather, etc., has kept money in good demand throughout the entire year, so that the resources o f the Federal Reserve Banks have been employed to a far greater extent than in previous years, both by discounts for member banks and through purchases in the open mar ket o f bankers acceptances. FIN ANCIAL RESULTS OF OPERATION. The activities referred to brought the earnings o f the Federal Re serve Bank to a point largely in excess o f those o f any previous year and these earnings were such that on December 20, 1917, the board o f directors, with the approval o f the Federal Reserve Board, de clared a dividend at the rate o f 6 per cent, covering all accumulated dividends up to December 31, 1917. This dividend amounted to $597,828.54, and covered the period from January 1,1915, to Decem ber 81, 1917. 5 6 ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. After these dividends were paid and due depreciation o f securities had been allowed, a balance o f $150,200 still remained, 50 per cent of which was carried to a surplus account and the balance paid to the United States Government as a franchise tax, as provided by the Federal Reserve Act. Schedule 1 shows these earnings in detail as compared with the year 1916. The statement o f condition o f the bank on December 31, 1917, as compared with December 31, 1916, makes an interesting comparison, as will be seen from Schedule 2. The total resources at the end of the year 1917 were $253,000,000, as compared with $65,000,000 at the end o f the year 1916. A n in crease will be noted in all items making up the balance sheet, the most notable being increases in bills discounted, in deposits o f mem ber banks, in Government deposits, and in gold holdings. GENERAL B U SIN ESS A K D B A N K IN G CO ND ITIO NS I N T H E DISTRICT. The year opened with peace overtures under discussion by the warring nations. The uncertainty as to the effect o f an early ending of the war influenced business men to go slow in their future com mitments, but the volume of business in the process o f manufacture and orders on hand was so large as to cause great activity in prac tically all manufacturing lines; more especially those engaged in the making o f war materials. Although the high prices prevailing on all raw materials and the increasing cost of labor have made it difficult to forecast the costs of production, the industries in this district for the most part have had a profitable year, and in war lines exceptionally large profits have accrued. Labor troubles, the international situation, embargoes, and other disturbances have created new problems. W ith the declaration of war, and even before, prices o f foodstuffs began to soar and, as the cost o f living increased, labor in all lines demanded higher wages. The difficulty in procuring coal and the price o f that commodity has been an important factor in the cost o f production. W ith the declaration o f war, business more and more turned to Government orders, and banks were called upon to finance to a greater extent industries engaged in such work and subscriptions to bond issues and short-term obligations o f the Government. Early in May, business began to show unusual signs of hesitation and the future trend o f prices grew more difficult to prognosticate, especially with commodity prices rising and evidences of hoarding and economy appearing. With the successful flotation o f the first Liberty loan, business identified with the war was greatly stimulated, but a retarding effect was evident in other lines, especially in luxuries and nonessentials. ANNUAL REPOET OF .FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. 7 This resulted in a spotty condition which, with an ever-increasing separation between war and domestic orders, resulted in the two lines diverging more and more as the year went on. Money rates during the first few months o f the year remained low, but as the year advanced the tendency was toward higher rates, strengthening with each offering o f certificates of indebtedness by the Secretary o f the Treasury until June 15, the date o f payment on the first Liberty loan, when rates approached a 6 per cent basis. From that date rates held firm until well into August, easing some what at that time, but increasing again in the early fall, when cer tificate offerings were renewed. As the season for crop moving ap proached and the financing of the second Liberty loan began to be felt rates materially strengthened, and although banks seldom charged their customers over 6 per cent, their borrowings from the Federal Reserve Bank became heavier and more frequent. D ISCOUNT OPERATIONS. During the first year and a half of operations o f this bank redis counts from member banks were small, never reaching during that time $500,000. During July, 1916, these reached a high point o f $5,000,000, from which they quickly receded, and it was not until late in that year that they again expanded, this time to a high point o f $ , , . During January o f the present year, rediscounts again declined to just belowT$1,000,000 and fluctuations for the balance o f the year are outlined in Schedule 4 appended. Early in June, 1917, with the approach of payments on the first Liberty loan, rediscounts expanded to a high point o f $25,500,000. From this point they receded to a little over $14,000,000, fluctuating with an upward tendency until October, when they dropped to a low point o f $10,800,000. W ith the approach of payment dates for the second Liberty loan there was a heavy demand for discounts from members, and through them from nonmembers. These, for the most part, were secured by Liberty loan bonds. The highest point for one day was reached on December 4, when on the eve o f an increase in discount rates,1 the bank discounted or loaned on 1,280 items for about 60 banks something over $36,000,000. This compares with total redis counts o f $2,386,923 from 29 banks for the first 13J months o f opera tion. In other words, the bank rediscounted about 15 times as large an amount in one day as during the entire first 13J months o f opera tions to December 31, 1915. This brought the total loans to $101,000,000. 10 000 000 3 Member banks had been advised that they would be given 48 hours' notice of any change in the discount rates then existing. 8 ANNUAL REPOBT OF FEDERAL BESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. On December 4, in order to strengthen the bank’s reserve, there were sold from the bank’s own portfolio to other Federal Reserve Banks $5,000,000 o f acceptances, and on December 5 a further lot of $10,000,000. This brought the bank’s loans on December 5 down to $91,000,000. With the financing incidental to the second Liberty loan and with the withdrawal o f Government deposits from depositary banks, the demand on the Federal Reserve Bank from its member banks for ac commodation became so heavy that during December, besides selling to the other Federal Reserve Banks bankers’ acceptances referred to elsewhere, on December 11 rediscounts amounting to $20,000,000 secured by Liberty loan bonds were made with other Federal Re serve Banks and on December 18 a further rediscount of $25,000,000. TRADE ACCEPTANCES. The use of the trade acceptance has not broadened during the year and has been confined, as in previous years, largely in connec tion with the cotton industries. Money conditions were such last year that note brokers could sell trade acceptances in the open market, but banks have been out o f the market for outside paper, especially during the period o f the move ment o f cotton and, therefore, these acceptances have been bought by the Federal Reserve Bank, largely from country banks in mill cen ters and with such member banks’ indorsement, and in increasing amounts toward the end o f the year, as will be seen by Schedule 7. Few o f the larger banks in the district have yet encouraged the trade acceptance, still being in favor o f the single name note and the dis count system so long in vogue in this section. The rate on the trade acceptance maintained by the bank has been about one-half per cent lower than the rate on bills discounted. ACCEPTANCES. The acceptance business has shown marked growth during the year, the increased cost o f raw material necessary for the industries o f the district having influenced this form o f financing. The de velopment of foreign bills has been most satisfactory, imported wool, cotton, hides, and jute forming the principal merchandise thus financed. This method o f financing has done much to develop bank ing relations between the United States, South America, and the Far East. The line o f development o f the domestic acceptance in this dis trict, however, has not been so satisfactory. The fact that rates were maintained for bankers’ acceptances by the Federal Reserve Bank below the ruling money rates and the unusual demands for capital which existed, especially in the financing o f cotton and ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. 9 other raw material, induced banks to accept bills drawn rather for general financing purposes than for the transportation or carrying of merchandise. Some banks have at times accepted drafts simply to extend addi tional accommodation to customers who were already borrowing up to their legal limit, and acceptances have been made that were not in strict accordance with the tenets o f the Federal Reserve Act and the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board. It will be seen by reference to Schedule 6 that the investment of the Federal Reserve Bank in acceptances has fluctuated widely dur ing the year. In order to strengthen the bank’s reserve these invest ments were allowed to run off early in the year so that in April, at the outbreak o f the war, the bank held but $6,500,000. While the bank has maintained a policy o f buying all eligible acceptances when offered and indorsed by its member banks, it has reduced such offerings by raising its purchase rate so as to send acceptances into the portfolios o f other banks. As money rates increased, acceptances were offered more freely, and in October the bank had invested some $30,000,000 in these securities. The raising o f the purchase rate has not always been effectual in reducing the volume o f offerings of this character coming to the bank, for at times commercial banks were out o f the market and other Federal Reserve Banks were giving preference to the acceptances o f members in their own district. While, during the development by the banks o f this country o f this new class o f business, it may have been necessary and desirable for the reserve banks to maintain rates for bankers’ acceptances much below the ruling local money rates in order to compete with foreign bankers, this has had the effect o f limiting their market to the Fed eral Reserve Bank and a few o f the large city banks. Both from the buying and selling standpoint it would appear desirable to encourage a broader and freer market for bankers’ acceptances. The Federal Reserve Bank should not feel obliged to support the market for its member banks’ acceptances or to restrict its purchases only to its member banks, and the purchase rate should follow more nearly those o f similar high-grade short-time investments so as to attract banks throughout the country to carry bankers’ acceptances in their portfolios as secondary reserve. Schedules 7 and 8 show the amount and character o f these purchasings. Schedule 9 shows the acceptance liability o f national banks in New England at date o f comptroller’s calls. U N IT E D STATES BONDS, Investments in United States bonds and other Government securi ties by the Federal Reserve Bank have not shown material increase during the year. 54005—IS------ 2 10 ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. On April 1, the bank purchased through the Secretary of the Treasury 1,057,750 United States 2 per cent bonds, its proportion of the bonds offered by member banks under section 18 o f the Federal Reserve Act. One-half o f these bonds and similar bonds already held by the bank were converted into one-year Treasury notes. Sched ule 2 shows the bank’s investments in Government securities on De cember 31, 1916, and December 31, 1917. M U N IC IP A L W A R R A N TS. Municipal warrants have been purchased by the bank only when discounts, bankers’ accptances, and other short-time eligible securi ties were lacking. The increased use o f bankers’ acceptances and trade acceptances, and the demand for rediscounts from member banks has been so large that with the exception o f $125,000 city of New York 3| notes, which matured on June 5, the Federal Reserve Bank has made no purchase o f warrants. RESKRVE PO SITION . The reserve position o f the Federal Reserve Bank has changed ma terially during the year. The gold holdings o f the bank have in creased, but on the other hand the percentage o f reserve against deposits, with the greater activities o f the bank, shows a decrease. The increase in the gold has been brought about through several causes: The changes in reserve requirements in the amendments to the Federal Reserve A ct o f June 21; the admission o f State banks to membership; and the process of replacing with Federal Reserve notes gold and gold certificates carried by State and national banks as till money, and, to some extent, the retention by the bank of gold in circulation. Under a ruling o f the Federal Reserve Board, the Boston banks increased their reserve with the Federal Reserve Bank under the new requirements on June 27, the country banks being allowed to main tain their former reserve until July 15. The reserve position o f the bank at weekly periods during the year will be found in Schedule 10, and the gold reserve on chart 10A. Schedule 19 shows the reserve o f national banks in New England at date o f comptroller’s calls. M O V E M E N T OF M E M B E R SH IP . Changes in the status o f national banks in the district during the year, especially as to conversion into trust companies, have been less marked than in previous years, and only 13 member banks have sur ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. 11 rendered their charters during the year. On the other hand, many of the larger State institutions have joined the system, and the posi tion o f this bank has been materially strengthened thereby. There are now 403 member banks in this district as against 899 at the end of 1916. The number of shares in the Federal Reserve Bank surrendered by the withdrawal o f membership during the year amounted to 2,295, as compared to 12,533 subscribed by new mem bers. The details of these changes will be seen in Schedules 11, 12, and 13. RELATIONS W IT H MEMBER BANKS. Activities in connection with subscriptions to Liberty loan bonds and the financing of such subscriptions, as well as other Government requirements, have brought member banks into closer touch with the Federal Reserve Bank. More banks have availed themselves of rediscount privileges and to a greater extent. The feeling of the country banker concerning membership in the Federal Reserve system has shown a marked change during the year, and all banks are apparently coming to realize the advantages offered by the reserve system and the strength given them by mem bership. More banks have used the check-collection system and to a greater extent, but the charge o f nine-tenths of a cent prevents banks from making general use o f that facility, especially the country banks, which continue to send their checks largely to their city correspond ents. The time-collection system and the transfer-check system have been used to but a limited extent as noted elsewhere in the report. Permission to act as trustee, etc., under section I lk o f the Federal Reserve Act has been granted to the banks named in Schedule 16. The names o f banks authorized during the year to accept up to an amount equal to 100 per cent o f their capital and surplus will be found in Schedule IT. Schedule 14 shows the borrowings o f national banks in New Eng land at the time of the comptroller’s calls. RELATIONS W I T H STATE B A N K S AN D TRUST CO M PAN IES. ♦ During the past year the bank has also been brought into more intimate relations with the State banks o f this district through gov ernmental operations in connection with Liberty loan subscriptions and Government depositaries. In the handling of Liberty loan operations the officers of State and member banks took prominent parts. Both by redeposits o f Government funds and rediscount assistance for carrying bonds, 12 ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. State banks were given the same accommodation as member banks except that rediscounts made for State banks were made only through and with the indorsement o f member banks. Under authority o f the Federal Reserve Act, the Federal Reserve Board ruled on May 15 that Federal Reserve Banks might rediscount for member banks notes o f State banks issued for carrying Liberty loan bonds and while this permission was granted only for the period from June 15 to July 15, the time was extended throughout the year. As the war progressed, State banks began to be more often called upon to finance customers engaged on Government work and such banks began to appreciate the advantages offered by the Federal Reserve Bank to member banks through rediscounts. This, together with amendments to the Federal Reserve A ct o f June 21, 1917, which were particularly favorable to State institutions, influenced a number of State banks to apply for membership in the Federal Reserve system. It was not, however, until after the appeal o f the President of the United States, on October 13, that State banks began to any great extent to apply for membership, banks applying after that date stating that they were doing so largely for patriotic reasons. Relations between the officers of the Federal Reserve Bank and those o f the State institutions have been most friendly and cordial, and during the year State institutions offered to the reserve bank their gold holdings in exchange for Federal Reserve notes in order to strengthen the gold reserve of the Federal Reserve system. The admission o f these State banks to membership has given addi tional strength to the reserve system, as the applications o f banks have been approved by the reserve bank’s committee only when their condition after careful examination demonstrated that their admission would add strength to the system. The list o f State banks admitted during the year and their deposits on admittance will be seen by Schedule 13. There are also some 10 or more State banks whose applications for membership are pending. In connection with the examination o f the applying State banks, the cooperation o f the bank departments o f the different States has been most helpful. The special committee o f the American Bankers’ Association has also been of value in influencing several of*the State banks to apply for mem bership. Under the laws of several o f the States o f the district, savings accounts are required to be segregated and invested in savings banks’ securities, and are subject to no reserve requirements. As a number o f the State banks o f the district have built up savings departments o f considerable size and the reserve requirements o f the Federal Reserve A ct require that 3 per cent reserve be carried against savings de 18 ANNUAL REPOET 0J? FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OP BOSTON. posits, this has deterred a number of State banks from applying for membership, as have also, to some extent, the requirements of section 22 o f that act. While the laws o f all of the States in the district allow State banks to join the Federal Reserve system, still in several o f the States the laws are such that State banks that have been admitted to the reserve system can not take advantage o f the reserve require ments and are obliged to carry such reserves as their State laws specify, which has the effect of increasing the reserve which those banks are required to maintain. Schedule 15 contains figures regarding eligible nonmember banks. PO LICY IN REGARD TO RATES ON REDISCOUNTS AND PURCHASES OK ACCEPTANCES. ( iovernment necessities have been an important factor in deciding the discount policy of the Federal Reserve Bank from the time of the declaration o f war. Early in the year, at the suggestion o f the Federal Reserve Board, this bank, together with other Federal R e serve Banks, raised its open-market .rates on bankers’ acceptances above the outside rate, and as these securities constituted one of the principal investments of the reserve bank, acceptances coming upon the market were purchased by member banks for their portfolios. The volume o f the investment of these securities held by the bank was thereby materially reduced and the reserve of the bank was con siderably strengthened. On April 6, 1017, at- the outbreak of the war, its reserve was 76 per cent. During the subscription period of the first Libarty loan, it became necessary to establish a rate to carry Liberty loan bonds, and the directors of the Federal Reserve Bank were for the first time con fronted with the question what effect would be produced by Govern ment needs on what might be called the strictly commercial require ments of the district. While, under normal conditions, a rate some what higher than the Government loan yielded would have been deemed proper, the directors finally decided that such a rate might interfere with subscriptions to the Government bond issue, and, there fore, decided to establish a 3-| per cent rate both on the 15-day and 90-day notes secured by Liberty loan bonds. Outside o f the marking up o f the rate on trade acceptances from 3| per cent to 4 per cent on June 26,1917, no other changes were made in the discount rate until August, when the acceptance rate was ad vanced. At that time it was felt that all rates might properly be moved up, for after the payments on account of Liberty loan sub scriptions made on August 15, the banks in the district began to feel the drain caused by these payments, and discounts at the reserve banks became more frequent. It was felt,.however, that the raising oi 14 ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL BESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. the discount rate at that time might interfere with the sale by the Secretary o f the Treasury o f the United States o f the certificates of indebtedness which were soon to be forthcoming in connection with the second Liberty loan, especially as the act of Congress prevented the Secretary o f the Treasury from issuing such certificates at a rate higher than 3| per cent. From this period on, certain o f the member banks began to run up their lines o f discount, these banks having demands on them not only for subscriptions to Liberty loan bonds, but also from customers working on Government c o n t r a c t s . In order, however, to protect the reserve of the bank, the rates for bankers’ acceptances were steadily increased until they were about one-lial f per cent above the rate established by the New York Federal Reserve Bank, thereby sending those created in this market largely to t h e N e w York bank. Although it was suggested to these member banks that they endeavor to liquidate their rediscounts, it was finally d e c i d e d that nothing should bs done to interfere with Government needs, and liquidation in nonessential industries should be encour aged. I f liquidation in the nonessential industries were to take place, it was decided that such liquidation could be safely accomplished only through, some indirect influence coming from the Government itself and that banks should be encouraged to expand in financing Gov ernment orders and in placing the different Government loans. After Congress met in September and had given the Secretary of the Treasury the discretion as to rates on Government borrowings, the directors o f the reserve bank felt freer to establish rates based on prevailing local conditions. With the inauguration of the second Liberty loan the same ques tion as to the policy o f establishing a rate for carrying these 4 per cent bonds came up for consideration. It was deemed inadvisable to make any change in the previous rate o f 3| per cent, either for 15-day loans to banks secured by Liberty loan bonds or for 9G-day loans to individuals so secured, and other rates were not raised. Here again it was found necessary to stimulate subscriptions to Govern ment bonds. W ith the withdrawal o f Government deposits in De cember, banks, as in July, began to feel the strain and the contraction of the money market again brought the banks to the Federal Reserve Bank for rediscounts. This time it was decided to raise the rates in order to encourage some liquidation, and new rates were accord ingly put into effect on December 5 and again on December 12, as shown by Schedule 18. CREDIT DEPARTMENT. During the year the credit department, under the supervision o f the Federal Reserve agent, began giving more attention to the state ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. 15 ments of borrowers from member banks when their notes were offered for rediscount, especially from the viewpoint o f eligibility. A policy was adopted o f requiring banks to furnish statements of the makers o f notes offered, whenever notes were for $5,000 and over. This policy was adopted with the idea o f influencing member banks to extend their credit departments and to give more attention to the character o f notes offered. DEPOSITS. There are appended Schedules 20, 21, and 22, showing the fluctua tion o f member bank deposits, United States Government deposits (general account), and United States funds deposited by the bank us fiscal agents with designated depositaries. Member bank deposits, as will be seen by Schedule 20, showed a very material increase, expanding from a low point of about $43,000,000 early in the year to a high point o f nearly $118,000,000 on November 15. This high point, however, was maintained only for a few days for use in payments to be made on the second Liberty . loan. Most o f the increase in deposits is due to the new reserve re quirements of the Federal Reserve Act as amended in June, 1917, and to the deposits of State banks admitted to membership. Schedule 20 shows the trend o f deposits during the year. While the policy o f penalizing banks deficient in reserves has been con tinued. the number of banks so penalized has been comparatively small. Government deposits are dealt with later in the report. PERIODIC REPORTS REGARDING M E M BER B A N K S . Reports of national bank examinations are received regularly, as in previous years, from the chief bank examiner, and similar reports have been placed at the disposal of the Federal Reserve Bank by the bank commissioners of examinations made by them of State banks admitted to membership. These reports have been of great value to the officers in giving them an intimate knowledge of the financial conditions o f member banks. Beginning December 7, weekly reports are being received from member banks in Boston and Springfield, Mass.; Hartford, C onn.; Providence, R. I., and New Haven, Conn., these reports being similar in character to those which the different clearing houses have re quired o f their member banks. These reports should prove o f great value in keeping the bank officials in touch with the financial condi tions o f the district. EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLICITY WORK. While the officers o f the bank have addressed bankers’ meetings and trade organizations, the educational and publicity work has 16 ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. been confined largely to matters pertaining to the Liberty loans and to inducing the State institutions to join the Federal Reserve system. The close intercourse o f the officials o f the bank in con nection with governmental operations has furnished an opportunity for personal contact, both with the banker and business man, which has been most beneficial. Copies o f speeches made by officers o f the reserve system and prominent bankers dealing with the different phases o f the Federal Reserve A ct have been sent from time to time throughout the district. Banks, and the public in general, have come to appreciate the power o f the Federal Reserve system, especially in connection with the financing o f the Government loans. The fact that these loans have been financed, as well as the largely increased Government orders, without any undue disturbance in the money market, has done much to impress all thinking banking officials and business men o f the potential strength of the reserve bank and the system as a whole. GOVERNMENT DEPOSITS. The deposits o f the Government, both in the Federal Reserve Bank and with depositary banks has been o f unusual magnitude and ac tivity during the year, as will be seen by Schedules 21 and 22. The Government purchases o f ammunition and other war supplies manu factured in the district and the receipts and transfers on account o f Liberty loan bonds, has made this bank’s position as fiscal agent a most important one. Acting under permission given in Treasury Department Circular No. 81, 245 banks qualified as Government depositaries in connection with the first Liberty loan and payments were made by credit and redeposits amounting to about $82,000,000. In connection with the second Liberty loan, 209 banks so qualified and payments by credit in connection with the November 15 pay ment amounted to over $170,000,000. The securities offered as col lateral against these deposits were approved by a committee con sisting o f Mr. Charles A. Morss, class B director o f the bank, as chairman; Mr. A. L. Aiken, governor o f the bank; Mr. F. H. Curtiss, Federal Reserve agent, Mr. J. H. Leman, o f Merrill, Oldham & Co., bankers; and Mr. G. P. Fogg, o f R. L. Day & Co., bankers. In connection with deposits o f securities made against the first Liberty loan payments, several o f the larger Boston banks and certain o f the Connecticut banks acted as custodians o f collateral. Securities pledged in connection with the second Liberty loan were all held by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston as custodian with the exception o f banks in New Haven, H artford, and Waterbury. Conn., when local banks acted in that capacity. AXNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. CERTIFICATES OF 17 INDEBTEDNESS. The financing of Liberty loan subscriptions and tax payments by purchase o f certificates of indebtedness issued from time to time by the Treasury Department has been o f great value in relieving the pressure that would otherwise have been felt in the money market of the district through the withdrawal at one time of the large sums o f money involved. The banks and the larger business houses have appreciated the advantage of the method o f financing and have sub scribed liberally as each issue o f certificates of indebtedness has been offered. Schedules 23 and 24 show in detail the amount o f these securities subscribed through the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and other data of interest. Redeposits were made with qualified depositary banks in connec tion with each issue o f certificates of indebtedness, in a similar man ner as with Liberty loan subscriptions, the deposits being gradually withdrawn by the Government as needs required. The payments by credit in connection with the certificates of indebtedness are included in the figures shown in Schedule 22. l ib e k t y loans . Immediately following the announcement by the Secretary of tlie Treasury o f the initial offering of the first Liberty loan, a meeting of the executive committee o f this bank was held to consider the or ganization of a Liberty loan committee to distribute and handle all details pertaining to the proposed issue o f bonds. Representatives from the more important bond houses were asked to meet and assist in perfecting an organization to handle the necessary details per taining to the bond issue. An organization was laid out covering New England with the exception of Fairfield County, Conn. The organization for both the first and second loans was practi cally the same. Special mention should be made o f the important part taken by the Boston bankers and brokers to whom is largely due the great success of the distributing end of both Liberty loans. The central committee was representative of the local financial in terests and from that the executive committee was chosen. The headquarters o f the executive committee were at 30 State Street, in rooms provided bt Lee, Higginson & Co. The Federal y Reserve Bank has since leased permanent quarters at 30 Kilby Street for the Liberty loan committee. In Boston some 79 committees representing the different lines of trade were formed. In each o f the banking centers throughout the district local chairmen were chosen, for the most part prominent bankers, and each heading committees representative of the locality. There were 69 such committees in Maine. 47 in New Hampshire. 146 .-)400o— IS------ H 18 ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OP BOSTON. in Massachusetts. 51 in Vermont, 11 in Rhode Island, and 61 in Con necticut. The governors and treasurers of the different States, the mayors o f the cities and other public officials, public-safety com mittees, labor organizations, all have assisted in making the Liberty loans a success. On the first Liberty loan, the minimum allotment for this district was $240,000,000, the maximum being $300,000,000. Subscriptions o f $332,447,000 were received and allotments were made o f $265,017,900. On the second Liberty loan the minimum allotment was $300,000,000, the maximum being $500,000,000, and subscriptions were received o f $476,950,050. Allotments were made o f $407,713,700. The basis o f the maximum and minimum allotment on the first loan was on the total banking resources o f the district, which included savings banks. On the second loan the allotment was on a similar basis, with the exception that but 50 per cent o f the savings banks’ resources were included. Full details in reference to the allotments and subscriptions by States will be seen by referring to Schedule 25. Schedules 26, 27, and 27A give further details in reference to pay ments made and various other matters relating to these two bond issues. W A H -SA V IN O S CKKTIFIOATES. In connection with the handling of the war-savings certificates campaign, the Federal Reserve Bank has not taken the same active part as it has in sales o f Liberty loan bonds. The war-savings cer tificates campaign has been handled by an organization headed by Federal appointees and has been entirely apart from the direction and guidance o f the Federal Reserve Bank. This bank has acted only as custodian of the certificates and stamps, delivering those securities on the instructions o f the committee. FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE ISSUES. During the year, as will be seen by Schedule 28, an increasing amount o f Federal Reserve notes has been issued each month. This has been brought about by two influences: first, by the nonissuance o f gold certificates of $10 and $20 denominations by the Treasury Department, and, second, by the efforts o f the Federal Reserve Bank to strengthen its reserve position through the acquiring o f gold held in the tills o f member banks and in the pockets o f the public, issuing in place thereof Federal Reserve notes. Banks in this district, both member and nonmember, have responded very willingly to this bank’s suggestions that they do not pay out gold certificates but retain them, exchanging them for Federal Reserve notes. As the demand for Federal Reserve notes increased, it was found advisable to carry a larger supply on hand not only in our own vaults, ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. 19 bill in the subtreasury and with the Comptroller o f the Currency at Washington. A t the present time there is available $10(5,700,000 o f such notes, a large part of which can be used at once and the balance within 24 hours. Schedule 30 appended shows the amount o f Federal Reserve notes o f this bank returned to us by the other Federal Re serve Banks and the amounts of notes outside the district returned to issuing banks by us. Schedules 28 and 29 show Federal Reserve notes issued and retired by the bank during the year. While the Federal Reserve Bank has furnished currency through the issue o f Federal Reserve notes to a considerable extent, the bank should have facilities for furnishing currency o f all denominations and kinds. The demand for pay-roll needs, with the increased activi ties in industry, has been felt increasingly during the jrear. 1X T E K X A li 0150A X IZ A T K > X . During the year there have been held 25 directors' meetings with an average attendance o f 8 members. The executive committee has met 30 times and the average attendance has been 4. At an early meeting of the board of directors, Mr. Daniel G. W ing, president o f the First National Bank of Boston, was reelected a mem ber o f the Federal Advisory Council. The terms o f Thomas P. Beal, class A director, and Charles A. Morss. class 1 director, expired December 31, 1917. A new election J was held by member banks in group 1. who were represented by these directors and they were unanimously reelected, there being no other nominations made for the offices. Mr. Frederic II. Curtiss was reappointed by the Federal Reserve Board as a director o f the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston for three years ending December 31. 1920. He was redesignated as chairman and Federal Reserve agent. Owing to the death of Mr. Walter S. llackney on March 20. 1917. who had been the class C director and vice chairman since October, 1914. Mr. Andrew J. Peters, former Assistant Secretary o f the Treasury, was appointed by the Federal Reserve Board to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Hackney's death. Mr. Alfred L. Aiken, who had been governor of the Federal Re serve Bank since November. 1914, resigned to accept the presidency o f the National Shawmut Bank of Boston. Mr. Charles A. Morss. formerly treasurer o f the Simplex W ire & ('able Co. o f Boston, a class B director o f the bank, was elected to the position o f governor, taking office on December 20. 1917. Mr. Morss has been a close student o f finance for many years, and has been connected as director with several o f the large local banks. 20 ANNUAL REPOET OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. Mr. Florrimon M. Howe, who has been cashier o f the hank since November. 1914, resigned in December to accept the vice presidency o f the Industrial Trust Co. o f Providence, R. I., and Mr. Chester C. Bullen, formerly assistant cashier, was elected cashier. The organization of the Federal Reserve Bank, both from the exec utive and the clerical staff, has had to be largely increased during the year, owing to the additional activities o f the reserve bank in connection with its position as fiscal agent for the United States Government. A t the time of the first Liberty loan, the subscription department and bond department was handled largely by volunteer forces, who were liberally contributed by the local banking houses. It was deemed necessary, however, to establish in the bank a permanent or ganization to handle the details incidental to the second Liberty loan and for the handling o f future Government loans. A new plan of reorganization of the entire bank was laid out. This new plan of reorganization led to the election of Mr. W illiam Willett, former assistant auditor o f the bank, as assistant cashier in charge of the clearing department. Mr. Harry A. Saunders, formerly head book keeper, was appointed assistant cashier and put in charge o f the sub scription department, Mr. Chester C. Bullen, assistant cashier, being put in charge o f the entire bond department. Mr. Harry F. Currier, former national bank examiner, was appointed chief auditor. W ith the approval o f the Federal Reserve Board, Mr. Russell B. Spear was selected by the Federal. Reserve agent as assistant Federal Reserve agent, as provided in the recent amendment o f the Federal Reserve Act, and. pending the organization of a special department, the handling of the certificates o f indebtedness. Government deposi taries, and securities deposited by banks against Gov ernment funds, has been carried on in the Federal Reserve agent’s department. With the increase o f the bank’s activities, the greatest problem has been the inadequacy of its present banking quarters, and although considerable more floor space has been added during the year and the clerical force increased from 70 to 256, still it is most important that larger banking quarters be secured and this force materially increased. A committee o f the directors has this matter T in d e r con sideration. CLEARINGS A N D COLLECTIONS. * During the year the check collection department continued to ex pand with an increasing number o f banks sending their checks to the bank for collection. About 25 banks, having a large number of items on points in other Federal Reserve districts, have taken ad vantage of the direct routing feature of this system and send their ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. 21 items direct to other Federal Reserve Banks. About 38 banks in other districts are sending items direct to this bank. The charge for collecting remains the same, at nine-tenths of a cent per item. It is noticeable that some banks are sending only their larger items, their smaller ones going through their city correspondents. In spite of the increase in items handled, it has only been necessary to make a slight increase in the number of clerks. A comparison of figures with other Federal Reserve Banks shows a very much larger percentage of checks outside of the Federal Reserve city handled in this district than in any other. This is due to a considerable extent to the fact that the New England banks were practically all accustomed to remit to the Boston Clearing House before the establishment of the present collection system. Schedules 31 and 32 contain detailed statistics on the activities o f this department. G O LD -SETTLEM EN T F U N D . The gold-settlement fund, the operation of which was outlined in the report of 1015, has continued to become an increasingly import ant. factor in the settlement of exchange without actual transfer of funds from one Federal Reserve Bank to another. During the year the transfers through this fund were largely increased, as will be seen from Schedule 33. The cost of making these transfers is infini tesimal in comparison with the vast total of transfers made. Late in the year the Boston subtreasury began settling its balances by transfers on the books o f this bank instead o f by the actual ex change of currency, and this has added to the volume of transfers through this fund. B A N K OF EN G L AN D STERLING GOLD A C C O U N T . Following an arrangement made between the Federal Reserve Bank o f New York and the Bank of England establishing relations as correspondents in which all the Federal Reserve Banks might par ticipate, this bank made payment in New York for account o f the Bank o f England on June 7, 1917, o f $3,675,000 in gold, the Bank o f England setting aside and holding a similar amount in “ ear marked gold ” in London subject to this bank’s orders. C O N C LU SIO N . There is no better evidence o f the important position that the Federal Reserve Bank o f Boston has attained at the present time than a survey of the balance sheet shown in schedule 2. The bank has been tested during the present year in the financing o f the great war loans and increased activities of the local industries 22 A.XXUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. to such an extent that its policy of discount is closely watched, and its officials are called into consultation whenever any new problem arises, which frequently occurs, owing to Avar conditions. In outlining the bank policy due regard has been taken of the different interests affected and from the broadest national viewpoint. That the war financing has been accomplished without undue disturb ance to the local money market has impressed not only the banks but the public at large of the power, strength, and insurance which the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and the Federal Reserve system furnishes for the handling of commerce and business of the United States. S c h e d u le l .:— Incom e and expense. Expense. Paid in lieu of dividends on stock canceled............ Current expense.................. Directors’ lees...................... Rent...................................... Salaries.................. .............. Exchange paid.................... Cost of Federal Reserve notes.................................. Assessment for expense, Federal Reserve Board.. Charged off: Organization................. Furniture and equip ment........................... Difference account----Cost of unissued cur rency .......................... Repairs and altera tions........................... Expenses paid in advance ..................... Transit department, net cost...................... 1916 1917 $2,804.17 25.357.37 5,712.35 15,139.13 77.085.38 .40 $3,926.85 51,288.75 5,781.10 15,246.49 93,193.65 69.10 15,141.36 68,954.48 17,703.57 21,226.35 Income. i | 1916 1917 Balance January 1, 1917.. SI 1,596. 56 Discount from member banks on— Notes discounted___ ! $39,641. 83 302,612. 23 Rediscounts secured by United States 1 153,039. 85 bonds....................... Collateral notes.......... Trade acceptances___ j 2,153.23 1,50& 14 | 17,301.73 ■ 43,303.20 15,352.04 88.98 8,973.83 814.83 33,666.91 10,450.00 1,462.24 8,255.87 571,117.13 Discount on open-market purchases: Bankers7acceptances, j domestic*..................i 7,709.16 Bankers’ acceptances,f foreign...................... 229,147.58 Trade acceptances, i fnreiem__________ ___________ State, city, and town notes......................... 78,578.27 107,831.44 377,903.14 16,662.72 5,202.73 315,435.01 507,600. as Interest on United States | securities.........................j 57,194.16 Appreciation and profit on United States securities.. 20,575.00 94,784.86 11,101.60 77, 769.16 105,886.46 Commissions..................... ! 10,558.55 Penalties for deficient To balance. 258,527.42 886,294.79 1917 597,828.54 1917 1918 886,294. 79 Jan. 2, balance forward... 258,527.42 i 138,266.25 11,596.56 361.52 450,213,90 1,209,605.24 1918 246,930.86 0.938.15 6,105.39 Satvi r iv rfis_______ J.................... »h rp 3,147. 98 Sundrv profits.................. 450,213.90 1,209,605.24 Dividends paid member banks................................. Reserve for depreciation on United States securi ties..................................... Balance to surplus account including payment to United States Govern ment.................................. 87,962.26 27,502.79 150,200.00 258,527.42 258,527.42 , 886,294.79 Jan, 3, balance.................. 886,294. 79 11,596. 56 150,200.00 A N N U A L R E PO R T OF FE D E R A L RE SER VE B A N K OF B O S T O N . 23 S c h e d u l e 2 . —Comparative balance sheet Dec. 31, 1016, and Dec. 81, 1917. Dec. 31,1916. Dec. 31, 1917. RESOURCES. Earning assets: Bills discounted for member banks-----Acceptances purchased........................... State, city, and town notes..................... United States bonds............................... United States 1-year Treasury notes.... Reserve cash: Gold coin and gold certificates................ Gold settlement fund............................... Gold redemption fund for Federal Re serve notes.............................................. Bank of England sterling gold account.. Other lawful money.................................. 13,745,315.28 12,725,167.81 890,002.23 1.332.000.00 . . 1 000 000.00 $65,882,359.35 9,037,506.04 609,750.00 2,194,000.00 $19,692,485.32 11.774 857.50 14,737,000.00 $77,723,615.39 18,690,900.00 1 16,977,000.00 1 2,000,000.00 ! 427,683.00 3,675,000.00 3,574,566.00 26,939,540.50 With Federal Reserve agent: Gold against Federal Reserve notes----Other resources: ! Interest accrued on United States bonds, Check collection expense (recoverable). . 1 Expense Liberty loan (recoverable)___ Expenses paid in advance........................j Cost of FederalReserve notes (unissued) Due from Liberty loan subscriptions Due from Federal Reserve Banks..........j Items in process of collection.................. i Due from banks (Government deposits): Exchanges for clearing house and cash items.........................................................! Federal Reserve notes and other cash on hand....................................................! Total assets...................................... 44.917.466.00 i 13,518,385.00 40.896.820.00 13,870.83 i 8,384.44 21,958.75 i44’ i67.’62 ........... i *564 *72" 29,230.20 118,035.40 4,836,i3i.06 12,592,167.39 "i5,'667" 383*44 66,489,691.55 328,149.59 3,216,597.70 815,595.87 4,661,035.81 65,257,119.92 1 253,196,771.66 LIABILITIES. Capital fund: Capital paid in........................................... Surplus........................................................ Profit and loss account............................. Deposits: Due to member banks reserve account.. Due to FederalReserve Banks collected j funds........................................................! Due to banks uncollected funds............. Due to United States Government general account...................................... Due to United States special account... Cashier’s checks outstanding................... Federal Reserve notes outstanding....... Other liabilities: Unearned discount and interest............. 4,989,700.00 ....... 258,527.42 ' " ’iso,’200.00 56,757,135.68 82,842,197.76 j ** i, 058, 988. i6 | 3,870,139.46 13,780,544.93 2,130,617.72 ! ...............941. 30 ; 1 13,518,385.00 j 2,419,414.94 66,489,691.55 20,416.38 77,296,820.00 61,209.64 1 468,896.64 65,257,119.92 I Total liabilities. 253,196,771.66 Liability for rediscount with other Federal Reserve Banks.............................................. 5,858,450.00 1 These items not included in total. 44,477,789.09 24 ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OP BOSTON. S c h e d u le 3.— Money rates in Boston, IV11. Feb. Apr. May. June. 3 -44 3 -4?t Demand money. Commercial paper Brokers' 6 months’ paper Year money Acceptances Town notes_______________ Certificates of indebtedness Mar. 34-4, 4 -4£ 3Hi 4 -5 4-2-5 44-6 2 £ *-3 3 -3-1 , 4.17-4.55 3 -3> 5 -6 5 -6 5 3 -3* 4.21-5.39 3} Oct. Nov. Dec. 3^ -5“ 4 -5 2.09-2.70 4Mf 2 -3 ^^ 1.46-4.00 2 Aug. Sept. 4i-4f July. Demand money...................................... 4£-6 Commercial paper.................................. 4J 2-5£ Brokers' 6 months, paper.................... 4f-5| Year money.............................................i 5^-5* Acceptances.............................................! 3 -3f Town notes............................................... 3.92-4.39 Certificates of indebtedness.................. .................... 4*-5 4*-6 4$-5& 5 -6 5 -oj 5 -6 5J -5$ 5 -51 3 -4 3|-4 3.98-4.93 4.27-4.34 34 3 -4 ^ 4 -5 41-5 4-J-5 ] 3-50-4.12 3 4 -6 5£-6 5 -6 ^ 6 3|-3| 4 .24-4.51 4 4 -6 5i-6 5J-6 6 3*-3* 4.55-4.90 4 4£-6 dl-ti 6 3 -4 ^ 4.58-5.10 4 S ch edu le 4.— B ill* discounted, w cln din y m em ber banks' collateral notes livid at close of business each Frida}}. In Jan. Feb. Mar Apr May June Juty Aug. Sept Oct Nov. Dec. 25 ANNUAL BEPOBT OF FEDEBAL RESEBVE BANK OF BOSTON. S c h e d u le 5.— Total investments at close of business each Friday. 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 1 0 0 S c h e d u l e 6 . — Amount o f acccptanccs held at close o f business each Friday. 26 ANNUAL BE POUT OF FEDERAL BESEBVE BANK OF BOSTON. Schedule 1 — A cceptances purchased for own account. Foreign acceptances. Low and high rate. Month. Items. January___ February... March. . . . . . A pril__. . . May*........... June___ July............. August....... September.. O ctober___ Novem ber.. December. . Domestic acceptances. Amount, 90 .187 163 17 233 .185 67 228 409 97 373 123 $2, 522, 546. 66 4,461, 805. 32 4,803,854.46 786. 937- 47 9, 077; 342. 66 6,153,140. 45 2,320,664. 79 6, 038, 808.44 10,654,363.60 4,179, 893. 80 7,831,447.47 3,891,621.91 T o ta l... 2,172 Items. 2V-3* 2a- 3h 21- O7 ;:j -;u 3 -3 t , 3 -?A ; 3 -3-| ! 3p4 : 3 i-3 f = : 31-41 20 19 s. 20 70 22 49 102 54 79 266 766 8 , — A cceptances Low and high rate. Amount, $516,292.67 800, 416. 62 353, 407. 60 458,149.37 1,140,471.04 2,390, 740. 88 1,102,781.58 1,253,165.94 3, 958, 850. 87 1,400,0^9.76 3,505,018. 51 8, 508, 144.61 i Items. I 25,387,539.45 j ! Total S c h e d u l e 9 .— A cceptance Mar. May June Sept. Nov. 4-4 4-4 4-4 4-4 4.4 228 I 3,408,339.92 Domestic acceptances. Amount. . Low and Items, high rate. P er cent. M qy............. 8229, 553.16 24 101 ! 2,020,406.37 8 60,733.74 50 499, 881.92 45 597, 664. 73 purchased fo r other Federal R eserve Banks Mouth. J u n e.. . . . . . July............ August....... September. November. December.. Low and high rate. Amount. / ’. cL 3 -3} 3 9-s 3 ~3| 3 -35 3 -3 1 3 -3 ' 3:-3' 3F*f 3s-3: { 3-|-4 3 4-35 3H 1 Foreign acccptanccs. February.. April.......... Items. P. C L P. ct. 62, 732, 427.03 Schedule Foreign trade acceptances. 584 £6, 207, 883.16 3,597, 019.£9 6,392, 551.36 5, 845, 222. 26 686, 000.00 9, 854, 040.11 3, 244, 386. 64 3, 881, 947.48 10,856, 513.55 1,911 50,555,564.45 252 124 255 118 8 281 78 211 2 -3 |§ 3 -U 3 -;u 3 -3\ 3 -3 f 3J-4 3V -3f 3 -4 $£ Amount $326, 327.40 1,005 828.17 1, 33/; 453.16 658, 055.21 307, 853.22 735, 022.75 173, 805.76 "i 13 I 447, 560. 70 289 | 10,514, 551.63 15 30 44 32 10 ! j i * i I Low and |high rate. P er cent. 3 -3g 3 -3| 3 -3| 3 -31 31-34 3 -3 .V I 3^4* 456 j 15,500,458.00 liability o f national banks in New England at date o f Comptroller1 calls, s 5, 1917.-_____________ _____________ _____„ ____________ _ . $24, 872, 000 1, 1917_____ __________ _______________________________ — ______ 25,459,000 20, 1917„_________ „ . __________________________________ _______ 83,147, 000 11, 1.917— ____________ ____________ _________ ____________ — _____ 85, 082, 000 20, 1.917___ ..._______ ______________ _____ . ______ __- ....— .1 ____ 44, 500, 000 ANNUAL REPORT OK FliDKKAl. RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. S c h e d u l e 10. — Cash 27 reserve at close o f business each Friday. PerCent S ch ed u le 10A.— Total gold reserve at close o f business each Friday. 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 28 ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. S c h e d u le 11.— M em ber hanks liquidated during 1917* Location. Name of bank. Shares surren* dered. Disposition. /Form ed Hadley Falls Trust Co., Hol\ yoke, Mass. Consolidated with Merrill Trust Co., Bangor, Me. Ware, Mass......... Succeeded by Ware Trust C o.. . . . . . . . . Ware National Bank......... Consolidated with Worcester Bank & Worcester, Mass. Worcester National Bank. Trust Co. Succeeded by First Auburn Trust Co. Auburn, M e .. First National Bank....... Succeeded by Brooks Bank & Trust Co. Torrington, Conn. Brooks National B ank... Taunton, M ass..., Succeeded by Bristol County Trust Taunton National Bank. Co, Stoneham, Mass.. Succeeded by Stoneham Trust Co____ Stoneham National Bank. Rochester, N. H . Succeeded by Rochester Trust C o........ Rochester National Bank.. Wiscasset, Me— Succeeded by Lincoln County Trust First National Bank.......... Co. Norwood National B ank.......... Norwood, M ass.______ Succeeded by Norwood Trust Co....... . South Berwick National Bank, South Berwick, M e.... Succeeded by South Berwick Savings Bank & Trust Co. Hadley Falls National Bank. Home National Bank............ . Second National Bank........ Jllolyoke, Mass. Bangor, M e___ 180 210 180 234 480 135 75 465 36 60 36 120 84 2,295 Total. S c h e d u l e 12. — N e io m e m b er s. Shares subscribed Location, Name of bank. North Brookfield National B ank................................ . Ba'-k Bav National Bank............. . .............................. . Tanners National B ank. . .. . . . . Second National B a n k .. . . ... Common wealth Trust C o............. . ................................ Winchester Trust Co .................................................... * International Trust C o........... ................................ Fitchburg Bank & Trust C o............. . . . . . . Norwood Trust C o .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . American Trust Co....... „ . . ....., .......... ...................... . Newton Trust Co .............................. ............. ................. Industrial Trust C o .. . . . . . ........................................ Metropolitan Trust C o .. . . ............................................. Union & New Haven Trust Co................................. Charles Ri ver Trust C o .............. ................................. Winchester National B a n k ....... . .......................... Worcester Bank & Trust Co................ .................... . North Brookfield, Mass Boston, Mass................. ........... ............. Woburn, Mass..................... ................ Malden, Mass....... . . . . . . ........ ............... Boston, Mass............... . . . . . ............ .. . Winchester, Mass......... . . .......... .. Boston, Mass............................... .......... Fitchburg, Mass........... .. ...................... Norwood, Mass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boston, Mass.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Newton, Mass......................... ............ Providence, R. I ...................................... Boston, Mass................................... New iTaven, C on n .................................. Cambridge, Mass......... . . ........ . . . . . . . . . Winchester, Mass..................... . Worcester, Mass..................... . Total_______________________________________ ! S c h e d u l e 13. — State Name of bank. Nov, Bee 38 150 66 75 900 75 1,800 450 120 1,800 480 4,200 360 690 24Q 39 1,050 12,533 banks admitted to system . Location, Capital and surplus. Deposits when admitted, Commonwealth Trust Co................................ . j Boston, Mass................ $1,500,000 $18,520,000 125.000 530,000 Winchester Trust Co........................................ I Winchester, Mass... ** International Trust Co........... ........................... Boston, Mass................ 3,000,000 14, 772,000 750.000 3.485.000 Fitchburg Bank & Trust Co........ .................. . Fitchburg, Mass___ 200.000 1.771.000 N or wood Trust Co.............................................. N orwood, Mass----- .. . 0 American Trust Co.............................................. Boston, Mass................ 3.000, 0 0 19,905, 000 800,000 3.629.000 Newton Trust C o................................................ Newton, Mass.............. 7.000,000 ; 58, 765,000 Industrial Trust C o............................................ Providence, It. I ......... eoo;ooo ! 3.559.000 Metropolitan Trust C o............... ...................... Boston, Mass................ 400,000 1.881.000 Charles River Trust Co....................................... Cambridge, Mass— 1.150.000 ; 3,156, 000 Union & New Haven Trust Co..................... New Haven, C on n .. . . 19,700,000 1.750.000 Worcester Bank & Trust Co..................*.......... Worcester, Mass........... ANNUAL BEPOBT OF FEDEBAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. Schedule 29 14.—Borrowings o f national banks in N eio England. Bills payable with Federal reserve bank.1 Accept Redis ances redis counts of Money counted Liabilities Total Federal included borrowed for Reserve elsewhere. rediscounts,1 borrowings.1 in total Bank borrow of Boston.* ings.1 $610,000 110,000 1.740.000 7.445.000 5.177.000 5.439.000 $4.633.000 3.089.000 3.077.000 8.131.000 6.124.000 0,701,000 Date. Dec. 27 1916......................... Mar. 5,1917............................. May 1,1917.............................. June 20, 1917........................... Sept. 11, 1917........................... Nov. 20,1917........................... 1 $14,547,000 16.299.000 13.098.000 21.376.000 15.883.000 45.479.000 $19,790.000 19.498.000 17.915.000 36.952.000 27.184.000 57.019.000 $8,849,000 8.733.000 6.951.000 6.654.000 5.738.000 15,490,000 $4,804,000 2.535.000 4.791.000 15.093.000 13.757.000 32.970.000 1 From reports to Comptroller of the Currency. s As shown by books of Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, S c h e d u l e 15. — Number, capital, and surplus, and deposits, by States, o f eligible nonmcmber banks. Number banks. Capital and surplus. Connecticut................................................................................................ Maine........................................................................................................... Massach usetts.............................................................................................. New Hampshire......................................................................................... Rhode Island.............................................................................................. Vermont...................................................................................................... 25 37 80 8 10 23 $9,904,300 6,347,900 40,164,000 1,500,200 18,378,000 2,756,000 $56,828,000 59,498,000 269,846.000 8,970,254 154,161,000 30,836,000 Total.............................................. ........................... .................... . 183 79,050,400 580,139,254 State, S c h e d u le 16. — Banks Date. Name. granted fiduciary powers under section I l k o f the Federal reserve act. Location. 1917 Jan. 29 Merrimack National Bank......... Haverhill, Mass.. 29 Mar. 16 May 14 June 18 First National Bank................... Bar Harbor, Mo.. Home National Bank............... Brockton, Mass.. State National Bank................... Windsor, V t........ Webster & Nat ional Bank. Boston, Mass....... Aug. 20 20 Oct, 31 Manufacturers National Bank.. Lynn, Mass......... Edgartown National Bank........ Edgartown, Mass. National Bank of Wareham___ Wareham, Mass.. 31 5 10 14 Dec. 28 Mechanics National Bank.......... Worcester, Mass.. National State Capital Bank.... Concord, N. H . . . Plymouth National Bank.......... Plymouth, Mass.. Vermont National Bank............ Brattleboro, V t .. Merchants National Bank......... Leominster, Mass, Nov. S c h e d u le 17. — Banks Powers granted. Trustee, executor, administrator, and registrar of stocks and bonds. Do. Do, Trustee, executor, and administrator. Trustee, executor, administrator and registrar of stocks and bonds. Trustee, executor, and administrator. Trustee, executor, administrator, and registrar of stocks and bonds. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. granted permission to accept up to 100 per cent o f tlicir capital and surplus during 1917. Blackstone Canal National Bank, Providence, It. I. Safety Fund National Bank, Fitch burg, Mass. Rartford-Aetna National Bank, H art ford. Conn. Deposits. Mechanics National Bank, New Bed ford, Mass. M assasoit-Poccaset National Bank, Fall River, Mass. National Union Bank, Boston, Mass, 30 a n n u a l report F ED E j RAL of S c h e d u le Maturi ties of 15 days or less. Date. Dec. 7,1916.................................... Mar 21,1917................................ June 12, 1917.................................. Oct. 23,1917................................... Dec, 5,1917.................................... Dec. 12,1917................................... 31 3J 3* 31 4 4 reserve bank of boston . I S .— D i s c o u n t r a t e s . Agricul Maturi tural and ties of live-stock Trade 16 to 90 paper 91 Accept days. days to 6 ances, months. 4 4 4 4 4^ 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 Com modity paper. Secured b y United States certificates of indebtedness or Liberty Loan Bonds. 15 days or less. 4 4 4 4 4 3£ 23£ '3* ( 3) 16 to 90 days. 3* ®3§ 4 4 1June 26, acceptances under 91 days, 4 per cent. 2Customers of nonmember banks, 4 per cent, 8Merged with commercial paper rates of corresponding maturities on Dec. 5, 1917, S chedule 1 0 — R eserves of national banks in New England as reported by Comptroller o f the Currency. Date. Dec. 27, 1916................................................................................ Mar. 5, 1917............... ............................... ........... .................... May 1, 1917................................................................................... June 20, 1917............................................................................... Sept. 11, 1917...................... - ........ ............................................. Nov. 20,1917............. - ........ ............... ................... .................. Total reserve. $172,535,000 189.557.000 190.443.000 170.872.000 1 56,725,000 56,069,000 Required reserve. Excess reserve. $111,335,000 119.637.000 117.143.000 111.832.000 55,823,000 54,766,(00 $51,200,000 69.920.000 73.300.000 59.040.000 2 902,000 1,303, C O O i Cash in vault and due from national banks, not included as reserve, $108,250,000. * Deficiency. 31 ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. S c h e d u l e 2 0 . —M e m b e r hank deposits at close o f business each Friday. In Millions 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 1 0 0 32 ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. Schjsduijg 21.— Treasurer of United States, general account at close of business each Friday . BEPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. 22.—Amount with Government depositaries each Friday, In (Hr on 200 190 180 170 160 150 140 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 34 ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. S c h e d u l e 2 3 .— Certificates Dated. D e* u Amount issued in each denomination (in thousands of dollars). Rate. $500 Mar. Apr. May May May June Aug. Aug. Sept. Sept. Oct. Oct. Nov. 29 June 29 25 June 30 1 . ..d o ...,. 10 July 17 25 July 30 8 ...d o ....... 9 Nov. 11 28 Nov. 30 17 Dec. 15 28 . . . d o . ... 18 Nov. 22 24 Dec. 15 30 June 25 o f indebtedness issued at Boston. $1,000 2 1,200 3 3 3 2,007 3 * 3i 3 A Z l 3V 4" 4 4 4 $5,000 2,200 3,005 3,593 1,645 1,951 4,149 3,454 2,325 1,650 301 11 ,2 0 4,310 5,000 5,825 6,793 3,375 3,100 6,495 5,965 4,175 3,580 $10,000 : $100,000 ..........i Num ber of sub scrip tions. 1 68 112 3,803 | 8,800 790 j . . ........... 4,050 ' 1,800 3,700 300 4,370 5,000 3,920 5.100 3,620 6.500 4,460 2,600 3.500 8,030 4.100 16,630 16,510 10,000 13,490 1,900 Paid for by credit. $3,000,000 13.800.000 41 105 102 37 2,000,000 11.200.000 $5,450,000 12.167.000 ‘ *3,652,"000 6.500.000 4.593.000 5.195.000 12.245.000 21.349.000 27.590.000 20.090.000 18,200,000 19.400.000 15.140.000 12.171.000 22.174.000 30.149.000 33.010.000 20.921.000 6S 74 53 -62 45 126 138 Total issued. i Federal Reserve Bank took 12 certificates of $250,000 each. S c h e d u l e 2 4 . — Certificates Apr. 25,1917. Amount allotted to subscriber. Sub scrib er. $25,000 and less........................... Over $25,000 to $ 5 0 ,0 0 0 ........ I Over $50,000 to $100,000............ Over $100,000 to £250,000.......... Over $250,000 to $500,000 .......... Over $500,000 to $1,000,000 Over $1,000,000............................ T otal.................................. Total amount. 8 10 6 9 3 2 3 o f indebtedness. May 10,1917. May 1,1917. Sub scrib er. Total amount. Sub scrib er. Total amount. May 25, 1917, SubTotal scrib* amount. er. $140,000 500.000 600.000 2,110,000 1,200,000 1.750.000 7.500.000 $570,000 485.000 275.000 670.000 59 17 12 8 4 3 2 $668,000 761,000 1.003.000 1.635.000 1.850.000 2.750.000 3.500.000 36 11 9 7 i i 3 $432,000 506.000 770^00 1.292.000 400.000 600.000 7.200.000 13,800,000 41 51 11 3 3 68 2,000,000 105 12,167,000 68 11,200,000 r June 8,1917. Aug. 9,1917. Aug. 28,1917. Sept. 17, 1917. | Sub Total scrib amount. er. i Amount allotted to subscriber. Sub scrib er. Total amount. $25,000 and less........................... Over $25,000 to $50,000.............. Over $50,000 to $100,000............ Over $100,000 to $250,000.......... Over $250,000 to $500,000.......... Over $500,000 to $1,000,000 Over $1,000,000........................... 27 10 14 12 4 4 3 $423,000 470,000 1.230.000 2.107.000 1.520.000 2.950.000 9.500.000 21 13 7 6 1 1 4 $290,000 645.000 635.000 1,180,000 400.000 750,000 15,500,000 2 10,400,000 48 $649,000 2S 1.233.000 1.466.000 16 2.300.000 12 15 6.426.000 4 | 4,000,000 3 j 6,100,000 Total . - .............................. 74 18,200,000 53 19,400,000 | 62 15,140,000 126 | 22,174,000 Sept. 26,1917. Sub scrib er. Sub scrib er. 24 10 12 10 4 Oct. 18, 1917. Amount allotted to subscriber. Sub scrib er. Total amount. $25,000 and le s s ......................... Over $25,000 to $50,000___ . . . . Over $50,000 to $100.000.______ Over $100,000 to $250,000.......... Over $250,000 to $500,000.......... Over $500,000 to $1,000,000 Over $1,000,000........................... 15 11 6 5 5 1 2 $277,000 540.000 575.000 1.150.000 1.900.000 729,000 7,000,000 58 26 28 12 6 T otal.................................. 45 12,171,000 134 Total amount. Sub scrib er* 8 Total amount. $364,000 410.000 960.000 1,680.000 1,326,000 Oct . 24, 1917. Sub scrib er. $806,000 1 1.129.000 2.540.000 ; 2.674.000 i 2.800.000 20,200,000 | 30,149,000 Total amount. Total amount. $525,000 35 1,060,000 24 19 1.725.000 8 1.700.000 9 4.000.000 2 ! 2.000.000 5 22,000,000 102 33,010,000 Nov. 30,1917, Sub Total scrib amount. er. 11 11 4 2 6 1 2 $151,000 500.000 360.000 460.000 2,650,000 800.000 16,000,000 37 20,921,000 35 ANNUAL BEPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. S chedule 25.— The L iberty loans. Number of subscribers. Subscriptions. Allotment. State. First loan. Second loan. First loan. Second loan. Total 10tal* First loan. Second loan. Total. 68,539 68,575 $15,186,800 $24,002,850 $39,189,650 $14,332,300 $12,996,100 $37,328,400 Maine................... New H am psh ire... 55,374 48,548 10,515,150 I 15,992,900 26,50S, 050 9.897,500 15,484,400 , 25,381,900 Vermont.................. 33,418 33, 769 7,377,650 I 10,193,250 17,570.900 6', 992,150 10,061,550 , 17,053,700 O Massachusetts......... 613,651 444,8.9 234,747,000 325,599, S O560,346,800 177, 256,400 1273,241,600 450,478,000 Rhode Island.......... 82,391 51,429 2% 377, 700 38,803, 450 64,181,150 23,073,900 33,466,050 I 56.539,950 39,283,300 62.357,800 101,641,100 33,485,650 52,064,000 85,949,650 Connecticut............. 117,418 99,491 970,791 746,641 332,447,600 476,950,050 808,427,650 265,017,900J 407, 713, 700 672,731,600 Total.......... Additional allot ment transferred from Philadel phia....................... 816,300 Grand total 40S, 530,000 S c h e d u l e 2G.— Subscriptions to L iberty loan bonds. First Liberty loan. Day. Date. 1917. May 16.......... May 17............ May 18............ May 19........... May 21............ May 22........... May 23............ May 2 4 . . .. . . . May 25............ May 26----May 28............ May 29............ May 3 1 , . . ___ June 1........... June 2........... June 4........... June 5........... June 6........... June 7........... June 8 . . . ___ June 9........... June 11........... June 12........... June 1 3 ........ June 1 4 . . . . . . . June 1 5 .......... Schedule $545,800 731,700 825.150 1.168.400 7] 6,900 2 614,350 2.175.000 5,267,300 4 Sfil, 750 1,960,700 6,029,800 575,600 29,142,700 5,959,500 15, m , 750 11.932, So0 4.524.400 5,146,900 8,266,850 7.493.000 8.794.000 12,817, 250 11,710,300 12, 7S5,900 26,073,650 144,941,100 Second Liberty loan. Total $545,800 1,277,500 2,102,650 3,271,050 3.987,950 6.602.300 8.777.300 14,044,600 18,906,350 20.867,050 26,986,850 27,472, 450 56,615,150 62.574.650 77,961,400 89.894,250 94.418.650 99,565,550 107.832.400 115.325.400 124.119.400 136,936,650 148,646.950 161,43?, 850 187.506,500 332,447,600 1917. Oct. 3 .......... Oct. 4 . . . . . . Oct. 5 .......... Oct. 6.......... Oct. 7.......... Oct. 8.......... Oct. 10.......... Oct. 12.......... Oct. 13.......... Oct. 15.......... Oct. 16.......... Oct, 17.......... Oct. 18.......... Oct. 19.......... Oct. 20.......... Oct. 2 2 .......... Ont. 23.......... Oct. 24.......... Oct. 25.......... Oct. 2 6 ._____ Oct. 27. ____ $12,536,000 6.425.000 7.702.000 2.616.000 6.311.000 6.540.000 6.749.000 10.525.000 9.291.000 9.365.000 18.243.000 19.505.000 26.144.000 27.965.000 16.451.000 19.996.000 32.136.000 52, 770,000 46.378.000 49.270.000 90.603.000 Total. $12,536,000 18.895.000 26.647.000 29.300.000 35.546.000 42.183.000 48.629.000 59.114.000 68.381.000 77.737.000 95.879.000 115.385.000 141.516.000 169.338.000 185,789, 000 205.743.000 237.875.000 290.690.000 337, 069,000 386.347.000 476,950,000. 27.— L iberty loan subscriptions and allotm ents through Federal R eserve Bank o f B oston . First Liberty loan. Size of subscription. Total subscribed. -$50-$I0,000...................... $203.265.000 65.605.000 $10,050-$100,000.............. 22 875 000 $100,050-$250,000............ 40 802.000 Over $250,000................. Total..................... Day. Date. 332,447,000 Second Liberty loan. Total allotted. $203 265 000 39,303.000 10 294 000 12,155 000 265,017,000 Size of subscription. Total subscribed. $50-$l 0.000..................... $186,136,050 $10,050-$50,000.............. 73,581,100 50,363,350 $50,050-SI 00,000............. 31,734,450 $100.050-$200,000........... 109.935.100 $200,050-SI ,000,000. 25 200,000 Over $1,000,000............. Total................... 476,950,050 Total allotted. $186,136,050 73,581,100 45,327.050 23 800 850 66 268.650 12.C00.000 407, 713,700 36 ANNUAL REPORT O f FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OH' BOSTON. S c h e d u l e 27 A . .. C h a r a c t e r uf L i b e r t y loan p(itnnenix. FIRST LOAN. Dato. By cash* ! ! By credit 1 Government j deposits. Certificates of indebtedness. Accrued interest, Total. June 2 8 ... ....... ................. $71.155,707.52 90, 724* 358.88 Aug. 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S55.851.455.32 173,622.11 $43,758.000.00 $170,765 222,84 1,330,000.00 j 92 227, 980.99 189,503.84 513,202.99 161,880,126.40 56,025,077.43 45, 088,000.00 ! 262,993,203.83 602. 706.83 T ota l,. . . . . . . . . . . . . SECOND LOAN. ! 2 per cent paym ents. . . . . ! $4,055, 738.00 Cash sales.......................... 14 245,150.00 Nov. 15............................... 55,630.311.50 Dec. 15.................. J 14,183.028.28 15.153,004.00 3.084.100.00 170.328,176.50 59,793,191.55 $9.208. 742.00 1 ................ i........................... 17.329.250.00 I $40,435,000.00 266,393,488.00 I........................... 73.869.420.00 Total 3..... ...............i 88.114,227.78 238,358,472.05 1 40,435,000.00 i I ----- 366.800, 900,00 1106,799.83 106,799.83 1 Includes all payments after June 28, 1017. 2 Final payment is due Jan. 15, 1918, S c rk p i lk 28.-...F ederal Reserve notes ixsit* <1. Denomination. 1915 T ens...................................................................... . Twenties......................... .................. . Fifties............ ............. . r, ..... ................. H undreds.......... ............... ................... T o t a l . . . . .............. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ January. ! $6,226,600 | 3,965,600 ' 88, 200 ! 42,000 | 102,300 10,520, 000 ! i 10,424,700 1917 $12,700,000 39,880,000 13, 760,000 3,460,000 5, 920,000 $22, 546,600 48, 525, 600 14,488, 200 4,102,000 7, 002,300 75, 720,000 96, 664, 700 February. March. April. May. June. j Fives.......... ............... SI 93,650 Tens......... . 209,100 Twenties............. 6,900 Fifties................. . 3,250 4,100 H undreds............. . Tota l. . . . . . . . . Denomination. 1349,955 372,110 36,110 13,850 53,200 ! $264,445 §214,900 149, 800 i 189,305 2,100 S 12,700 ! j 32,250 ! 12, 750 13,300 | 12,100 $432,200 260,800 29,300 17, 000 22, 300 825,225 512,000 | 391,650 761, 600 417,000 September October. November. December. F iv e s.,................... . Tens...... ....................... Twenties...................... Fifties................ Hundreds..................... $857,600 327, 725 33, 210 1,800 2,400 $834,700 446,400 74,900 36,450 62, 000 $1,278,110 788,205 87,600 22,200 22,400 $985,650 942,920 106,200 16, 750 32,400 Total............. ... 1,222, 735 1,454,450 3,198,515 2,083,920 Total, 29.— Federal R eserve notes redeemed. S chedule Denomination. S3, 620,000 4,680,000 640, 000 600.000 980.000 f 1916 .. July. $255, 200 8230,470 141,000 267,300 12,000 23,200 1,800 1 16,600 32,100 1,100 411,100 Total. $6,428,330 4,651, 765 427,020 175,750 258, 700 569,670 Re deemed by United States Treasury. August. 1531,450 557,100 2,800 1,050 1,300 1, 093,700 Re deemed by Federal Reserve agent. $793,330 So, 635,000 732,765 3,919,000 51,020 376.000 150.000 25,750 230.000 28,700 11,941,565 1,631,565 10,310,000 37 ANNUAL REPORT OP FEDERAL RESERVE BANE OF BOSTON. S c h e d u l e 30 . — Federal R eserve notes o f the Federal R eserve Bank of Boston received from other Federal R eserve B anksy and notes o f other Federal Reserve Banks returned by Federal R eserve Bank o f B oston to bank o f issue. Received. 1916 New York............................................................................... $1,361,750 133,380 Philadelphia........................................................................... Cleveland.................. ................................ *.......................... 13,820 15,020 Richmond............................................................................... Atlanta.................................................................................... 19,465 90,500 Chicago.................................................................................... 11,480 St. Louis..........., „............... ......................... „....................... Minneapolis............................................................................ 10,440 Kansas City............................................................................ 1,785 4,420 Dallas........ ............................................................................. San Francisco........................................................................ 38,240 Total.............................................................................. 1,680,300 Returned. 1917 1916 $3,064,200 368,000 38,915 47,500 135,400 232,500 53,450 15,000 8,815 283,695 29,025 $3,039,000 180,000 136.000 185.000 112.000 24.000 28.000 68,500 49.000 74.000 57.000 $9,552,800 634, 700 352.900 263.900 193.200 347,800 100.900 142.200 126,600 141,400 156,500 4,270,500 3,952,600 12,012,900 1917 S c h e d u l e 31. — Volume of checks handled for members and for other Federal Reserve Banks, Jan. 1, 1917, to D ec. 81, 1917. Date. Drawn on New Eng* la n d , including Boston. By whom deposited. Items. Jan___ Members district No. 1........... Other Federal Reserve Banks Total.......................... Amount. 929,029 $211,442,054 82*156 6 > 467,250 c, Drawn on other districts. Items. Amount. Total. Items. Amount, 75,036 $76,532,661 1,004,065 $287,974,715 82,156 69,467,250 1,011,185 280,909,304 75,036 76,532,661 1,086,221 357,441,965 F e b ... Members district No. 1........... Other Federal Reserve Banks 764,681 200,232,603 72,938 66,896,145 58,600 81,996,602 823,281 282,229,205 72,938 66,896,145 Total............................... 837,619 267,128,748 58,600 81,996,602 896,219 349,125,350 Mar... Members district No. 1........... Other Federal Reserve Banks 916,827 255,083,791 88,453 82,912,248 69,428 104,044,163 986,255 359,127,954 88,453 82,912,248 Total............................... 1,005,280 337,996,039 A p r.. . Members district No. 1........... Other Federal Reserve Banks 907,369 269,959,036 94,424 93,634,390 Total............................... 1,001,793 373,593,426 67,867 118,346,778 1,069,660 481,940,204 M ay.,. Members district No. 1........... Other FederalHeserve Banks 990,372 313,277,248 104,794 100,449,534 72,090 120,536,944 1,062,462 433,814,192 104,794 100,449,534 Total............................... 1,095,166 413,726,782 72,090 120,536,944 1,167,256 534,263,726 June,.. Members district No. 1........... Other Federal Reserve Banks 990,636 376,892,158 93,428 106,836,301, 73, 771 145,650,156 1,064,407 522,542,314 95,428 106,836,301 Total................................ 1,087,064 483,728,459 73,771 145,650,156 1,160,835 629,378,615 July... Members district No. 1........... Other Federal Reserve Banks 966,518 385,506,704 97,827 106,362,288 Total................................ 1,064,345 491,868,992 69,428 104,044,163 1,074,708 442,040,202 67,867 118,346,778 975,236 388,305,814 94,424 93,634,390 73,512 154,076,421 1,040,030 539,583,125 97,827 106,362,288 73,512 154,076,421 1,137,857 645,945,413 A u g ... Members district No. 1........... Other Federal Reserve Banks 933,950 405,192,613 99,024 101,330,698 76,077 143,438,330 1,010,027 548,630,943 99,024 101,330,698 Total............................... 1,032,974 506,523,311 76,077 143,438,330 1,109,051 649,961,641 Sept... Members district No. 1........... Other Federal Reserve Banks 866,931 348,442,753 98,289 99,602,284 Total................................ 78,427 131,225,648 945,358 479,66?, 401 98,289 99,602,284 965,220 448,045,037 78,427 131,225,648 1,043,647 579,270,685 O ct.... Members district No. 1........... 1,040,717 415,574,376 117,360 126,244,959 Other Federal Reserve Banks 97,447 155,269,617 1,138,164 570,843,993 117,360 126,244,959 Total................................ 1,158,077 541,819,335 ...... 97,447 155,269,617 1,255,524 697,088,952 J 38 ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON. S c h e d u l e 3 1 . — Volume of checks handled for members and for other Federal R eserve B anksf Jan. i, 1917, to Dec. SI, 1917— Continued. B y whom deposited, Date, Drawn on New Eng1 a n d, including Boston. Items. Amount. Drawn on other Districts. Items. Amount. Total, Items. Amount, 1,000,347 $488,767,678 120,246 | 143,586,318 93,904 8155,026,132 1,094,251 $643,793,810 120,246 149,586,318 Total.............. ................. 1,120,593 638,353, G96 93,904 155.026,132 1,214,497 793,380,128 N o v . , . Members district No. 1 .......... Other Federal Reserve Banks Dec___ Members district No. 1........... Other Federal Reserve Banks Total..................... . 1,024,260 467,096,007 102,094 166,494,366 1,126,354 633,590,373 140,652 157,883,533 140,652; 157,883,533 , 1,164,912 '624,979,540 102,094 166,494,366 1,267,006 79 L 473,906 Grand total........ ........... 12,544,228 5,398,672,969 938,253 1,552,637,818 13,482,481 6,951,310,787 This schedule does not include Government checks shown in Schedule 32. S c h e d u le 32.-—Number o f checks drawn on Treasurer of Untied State* handled by Federal R eserve Bank o f Boston. Month, January.......................... Febru ary................ ......... March . . . . . . . . . . . ................ April............................. M ay.................................... June..................................... July................. ................... August. ........................ September......... O ctober.............................. Novem ber.......................... D e c e m b e r ~ . Total........ . S c h e d u l e 3 3 . — Gold Number of pension checks. Amount. Number of other checks. 10,230 2,481 28,622 8,332 1,688 30,311 7,530 1,847 29,520 8,729 1,472 28,802 $517,519.99 110,476.60 1,797,566.15 4S6,012. 72 96,131, 97 1,841,444.80 482,184.15 105,168. 96 1,843,009.61 1,917,507. 76 94,245.13 2,055,398.14 15,390 14,853 22,466 17,571 22,666 23,051 29',299 37,807 10,944 45,475 51,714 53,200 $3,400,482.59 2,357,041, 29 2,152.905. 95 3,400,45K '2 3,681,789.75 8,280,477.69 21,143/385.80 23,762,400.72 29,400,409. 58 37,614; 297. 03 49,737,209. 52 49,926,034.73 159,564 11,346,665.98 374,436 234,856,892.67 Amount paid in settlement of accounts due to other Federal Re serve Banks. New Y o r k .................................................. *1,282,707,000 254.752.000 ......... ................................... Philadelphia Cleveland.................................................... 74.426.000 Richm ond........... ...................................... 40.147.000 Atlanta.................................... 17.834.000 Chicago...................... .................................. 132.500.000 St. Louis.................................................... 41.699.000 Minneapolis................................................. 41.871.000 Kansas C itv................... ........................... 22.856.000 Dallas....................... ........... . ......... 12.340.000 Ban Francisco.............. .........., . , .............. 13.988.000 $1,091,785,000 218.375.000 88.571.000 32/286,000 22.961.000 190.376.000 67.800.000 28.471.000 14.338.000 19; 142,000 20.299.000 Total.......................................... . 1,935,120,000 ; 1,794,404,000 Gain through settlement........... ........... ..! Net loss through transfers................................................... Net gain through transfers and settle- j ment ................................ ................... 1 ................ ; i Amount: 1 13,918,002.58 2,467,517.89 3,950,471.50 3,886,471,34 3,777,921. 72 10,121,922.49 21,625,569.95 23.867,569. 68 3 i;243,419.19 39,531,804. 79 49,831,454. fin 51,981,432.87 534,000 i 25,620 17,334 51.088 25,903 24,354 53,362 36,829 39,654 70,464 54,204 53,186 82,002 246,203,558.65 settlem ent fund operations, Jan. 1, 1917, to D ec. Amount received in settlement of accounts due from other Federal Re serve Banks. Reserve Bank, T otal number of checks. Amount. Gain through weekly settlements. Loss through weekly settlements, $190,922,000 36,377,000 7,861,000 $14,145,000 5,127,000 57.876.000 26.101.000 13,400,000 8,518,000 6,802,000 6,311,000 257,078,000 140,716,000 116,362,000 135,717,000 4,999,000 ANNUAL REPORT OF FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF BOSTON, S c h e d u l e 3 4 .— M aturities of invested funds (not including United States bonds or n o tes). WithinlSdays. 16 to 30 days. Month. January.............. February............ March................. April................... May..................... June.................... July..................... August................ September......... October............... November.......... December........... 39 31 to 60 days. 61 to 90 days. 13,145,572.37 2,803,991.97 4,604,292,08 2,305,541.71 1,079,697.43 3,630,761.89 4,545,135.67 9,254,373.34 5,288,955.73 3,497,694.46 14,128,035.97 9,007,576.15 $5,127,604.97 5,200,900.14 4,722,577.25 2,971,451.44 3,436,545.90 8,075, £33.98 12,103,702.11 8,684,667.30 11,211,333.40 16,287,214.73 10,957,876.70 9,576,917.94 $3,253,854. 30 3,956,657.32 1,945,646.21 815,956.80 5,304,956.00 9,991,796.48 5,030,152.89 6,736,081.12 13,359,830.75 6,508,997.08 34,483,180.52 41,658,773.60 53,384,387.59 4,240,441.40 6,339,579.02 6,868,449.75 5,782,614.46 13,485, £34. 92 8,691,895.29 13,189,169. 97 8,019,481.18 8,624,946.44 11,541,062. 63 14,028,234.18 Over 90 days. Total. $5,900.00 $14,917,319.23 126,977.75 16,328,968.58 17,612,094.56 12,961,399.70 15,603,813.79 35,183,627.27 100.00 30,436, v85.96 , 37,864,^91.73 386.25 37,879,987.31 34,918,852.69 71,110,155.82 74,271,501.87 S c h e d u l e 3 5 . — Distribution, by m aturities, o f bills rediscounted for member banks, Jan. i , fo Dec. S i , 1917. Month. 1 to 15 days. 16 to 30 days. 31 to 60 days. 60 to 90 days. Over 90 days. January......... February___ March............ April.............. May............... June............... July............... August.......... September. *. October......... November.. . December___ $847,389.05 1,882,783.36 3,816,627. 87 9,118,269.32 9,493,344.80 34,571,777.01 35,073,960.03 16,902,573.21 21,307,151.47 6,770,804.48 14,243,720. 77 20,137,601.91 $102,135.52 1,015,169.53 298,484.96 18?, 268.91 428,929.21 6,196,820.77 2,760,025.49 2,179,412. 22 1,105,028.91 770,103.90 9,918,860.69 14,922,952.50 $126,008.50 702,647. 25 574,161.56 454,770.63 445,623.09 2,082,554.17 1,583,856. 80 2,936,784.55 1,567,284.14 1,274,928.51 4,086,615.21 25,837,504.02 $122,928.67 332,388.08 409,488.76 196,113.46 934,332.06 3,365,573.33 3,012,316. 60 4,358,337.48 1,768,743.98 2,389,172.12 32,169,170.13 44,947,757.06 262,077.15 580.860.00 119,432.71 233.060.01 $1,198,461.74 3,932,98S. 22 5,098,763.15 9,949,422.32 11,302,429.16 46,216,725.28 42,430,483.92 26,377,107.46 26,010,285.65 11,785,969.01 60,537,799. 51 106,078,875.50 Total. . . 174,166,003.28 39,878,292. 61 41,672,738.43 94,006,321.73 1,195,954.87 350,919,310.92 $200.00 325.00 Total, S c h e d u l e 3 6 . — Classification by m aturities o f investm ents (exclu sive of United States secu rities) at close o f business D ec. SI, 1917. 15 days. 30 days. 60 days. 90 days. Over 90 days. Total. Bills discounted, members. $3,321,793.09 $6,527,991.39 $6,603,533.85 $2,864,811.50 $9,116.25 $19,327,246.08 Trade acceptances dis counted............................. 816,660.94 287,536.22 358,906.25 1,337,449.03 2,800,552.44 Member banks1 collateral notes.................................. 7,349,338.00 7,349,338.00 Rediscounts secured by Liberty loan bonds......... 493,425.12 3,643,823.77 32,116,716.77 36,405,222.83 151,257.17 Foreign bankers’ accept ances.................................. 369,734.40 1,999,559.41 100,000.00 88,302.69 2,557,596.50 Domestic bankers’ accept ances.................................. 33,207.10 503,609.00 828,178,98 4,438,522.28; 72,500.00 5,876,017.36 _____________ Foreign trade acceptances. 346,875.40 257,016.78 603,892.18 Total.......................... 11,590,006.98 8,687,005.92 11,804,177.25 42,757,058.9 | 81,616.25 74,919,865.39 9 O