472 THE IMPENDING REVOLUTION. 



far from ten per cent, on the capital stock, and are con- 

 stantly adding to the surplus. Of course everybody 

 recognizes the leadership of the First. It is the largest 

 bank as to deposits in the United States. Its statements 

 show that its SURPLUS FUND, PUTS THE DIVI- 

 DENDS paid to the stockholders during the last Jive years 

 would amount to over $3,000,000, or 100 per cent, on the 

 capital stock. A bank that earns for its stockholders an 

 average of twenty per cent, a year is certainly doing well 

 enough. There, however, seems to be no reason why all 

 banking institutions in the city should not continue to 

 grow as rapidly as they have heretofore. The new ones 

 are all in a condition to pay dividends if they choose; but 

 the policy followed is to secure a surplus first. The 

 American Exchange is the only one that has come into the 

 dividend list this year, and that pays three per cent, semi- 

 annually. The Metropolitan earned twenty-one per cent, 

 last year and thirteen per cent, the first half of this, and it 

 is claimed that the Park earned ten per cent, in the twelve 

 months ending June 30." 



It will be seen by the above that u the policy followed 

 is to accumulate a surplus" and not declare large divi- 

 dends. And some banks are declaring no dividends at all, 

 but transferring all their profits to the ''surplus" fund. 

 Yes ! Why not? Poor bankers ! They are eking out a 

 poor, miserable existence on an 8 per cent, dividend, 

 (according to the comptroller's report) and a few cents 

 transferred to the surplus fund, all amounting to the mere 

 trifle of 100 per cent, or double their capital in five years. 

 And still they are yawping for tnore legislation in their 

 interest, as will be seen hereafter. But how is it with the 

 farmers, in the meantime, in the great State of which 

 Chicago is the metropolitan city? The following table was 

 prepared by Charles F. Mills, the secretary and statistician 

 of the Illinois State Board of Agriculture, and shows the 



