Page:A History of Banking in the United States.djvu/266

 The State directors in the "Bank of Louisiana" were directed, April 7, 1826, to remonstrate against a reservation of surplus profits greater than the Legislature thoaght necessary.

The Bank of the State sold the State bonds to Thomas Wilson & Company, of London, October 23, 1824. The bank had resolved that if the bonds sold above 83 1-3, the surplus could not be divided as profits, except in proportion as the surplus of the State dividends above the State interest, being applicable to the redemption of the bonds, should cancel $400,000 of them (that is, the first sixth of the total issue of $2 millions at 83 1-3). The State's share of the profit on the bonds was $300,931. The Legislature by an act of March 24, 1827, ordered the bank to buy bonds with this amount and put them in the sinking fund. The bank appears to have intended to hold this sum as a further guarantee to the bond-buyers. On the same day, the number of State directors was increased to seven.

We now come to the institution which proved the germ of a new class of land banks. The Consolidated Association of the Planters of Louisiana was incorporated March 16, 1827. The capital of $2 millions was to be raised by loan, the company selling bonds and taking mortgages from its members for the loans made to them. On this plan the scheme was not workable. The bonds of the company could not be sold, probably because there was no available capital in the State, and the association could not command credit abroad. Another act was accordingly passed, February 19, 1828, by which the State lent its bonds to this company to the amount of $2.5 millions, thus putting the State credit in the place of their credit, and enabling them to bring in capital from abroad. The company was to guarantee the State by assigning to it mortgages, given by the stockholders, to the amount of $3 millions, for their stock. Ten thousand shares were given to the State as a bonus.

The New Orleans Gas Light Company, which afterwards became a bank, was chartered February 7, 1829.

The City Bank of New Orleans was incorporated March 3, 1831, until 1850; capital, $2 millions; to lend the State $100,000; lowest note $5; never to suspend redemption in "current money of the United States" under a penalty of twelve per cent. Existing banks were authorized to pay interest on deposits. Two days later the New Orleans Canal and Banking Company was incorporated until 1870; $4 millions capital; to cut a canal through the city from Lake Ponchartrain. It was to lend the State, when required to do so, not over $600,000, for not less than ten nor more than twenty-five years, on bonds of the State. It was to have three branches and two-thirds of the capital at each was to be loaned on real estate; so that it appears that its capital was to be used three times, for a canal, a loan to the State, and private loans.