_The Kansas Staats-Anzeiger_ was started in Topeka in 1879, and published until 1881, when it was moved to Atchison. It was also short lived. _Plain Facts_ was a weekly publication, started in Atchison October 4, 1897, and published by authority of twenty-five Atchison Populists, who were opposed to the election of George W. Glick, the so-called Populist candidates for State senator. It lasted three issues. _The Atchison Journal_ was the official publication of the Trades and Labor Council of Atchison. It started early in the year 1903, by W. J. Granger, and discontinued the last of November of the same year. _The Atchison Morning Star_ was a daily paper, published by J. A. Roulston, and started June 14, 1905, lasting until August 30, 1905. _The Atchison Tribune_ was a weekly publication, started March 27, 1896, by W. H. Higgins, and suspended publication July 16, 1896. CHAPTER XV. BANKS AND BANKING. EARLY DAY BANKING—PIONEER FINANCIERS—THE OLDEST BANK—PRIVATE, STATE, AND NATIONAL BANKS—ATCHISON COUNTY BANKERS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF BANKING INSTITUTIONS. Banking was a precarious business during the Territorial days in Kansas. There were no banks, as we know them, until January 29, 1857, when the Territorial legislature passed an act providing that every company or association of persons formed for banking purposes within the Territory, and without an act of legislature authorizing the same, should be deemed unlawful. Upon the passage of this act, the first bank authorized to do business under it was The Kansas Valley Bank, of Leavenworth, with an authorized capital stock of $800,000.00, with five branches, at Atchison, LeCompton, Doniphan, Ft. Scott and Shawnee. The authorized capital stock of each one of the branches was $300,000.00, and under the terms of the act, each branch was independent of the Leavenworth institution. The great Government Overland Transportation Company of Majors Smoot-Russell & Company was the big financial power behind this organization. The Leavenworth bank was never formed, and the Atchison branch was the first to start out under this act of the legislature, being authorized to begin business February 19, 1857, with securities amounting to $100,000. Dr. John H. Stringfellow, Joseph Plean and Samuel Dickson were authorized to open subscription books. The board of directors included Samuel C. Pomeroy, who was president: W. H. Russell, L. R. Smoot, W. B. Waddell, Franklin G. Adams, Samuel Dickson and W. E. Gaylord. Shortly after the bank began business there were rumors emanating from the rival towns of Sumner and Doniphan that the Atchison institution was about to suspend, and for the purpose of allaying any suspicion on the part of the public, created by these rumors, the directors published a statement of its condition, showing that the assets were $36,638.00, with liabilities of $20,118.00. In July or August, 1857, L. S.