The last returns of the Postmaster-General show
that she is growing in wealth. Irish thrift has been steadily at
work during the last twenty years. Since the establishment of
the Post Office Savings Banks, in 1861, the deposits have
annually increased in value. At the end of 1882, more than two
millions sterling had been deposited in these banks, and every
county participated in the increase.[4] The largest
accumulations were in the counties of Dublin, Antrim, Cork, Down,
Tipperary, and Tyrone, in the order named. Besides this amount,
the sum of 2,082,413L. was due to depositors in the ordinary
Savings Banks on the 20th of November, 1882; or, in all, more
than four millions sterling, the deposits of small capitalists.
At Cork, at the end of last year, it was found that the total
deposits made in the savings bank had been 76,000L, or an
increase of 6,675L. over the preceding twelve months. But this
is not all. The Irish middle classes are accustomed to deposit
most of their savings in the Joint Stock banks; and from the
returns presented to the Lord Lieutenant, dated the 31st of
January, 1883, we find that these had been more than doubled in
twenty years, the deposits and cash balances having increased
from 14,389,000L. at the end of 1862, to 32,746,000L. at the end
of 1882. During the last year they had increased by the sum of
2,585,000L.
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