, 1883-10-06
The First National Bank.
This Institution in it's new
Quarters.


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a banking house is an indispensable
feature Of all communities, and when
it is founded on solid basis it gains
the confidence Of the public and pros
pei in corresponding degree. Per
haps there are no business enter
prises that have been founded here
that have added more to the sta
bility of the place than our banks,
and few that have proved more profit
able. They are necessity in the
transaction Of general commercial
pursuits, and therefore should be and
are fostered and encouraged. 1t has
been hut a short time since Spokane
consisted Of only the falls and one
house, and from this nucleus has
sprung up one Of the mOstAourishing
cities in the Territory, with-a growth
really magical. With the increase OF
population and the multiplication of
business houses it became apparent
| that financial institutions in the shape
Of banks were needed, and the First
National Bank is one of the ont
grOwths of this demand. 1t is too
well known that the national hank
ing system of the United States is
one of the safest in existence for us
to dwell upon. The very fact Of If
being under the immediate eve Of
the Government insures for il the
confidence of the people. and the
history of such institutions everv-
where has been that of success Last
wear, when the town was upon the
eve of its present magnificent nros-
perity, a number Of the substantial
citizens met and the result of their
conference was the establishment of
the present First National Bank of
Spokane Falls, The institution was
fully orranizpd and first opened for
business in the month of Oct. 1899
occupyinp the same room that has
been since used up TO the Ist of Oct
in the Fife building. on the west
side of Howard street between Main
and Front streets The incornorators
and stockholders were Frank II.
Moore, James \. Glover. HI. Cutter
August Goldsmith. DIR. II. White
house, II. NJ. Mccartney. and lanes
Monaghan. Shortly ofterword w
p. Harrington, Cashier of the Coins,
County Call Rank. and l. Firth
Cashier of the Pugct Sound National
Bank. of Seattle. became stockbold-
ers. This large array of copitol insured
success for the hank from its incipi-
ency, and it has proved a plvinp
institution. rs well ms credit IN tbe
citv. Last winter Jomes n GIover
conceived the idea of erecting a brick
block Mt the southwest corner of
Howard and Front streets the corner
room to be constructed ms n banking
house. This plan was immediately
acted upon in the spring, and the re-
suit is a building that adds very
materially to the citified appearance
of the Falls, and room for the bank
that is equal IN appurtenances toany
thing of like description devoted to
the same purpose in the northwest,
if not in the entire Territory. After
many unavoidable delays the block
was at last completed, and, on Mon
day, oct. Ist, the safe. coin. books.
etc, of the bank were removed to the
new and commodious quarters. Ex-
pense has not been spared in fitting
up and furnishing the interior of the
building. The large, high ceiling
room is flooded with light by ample
windows, while massive, double
swinging doors open from the corner.
The walls are hard finished in plaster,
while wainscoting in cherry extends
about the room, The counter Is of
solid cherry, of beautiful carved de.
signs, curving from the south around
to the west wall. leaving plentv of
room for those transacting business
with the officers, and enclosing a large
area for those conductino tbe affairs
Of tbe hank. Surmountiny tba coup-
ter is the customary glass portitions
extending tbe fuIl length with two
windows for the receiving and nav.
ing tellers In front of each window
is an Italiln marble slab The orflce
for the receiving teller tbroupb
which smiles the 6annv conpteponco
n, rosbiar II 7, Cuttar orops diroctIv
in front of tba ontor doors To tbo
Ieft as Won entor ia Ioroo ,IosL
sunnIicd with all nocossorv s,otion'
ery at which cbocks can be 6lled ont
mr. spcb writing dono as IA roouirod
Behind the counter the reserved
ground whore fcworo allowed occess