The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1886-12-20
SAN ANTONIO NATIONAL BANK.

The banking institutions of this city are
generally accepted as among the soundest in
the southwest The memory of the Oldest
inhabtant runneth not to the time when
there was San Antonio bank failure, and
this not withstanding there are some very
aged men in this city, and San Antonio's
business years are rekOned by periods ante
dating the birth of the republic.
by general consent, at home and abroad,
the San Antonio National bank ranks all
other financial institutions of the city. 1t
was organized In 1866 with capital stock of
Sl2o,OOO, at which figure IL nOminally re-
mains to-day. Business was originally
established in the old French building, south
east corner of Main plaza, now used as u
United States court room. The bank
quarters were In the extreme southeast of
the building, up stairs, and overlooking the
famous bend in the river which forms Bowie
island. The following year a move was
made to the bank building now occupied by
UConnor Sullivan, and two years later,
merce and st. Mary's street, in which
operations were conducted until November
OF this present year, when the San Antonio
National took possession of its present
quarters, in which it will probably remain
and do business for century to come.
During the twenty years of its existence
the San Antonio National grew and pros
pered, increased its surplus, extended its
operations. multiplied its profits and en-
larged its business until at The last annual
meeting of the directors its surplus and
undivided profits were four times the
capital stock.
The necessity for increased facilities for
their growing operations, as well as abso-
lutte security against loss by fire, had long
been felt by the bank management, and on
the sixth day of August 1885, ground was
broken for the new bank building. The
site selected was on the north side Of Com
merce street, between st. Mary and Navarro
streets, the lot fronting 500 feet on Com
merce and running through to the river, u
depth of about 200 feet The bank building
Is a solid, two story stone structure, :2xlOO
feet built throughout in the most substantial
manner, and us absolutely tire-prOOf as stone,
iron and cement can make il. The founda-
tiOns are laid In Il bed OF solid cOnc,u.u, and
the walls below the water table are from
three to four feet In thickness. Above the
water table the walls preserve a uniform
thickness of two feet. Dimension stone are
used throughout, every stone In the building
| running through from inner to outer sur
| face. These stones are hammer dressed
and present rugged, ornate appearance that
! harmOnzes well with the massive character
of the structure. The floors are Portland
cement and stone The iron eyebeams are
| Is inches In depth throughout and the
cement filling is covered with encaustc
tiling. The roof is the same rs the floors;
iron, cement and tiling absolutely secure
| against damage by fire. The height of base
ment ceiling is eight feet; of the first story,
IL feet, and of the third story III feet
Entering the bank through the massive
stone portlco which forms the main en-
terance, the visitor finds himself In CORR
dor eight feet wide by 50 feet in length On
| his right Is the wall of the building on his
left the bank offices. Separated from these
by a solid walnut counter, surnOunted by u
heavy screen of ornamental bronze work, he
finds himself effectualy cutoff from all COM
munication with the bank officials, save
through the wickets which open sufficiently
for purposes of business Intercourse. A
door to the left, near the entcrance admits
you to the private Office of the bank presi.
dent. Even here you are eifectually cut OIL
from the paying and receiving tcllers by
an ornament steel screen rising nine feet
from the floor. This screen completely
encloses the cash department of the bank,
separating the tellers. not only from the
private office, but also from the other
officials of the bank. A steel screen, sim
liar In height and design to that which
enclOses the tellers, cuts of about 20 feet ut
the rear end Of the bank roOm which Is used