The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-15

we .rd n silent partner named kothsrhil! !.
ara how wall wo hnvJ encceedoli Lets
ooh.n!t ou' book Ut this period.
Tho day VIZ opened onr doors for bnR-
$4,000, though less than ono-sixih Of tL4L
amount had been paid in in actuil cEsi.
And aftor having paid some expenses In
cidsnt 10 getting into shape for business
W. started out with less thnn $500 in cash
IN tho drawer with which TO 40 a general
a half months after We started
the deposits had run up to
$I3,333. During the next year. 1889, our
deposits aggregated &ll7, 1876; in 1890 they
amounted to $40. 4J3; IN 1891, $2i7, IA; md
iof tho first six months Of tho present yonr
cue deposits reached tho aggregate snm OF
$l5b. 2lS-more than $2G 600 a month, and a
total Of deposits up to the close OF tho
present year Of moe than 5000. 900. This
magnificent sum represents IN somo degree
the measure OF confidence which tho buai-
mesa public has given as. The net results
OF our business transactions have been
equally satisfactory and gratifying. With
no experience to guide us in the beginning,
and having often to combat tho autaRonism
ana meot tho preludlces of nnfriendly rivals
IN the same line of business. it 10 not TO be
wondered Mt that VIC made some mistakes
ana sustained some Losses. but these have
been comparatively few.
Our business has been conducted. AZ
nearly as We know how, along the line of
general banking business, receiving depos-
ITS, both gs cali deposita and time deuos-
lta; making loans both on real estate and
collateral securities. and on indorsed note.
where the Inducements appeared safe and
satlsfactory. In this way, counting our
deposits. checks, loans, loans made and bills
receivable paid, the total bulk OF our bus
ness transactions since our CrRanizatie n
nearly four years ago has amounted to
nearly two millions OF dollars. This state
Ineht may pc fhaps startie some as 1T startled
as, but our books will show that we have
handled Just that amount of business over
our counter in receiving and paying out
monev. Our capital stock in the meantime
has grown from $4,000 TO $4,000, and the
amount actually paid III has grown from
$1,000 to 1913, 600.
I'VE are proud to number among our
Stockholders and depositors many of our
foremost bnsiness men and women, who
seem willing to lend the aid Of their means
and reputation in this effort to establish and
maintaln here at the national capital q busl-
ness institution that shall re fleet G. edit upon
the business capabilities OF our race.
What we have accomplished in these
brief years has been accomplished in the
face of greater opposition than We have any
reason to expect will confront us again.
Nothing succeeds like success. and having
shown what is possible of piisbment
~ Hio "O iOON u
ward to greater success in the future"
When II showing such as this can be made
from such unptomlaing beginnings III -four
yes 8 II ls snfe to conclude that these peo-
pie have capacity for something higher than
they have yet been given credit for.
Besides the Capital Savings bank Their
are several private bankers he G who Il 6
conducting a ptospe' GUS business, and the
managers or the True iteformers, who have
Il successful bank at Richmond, recently
purchased a piece of property here fol
$4,000, upon which they propose to erect G
bank building shortly.
There is but one other bank of the kline
that | know of-the Penny Savings bank
OF Chattanooga, which was designated last
yea as one of the city banks of deposit.
There is a well-defned tendency on the
part OF the Afro-hmericans of the southern
states to turn their attention to commercial
and speculative enterprises Of one sort and
another. Heretofore they have found all
outlet for their surplus energy in preaching
and pedagogy, but the necessities Of these
" important occupations have long been
inadequate to satisfy the aspirations of the
man aud brother. Being shut ont of poll
tics almost entirely Le naturally turns to
business occupations and enterprises. He
will do this more and more as the years
come and go. And when he shall control
as we'll as produce wealth, there will be
very little race problem to vex his soul and
wreck the ambition of aspiring politicians.
Il. THOMAS FORTUNE.