The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-12-10
MERITS ITS GOOD NAME,
Standing Of Monsanas Leading
Bank In the Financial Centers
Of the Country.
Complimentary Review of tho
Solid Institution In q Leading
Eastern Publication.
The Mercantile b EInanoiai Times Says
the Merchants National, OF Heisns.
II strong and Well Managed.

The Msrcantils Il Financial Times, .
weekly journal published in Now York, and
devoted to money. finance and tho CONNER
,ial interests Of the United States printed
In It's issue Of Nov. 18 Aattsrina, but
truthful and weli-meIitsd article sketchina
tho Merchants National bank Of this city.
Tho article 10 80 conservative In tone and
In It's statements that The
INDEPENDENT takes pleasure In reproducing
extracts from II. that our readers may know
in what ESTEEM the Merchants National il
held in the financial center Of the nation.
Like every other large city throughout
the country, Helsns, Mont. had It's share
Of financial troubls during the past sum
NOR. Two banks-ths First National and
the Montana National--wele forced 10 aus
pend. and neither has Jet resumed. though
is is hoped that both will be able to do 20.
This Merchants National 10 ono OF the banks
of the city that can point to Its demon
stated strength a. . result OF the expsH-
fences Of last August. A heavy run was
made upon IL. but every demand was
promptly met. The bank was tried az IL
were by hre' but came out Of the ars like
fne gold, seven times purified
From the date of its first establishment
this bank has ranked a. one Of the strong
est and best managed institutions in the
country. and the confidence felt in II by its
friends has been moro than justified. II
now has cash capital Of 1000. surplus
ing up 100000. while its total resources are
fast approaching three million dollars. II
Ia the only United States depository be-
tween Portland. Ore, and st. Paul, MINI.
This bank is essentially homo institu-
tions; that 10 to say. 1t was established and
has been built by pioneer settlers Of what
was then . territory. Mr.. L. H. He,sh-
field. the president. has bsen identified
with the affairs of Montana for nearly
thirty years. He was originally in the
banking business at Virginia City. but
Afterwards be and his brother. Aaron
tinued in the banking business in the then
new town. In 1882 they organized the Msr-
chants National bank, and have ever since
held office as president and cashier rsspsc-
lively. Mr.. A. ]. Davidson 10 vice president.
He 10 very wealthy man. and is head
Of the great agricultural implement
concern known ~ A. j. Davidson d Co..
Limited, of Helena. The board Of directors
is made up as follows: II. a. Nelson, L. II.
HsrshHeld, 8. >. Huntley. M. Morris. J.
Switzer, A. J. Davidson. NJ. Sands. A. Hs1sh-
field and A. K. Prescott.
Tho Merchants National bsnk occupies
one of the finest buildings In tho wsst. In
everything hat mare height ID is eqrsl TO
any thing we have in Now York. Our scrap
book contains some interesting details In
regard to IL. II was finished about two
years ago and 10 owned by M. Lewis II.
Hsrshneld. Mr. Aaron Hershneld and +. w.
Tools, having been erected under theis
joint cooperation.
"The construction is In accordance with
the New York building laws. and secures
more than usual strength and durability. 40
we'll as immunity against fire. The build
inp belonging to Msssrs. Hersh6eld fronts
thirty-fve feet on Main street. with side
front on Edwards street. The lower floor
Is fitted up for tho Merchants National
bank. The pat belonging to Mr.. Tools
occupies twenty-five feet on Main street.
making in all sixty feet. The building ex-
iends back one hundred and seventeen
feet, including a rear court for the admis-
sion OF light. The building 10 Dalma-
tian in style of architecture. constructed Of
pressed brick aud finished with rough
hewn granite. There aro six lower windows
Of finest plate glass. swenty-one windows
in the stories above on Main street front.
TO. w. nine on Edwards street side. fourteen
ooeninps Oh the court and twelve in the
tower. Tho openings on the ground floor
| a.e constructed with arches Of brick and
| granite. having moulded a'risss. while the
| coupled windows on the third aoor nrs
topped by granite linssls, supported by
granite columns In the center. The tran
SONS are of stained glass throughout the
buildings.
The exterior OF the structure. on the
whole, IL mole with regard TO strength and
durability, at the same time with an AZ
pearause ot massive grandeur, than with
| great pretension TO ornamsntasion. The
| bank entrance 10 surmounted by an arch of
| granite, springing from columns Of polished
red marble on either side; the common en-
trance to the upper floors is arohsd in
moulded brick ovsr heavy granite lintels.
The banking room 10 81 i1sx4s1s feet and 10
subdividsd into many apartments fitted up
for the convenience Of the several officers
and en- ployss. Tho prssidsnt's room 10 In
the part nearest the street corner and 10
laid with parquetry floor. There are also
apartments for tho cashier. bookkeepsr.
paying and receiving tellsrs and this several
clerks. The ditectors' rooms are in the
rear. There are three largo vaults. located
in the rear of the banking rooms. strotch-
ing across the entire width and leaving
only passage on each side. One vauls -
hrs proof and the other two burglar proof.
the latter steel lined. One 10 for safe de.
posits. arranged with apartments for Gus.
TONERS. They are built several feet from
the wall with hall extending
along the back as an additional
preoaution against burglars. The banking
room is fitted up In antique oak. with
wainscoting. tiled floor and . handsome
hard wood counter running the entire
length of tho room. The fur initure is rich
and ptopri ate for a flrst-olass banking
institution. The two buildings are hoatsd
by steam and lighted by sleotrio lights.
The structure is equal to any building
erected for its purpose in tho northwest,
and certainly adds to tho reputation Of the
city for ine and costly buildinRs.
'Such 10 the home OF the NerchantS Ma
tional bank--thc strongest, richest and
best managed banking institution of she
most wonderful city Of = wonderful state.
''Ths record Of ths Merchants National
bank Ia ono Of remarkable usefulness.
From its very inception ID commsnead the
| confidence of the community by reason of
| thu we'll known high oharacte and notable
ability Of its officials aud the strength OF
its management. II is particularly we'll
equipped for tho transaction OF all tbs
brau ches OF legitimate banking bus
iness. and extends all tho aceommoda-
tions that can be reasonably required. Tho
fact that the officers ass this right men
in the right places is oonclusively
| demonstrated by tho ascccss OF the
bank under their management. President
Lewis II. Hsrshhsld IL . man OF seSy htgl
standing In western business and bankinl
circles--ths natural outcome OF his tine ex-
oeutivs ability. thoroughly sound judgment
and unqusstionabls probity. The policy u
| which he adheyss 10 conservative and psu-