davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
LIABILITIES,
e2,oo7,sos q

The good reputation of tho Merchants
National 10 not confined to Hslsna and
Montana. The New York Mercantile and
Financial Times. in IL recent issue, refer
ring to II. said: ''Tae record of the Mer.
chants National bank is one of remarkable
usefulness. From its very inception Il
commanded the confidence of the COM
munlty by reason OF the we'll known high
character and notable ability of its oflcials
and the strength of its management, II IL
particularly we'll equipped for the trapsao-
tion of oil the branches of leeitimat ate
banking business and extends all the ae-
commodations that can be reasonably rs-
quired. The fact that the officers arc the
'fiehs men in the right place. 10 couolus-
lively demonstrated by the success of the
bank u3der their management PFesident
Lewis II. Hershield is man of very high
standing in western business and BANKING
circles-the natural outcome of his fine or
scutivs ability. thoroughly sound Judgment
and unquestionable probity. The poiicv to
which he adheres is conservative ana nru-
dent while suffieisntly progressive, ana II
is no wonder that tho bank prospers under
his administration. Vice-P President Dav-
idson enjoys the confidence and esteem Of
all who know him, and Cashier Aaron
He shield is as reliable and careful and
experienced fnanoier and as popular a
man as could be found in any similar posi-
tion xnywhele in this country. He is
quoted as one of the foremost western an
thorities upon every ytbinR relating 10 the
scisncs Of finance"
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
H. b. Palmer, No. 10 Edwards Street


Mr.. II. B. Palmer. Who has his Office in
the Merchants building. is tho leading
broker and dealer In investment secari-
ties In the state, and Notwithstanding the
"panicky" year, Mr.. Palmer reports his
business satisfactory and his clients we'll
pleased with the general results. Durins
tho past four years Mr.. Palmer has induced
the investment OF eastern capital to the
amount Of $2,000,OO0 in western sscusities.
and Lis business may now Do said 10 extend
from the Pacific to the Atlantic, The
business 10 confined to the purchase and
sale Of strictly first-class legal securities.
suitable for Investment purposes, consist
ing chiefly of county, municipal and school
bonds. state, county and city warrants and
low rats mortgage loans; and also acting az
fiscal eRent for counties. citiss. school dis
tricts and nonresident investors.
Bond issues passing through Mr.. Paluer's
office invariably commanI q higher prise
In the eastern market, and those counties
and school districts that have emJloy cd
him to negotiate their bonds, have in eyery
instance found 1t to their advantage n. d
profit. The high credit and standing Of
Mr.. Palmer in the east has brought him
the very best class OF olisntsgs in that sec
tion. Notwithstanding the Predictions of
MANY belonging to the "discoutasino
GLASS;" MIR. Palmer predicts better times
during the coming year and sees nothing
that can be constr ued into any ps,ms.
Eens depression for the state.
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01

Parehsu. himself su old-tims-. and for
whom shs buiidias is nsnsd. has carried
ON for years the Wholesale asd rstail drug
business. The Style Of the h.m hes bssn
changed several times. bat Ns. Passhss
has bssn With u aiwsyA and Aow.
whom u 10 known 10 the Parchsn-
stiIl the active business man Of
shs oonesrn. ~. Psrehen began She busi-
ness here In ths spring Of 1868. coming
within few Wssks Of being the pioneer
drug house Of the city. But ths slight dif-
ference in time against him made little DIFF
ference otherwise, Tor II vas but . little
while before the parchen businssa took ths
house Of Moatsna. isi: the R.sat jobbing
Butte houses asa the largest between the
Mississippi and the Pacific. II buys
direct from The importers and manu-
faosursEA and this Of itsslf 10 .
guarantee Of the pustty Of tho articles
handled BY the COMPANY. Mining ehemi-
oals. assay goods, window glass, yials. sul-
phu1. white lead, mixed and dry paints, acids
stc.. are shipped BY ths carload TO all parts
of she state aad into parts of Idaho. a.
min Q owners and druggists find that thsy
can buy % cheaply from Helena - they
Gan from outside Montana. The company
p ALDO tho vholesals depot for III the Lead
trade within radius OF 800 miles IL sup
piled BY the Paseben-D Achsul company
direct. receiving the goods 40 cheaplv rs II
ordered from this east. he establishment
IN one of which Helena feels proud, 90 II II
tho frat houss to aim TO make the city
what IL should be, the center Of tho whole
sale trade Of this region. NJ
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
BIG BUILDINGS.
THE PRIDE OF THE oITY.
FIRMS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT OCCUPY THEN

power. A eompasisoa Of ths statsusnts Of
Ock 80 and Dec. 10 shows the followina
interesting features:
A dsorssse In ovefdrafts OF &8e. .626; IN
increase In cash 81 reserve % mole, of Sl4-
800; IN increase in cash In bank Of $66 0e5;
an increase In undivided profits Of $I8. CAS-;
an increase In individual deposits Of 4lb8.-
216; IN increase in demand certificates of
deposit Of *l43. 3.65ls 40 Increase in deposits
Of national and stats banks Of *9l674; an
increase In total deposits Of $287. .96a on;
an increase, in total foottngs OF
$e4.970; decgenss in yediecouuts
and bills pay able Of $1b9. s27.
The Merchants holds over S8 DOR csnt Of
i've deposits in cash and United States
bonds. Iss surplua and undivided psofta
nov stand 81 shs sum Of $l76.a5O. which,
Of $3.50 8bO over all ice liabilities, and In ad-
dition thereto the liability Of tts stock
holders TO IN additional sum to The amouut
of the capital stock OF $3.50 900 IL security
to its dspositors. The uank now holds de-
posits to the aggregate amount Of 81. .482.-
9lAl2, with total sss0uTces OF 2O67, t09,
and ie the United States depository for
United States disbufsina officers In The
state. One notable lecture 10 the small
By the bank, The s.m being but $12,O14.
Tho Merchants Nationsl bank now stands
st the head Of the list and 10 the leading
and 70 smost national bank in the north
west Its management 10 conservative and
safe.
The following report Of the condition Of
the bank, made to the comptroller Of the
currency Dec. 19. tells the story of ths
Merchants strength in NO uncertain terms:
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
Nerohants' National Bank,

Tbs Merchants National bank 10 first Of
being established and built up by pio-
ueess Ct Montsns. Mr.. L. Fl. Hsrshisld.
the president. has been identified with the
affairs of Montana for nearly thirty years.
He was originally In the banking business
st Virginia City. but afterwards he and his
brother. Aaron Hsrshfi-ld. removed to Hell
sna and continued in the banking busi-
ness. In 1882 they o;Rapizsd the Mer-
chants National bank and have ever since
| hold Office as president and cashier respec-
lively. MIR. A. j. Davidson, vice president,
is very wealthy man and 10 head Of the
sg 'icultural i'm plemsnt concern known az
A. j. Davidson Co., Limited, of Helena.
The board of directors 10 u de up as fol-
lows: H. H. Nelson. L. H. Hersh6eld, y. 5.
Huntley. NJ. Morris, J. Switzsr, A. j. David
son, M. Sands. A. Hsrshfsld and A. X.
Prescott.
the Merchants National has ranked as one
OF the strongest and best managed institu-
tions in the country. and the confidence fel,
in ID by its friends has bsen more thnn
justified. II now has . casn cspi tai OF
$350. GOO. surplus fund Of $4,000 and undi-
vidsd profits footing up xlO0. 600. while its
total resources are fast oachinR three
million dollars. II 10 the onlJ United State,
depository between Portland. Ore, and ST.
Paul. MINI.
The Merchants, after standing with,
drawals OF deposits between July l md
Oct. 30 to the amount Of over 500. GOO. has
shevn . most wonderful Eecupsrative
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
VIM. NJ nth, Renl Estate.

Among tho occupants Of the Merchants
bank building 10 VIM. Math. who has his
ofioe on the second foo. He has been q
resident of Helena since the '70s. aad no
man IL better acquainted with the rssourcsa
OF the state than he. He 10 arm believer
In the future both Of the state and Hell
sna. snd has done % much % any other
one individual to aid ths growth Of both.
In live simes and dull times. In summer and
winter. at all times aud Seasons he believes
Helena 10 all right. and he has the facts
and hRu; ss TO make good his state suerss,
do is the trusted aRent Of many eastern
holders OF Helena property. and NO one In
the city is better qualified to Judge of the
valus Of piece Of lnnd than hs. He has
occupied number Of public positions be-
ing at one time member of the state log
islature, member OF the last consti, 4
tionai convention aud 10 now one of the
commissioners OF the county.
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
The Helena Jeweiry Go.

Adjoining the American bank, on ths
sixth avenue side, 10 the store of the Hell
ena JswelFy Co.. also on the ground floor Of
the Power block. Il Was opened only two
years sao, under the management of Mr..
Ash Pierce, and In that short sime has
Rtown TO bs the leading establishment Of
it, kind In the city. The store itself 10 q.
csllently adapsed for the business, being
Soomy and veil liahtsd, while the Stock
carried 10 not exceeded. sithe1 In variety or
quality. anywhere in the northwest. i has
always besn the aim mos TO ovsrbuy, but 30
keep the stock always up 10 the times In
every line. The psopls Of Helena have
found this ont and % Z result thsEs has
been a continuous growth In shs trade Of
the establishment, both within and with
out the city.
30 we'll establishsd ha. 10 equation Of
the Helena Jswsl,y company become for
kseping The tiasst goods. that IL II quite .
show place for yisitqEa. One Of the attras-
tlons FOR sAstern pSopls p u ths fsot Shat
the house makes q specially OF Montana
sapphtres. both cut and uneuh and soms Of
shs, s,hsndsomsst combinations Of the Mon
tanas gems With diamonds and other stones
have bssn turned.o .out by this establishment.
Ar. Pierce. the manager. NOT oaIy thor
ouahly understands Shs business, bot he
hAs the advantage Of = Gloss acqusintanes
with the noutona taste. and whether IL be-
silver ssfyies, acsstly watoh. souvenir.
prize msdal]os . comb3nation OF precious
ssonss. which I,iends intend to present, he
10 almost Invariably conssltsd a. 70 what
10 just ths thing.
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
THE RECORD FOR 1898.
Concluded From First Page.

also kei : up their plants TO a high standard, +,
and the street RAILWAYS have not allowed
their property TO deteriorate nor the ser
vice to be less efficient Tha year also saw
the city government In the hands of men
who have practioed the closest economy
commsnsurate with the needs OF
the community. Holders of city
securities have had demon
stratsd to them that there has been no use-
less expenditure OF the public money. while
every legitimate need of tho city has been
looked after, The insurance companies
have Acknowledged that Helena has as ef1i-
cient fire department. as there ia in the
country; the taxpayer and the citizen has
felt that the police department was ever
alert and wstchful; there has been no uss-
less or sxtravagant expenditure of the peo-
pie's mone, on the streets. though msny
improvements have been made. The
affairs of the county, which are 80 closely
interwoven with those Of the city. have
also been carefully and consefvatively man.
aged. and while from almost every other
state in the union have som. repo t. of
shortages of county and city officials. Lewis
and Clarke county and the city of Helena
can refer with pride to the record OF it,
public servants for 1898.
But the record made in 1888 in which
Helena has most reason for conRratulation
is in ths discovery of now gold mines and
the opening of old ones in the immediate
vicinity of the city. Up to the time whom
the depression in silver came there were
not to exceed. excluding the country tribu-
tAry to Msrvsville, 200 men at work IN the
gold belt surrounding tho city. When it was
thought that silver mining had received its
quistus for a long time to come, attention
WAS Immediately attracted to the gold boar
ing hills that enoircls the city. and capital,
which had been almost exclusively enlisted
In silver mining. began to look into the
merits Of the claims made by those familiar
With the Eichnsss Of the gold bearing zone.
The moro searching the investigation the
more encouraging we're the results, ana
the close of the year found y thousand men
working in the hills about Helena whore a
year before there had not been q hundred.
Whsnsvsr the investigation was made and
the money furnished for development the
same story came of profitable result Down
on the Missouri. in the vicinity of the
sapphire fields. across the river few miles
Big Indian, Morgan. Tucker. the
head OF Arastn, Montana CITY. Blue
CLOUD and Scratch Gravel Qulchss,
hundreds Of men started in the hunt for
the yellow metal early in tho fall. Mills
that had lain idle for years were started up,
and 80 great has been the ore production
shat the crushing and reducing capsoity
has proved inadequate. Mines in which
the iimbers had been allowed to rot have
been Eeopened and tho ore extracted,
tested by new and economical methods,
has proved to be sich enough to guar antes
good return for the capital invested and
insutes the employment OF hundreds OF
Dsa this year.
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
THE BAILEY BLOCK.
A Structure Of which Every .Citlzsa Of
Helena 10 Proud.

A strueiure Of which Every .Citlzsa OF
Helena 10 Proud.
One uf ths office and store buildings on
Main street that never fails TO attract the
attention OF visitors is the Bailsy. In iss
style Of architecture and the material OF
which u 10 built Il 10 pseulias to itself. and
nowhere 10 there hsndsomsr building Of
like character, arohiteoturally considered.
II 10 built Of pressed brick with sandstone
ts!m nings. with beautiful pillars OF pol.
ishsd granite % ttc main entrance, pre-
ssntine not only Q handsome but solid
and substantial appearances. II Was de-
signsd especially for \ store aud ONCE
building. and NO dsssii that would add 10
the comfort a.d oonvsnisnoe Of tenants
height. with a frontage Of sixsy-ays
feet and a depth Of 100 feet to IN alley. 10
10 equipped with ali the modern convent
snoss-slrcsrio lights elevator, stsam heat
water ON every hoo'-aad NO ofiios bst.dina
ts shs country 10 kept In bsttss soaditisA
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
The American Nas,o..l Bank.

1n0 AmOflOAn NATIONAL Bank.
Whsn tho Power block Was completed il
vas generally conceded that the room on
the corner, on the ground floor, would make
as fins banking house as there was In the
state. Almost Immediately upon the COM
pletion Of the building the American Ma
tional bank was organiz,d and made its
home In the corner room. Handsome IT.
tlngs were pus in. and whom ths American
was ready for business il had - convenient
and handsome a banking houss as could
not only abreast with other financial
institutions in the coz vsniencs Of its place
of business. but 1t was slso fully up to any
Of them in ths business experience of is
officers and directors. T. G. Power, its
president, 10 an old time oitizsp, who has
years. besides occupying public positions Of
trust. Ho brought to the bank thor iouRh
acquaintance with the business intsrssss
aud business men Of the state, aud record
Of personal suceess and probity. The vice
president, A. j. Seligmau, ono of the arm
OF Bach, Cory d Co.. and one Of tbs
younger business men. In addition TO his
large mercantile interests, has also sxtsn-
stve mining interests. and 10 also one OF the
successful ones. A. c. johnson, the cashier,
came to Helena from Fort Benton. where
be had been engaged in mercantile business.
He already haa = good acQ1aintsnee
In tho city and during the three
years since Shs American was e.
tablished, aud in vhieh the larger
part OF the mansRsmsnt has fallen to bis
share. he has proved to be ths right man in
ths right place. Goo. F. Cops. assistant
cashier. u one of ths best known men in
soHthern Montana. where he has extensive
gold mining Interests. He. siso. 10 q suc-
esssiul business man. wish friends all over
the state. To him as much 40 TO any oshsr
one man 10 due the growth In the business
OF the bank Gnd It's popularity among she
people.
BuS II 10 the ofIlcisi figures that veil best
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
THE POWER BLOCK.

An Imposing Structure That Attraots the
Attention Of Visitors.
Among the impoain9 offics buildings in
Helena none attracts more attention than
the Power building. on the corner of Main
street and Sixth avenue. II 10 we'll AZ
ranged and splsndidiy lighted and contains
moro Offices Of federal officials than any
other building in Helena. Among tbssa
are the collector OF iptsynsl ssvenus, quar-
termaster's headquarters, register and re-
csivsr OF the land ofioe. posteffios inspse-
tor Aad chief clerk OF the railway mail ssr-
viss. Besides thsss all the professions are
represented among its occupants.
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01

owned BY the Msss's. HsTshdsld fronts
thirty-nve feet on Main street. with side
front on Edwards street. The lower Aocr
bsnk. The psrt belonging to Mr.. Tools
occupies tventy-fvs feet on Main street.
making In all sixty feet. The building ex-
tends back III feet. including rear court
for admission of light. The building 10
Dalmattan In style Of architecture. con-
struoted Of pressed brick and finished with
rouRh-hewn granite. There are six lower
windows OF finest plate glass, twenty. one
windows In the stories above ON Main
street front. forty-nine on Edwards strset
side, fourteen openings on the court and
tweves In the tows-. The openings on the
ground floor are constructed with arches o:
brick and granite. having moulded ARISES,
while the coupled windows ON the third
floor are topped by granite lintels. sup
ported bv granite columns in the center.
The transoms are of stained glass through
out the buildinRa.
The exterior of the structure. on the
'nls. is moro with regard to strength and
'bility. At the same tims with m ap-
rIrcs Of massive grandeur, than with
great pHstension to ornamenation. The
bank entrance il ssrmountea by an arch of
granite, sprinRina from columns Of polished
red marble on either side; the com mon On.
trancs to ths upper floors Is arched in
no ,ILel brick over heavy granite linsels.
ho bank room 10 3l15x48k feet and is
subdivided into many apartments fitted up
for the convenience of the several officers
and employees. Tbs Presidents room 10 in
the part nearest the street corner and is
laid with pArquetry floor. Thers ars also
apartments for the cashier. bookkeeper.
paving and receiving tellers and the several
clerks. The directors rooms sre in the
rear. There are three large vaults. located
in tho rear OF the banking rooms. stretch.
ing acress the entire width and leaving only
assaae ON each side. One vault 10 fire
proof and the other two burglar proof, the
latter steel lined. One is for safe deposits.
arranged with apartments for customers.
They are built several feet from the wall
with q hall extending along the back as IN
additional precautiou against burglars.
Tho banking room Is fitted rp in anti quo
oRk. with wainsootinR, tiled floor and a
handsome hardwood counter running the
entire length OF the room. The furniture
10 rich and appropriate for first-elsss
banking institution. The two buildings
are heated by steam and lighted By cleo
trio lights. The structure is equal to any
building erected for It's purpose in the
no thwest. and certainly adds to the lepu-
tation of the city for fine and costly build
in2s.
That portion Of the building devoted to
general office purposts has proved to b,
very popular with professional mon and all
who desire large, we'll lighted and conven-
iently arranged quarters. 1t is seldom q
tenant is lost, and whom that does happen
there is little difficulty in finding success
sor.
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
C. .. Hare. Archi,sot.

One OF tbs tenants of the Denver block
il @. s. Hairs, sha we'll known arohitsct,
who occupies room 8. Mr.. Hairs oame TO
achieved quite q reputation ~ IN aYehi-
sect. He designed the auditorium and the
proof of his ability was given when ont Of .
large number of plane submitted the city
council decided to accept those made By
Mr.. Haire. Mr.. Hairs makes . specially
Of city residences and soma OF his work In
that line has attracted very favorable COM
msnt. Al his office In tho Denver block
Mr.. Haire always keeps on hand number
Of designs, drawn ON general lines. which
will be changed 10 suit the individual tastes
Of those desiring to blild.
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01

No city In ths nosthwssh in proportion TO
population. has 40 large nambss, or ~
Ans ofios buildiuGs 40 Helena. In fact fsw
cities OF 100000 psople can boast Of suoh
expensive and we'll built structures for Of.
acs and store purposes % this city. Below
10 given glance at some Of these buildings
With reference 10 soms Of theiS occu-
pants.
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
Miss FIoyiIs Stevens.

Miss Florila Stevens millinery establish
mont In the Denver hlosk 10 one Of the
most complete in the city. The stock car
risd 10 always of the latest fashions and IL
lady's customers and with due regard to
the most pleasing effects. Miss Stevens
has, by her genius In arranging matter ouS
of chaos 20 % to please all fsnoiss, built up
quito an extensive trade.
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
MERCHANTS BANK BUILDING.

Ons Of tho Finest In the City, Occupied by
aGPsas Financial Inssitution.
Few cities in the country, even hvs times
% large, can boaat OF such handsome
stsucturs 40 10 the Msrehants' National
bank building on the corner Of Main and
Edwards streets. II 10 beautiful architeo-
turally, bus strong and Substantial. the At
homo Of one Of the best banks In the
wssA The building was completed and
occupied some thtse years ago. the owners
being Asssrs. L,vis H. and Aaron Hsrsh-
6sid and Hon. +. w. Tools. That portion
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
G. #. Ellis q Co

Among the frst tsnsuts to see the beau
t!ss and advantages Of the Power block was
the flrm Of g. +. Ellis & Co., insurance and
property agents. Being naturally progress
sivs they embraced the first opportunity OF
securing eligible quarters In one of tho con-
yenient and best kept OF business blocks.
The firm represents the Esna Insurance
company. the Firsmsn's Fund. the Hart
ford. the No rth British snd Mercantile. the
Orient and TIE Phoenix of London. HOY
also represent the American Plate Glass
eompany. aad ara the state agents Of the
Employees Liability Assurance CONF any
OF Lendon. Ellis & Co. comb no with their
insu ance business that Of acting as agents
in making lonns and Investments THY
handle Improved and uuimprovsd real es-
tate for those who wish their pEoi erty we'll
and carefully looked aft without having
,he time or caring to take the trouble 70
do is Themselves.
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
THE DRIVER BLOCK.
A Bss Hive es nssissss Inaustey II shs
Heart es the City. t4t

Bee Hive ef OasisSsa Industey ID ehs
Heart Of the Clsy. t}
The Denver block. st ths corner Of Broad
wsy and Warren stsssta ID smoaa the most
substantial business STRUCTURES Of Helena.
II vas senDistsd In 1891 By the ssntsassoss.
Wallace q Thorpbusah. and ID owned. one.
dfth by Heisas people and fosr-h fths By
the Denver syndioass. Of which Peter
Whine 10 the representative here. asting %
agent Of The building, whore hs has his Of
Aoss. The Dsavss block 10 large aud we'll
lighted and vsntilatsd aud heated. and ID =
thoroughly modsTn hatlding IL every r.
speck TIE tenants comprise Ill Glasses Of
business men. The Dsnves syndicate. Nhs
principal owners Of the baildina are
largely intsRssssd in Hslsna real sstste,
and the Dsnvss block will rsmain an en-
during monumsnt to their faith In the
stability. Of the "Qussn City Of tAs
RookieS." w
d. . b. J..
The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
r. III, ii over,

One of ths best known of the lawyers In
the Parchen block il Mr.. H. H. Hovsy.
Through long ecquaiutanos and strict
application TO business Mr.. Howsy has
built mp qnits IN extensive practice. Rs is
an old-timsr in the state and has held sew
eral Offices OF profit and : use. Among
others he was . member OF ths Il. o. ieRisl 4
tive assembly of ths state and ono OF the
school trustees for the Helena distsict,