Birmingham state herald., 1896-03-01
FIRST NATIONAL BANR

N. B. Barker, President; w. A. Walker,
 Vice-President; w. J. Cameron, Cashier;
 T. O. Smith, Assistant Cashier; T. M.
 Bradley, Second Assistant Gashier-Capi-
 tai, $2o0, ,oo0.
 As financial conservator whose in- terests in Birmingham have contributed materially to it's growth and develop ment, the above institution occupies a conspicuous and leading position
 The history Of the institution is the his tory of the city, as 1t is the oldest of the kind in this part of the state, dating it's organization from 1871. In that year the founder of the banking business in Bir- mingham, MT. Charles Linn came to the embryo city and bought lot from the Elyton Land company, on the corner of First avenue and Twentieth street, pay ing $40O therefor, the land company donating to him the lot adjoining.
 MT. Linn at once erected building on his property at a cost of $4000, and or ganized the National bank. It was in- corporated as the National bank of Bir- mingham, with MT. Linn as the presi- dent. In 1S72-3 he erected the present building, at cost of $36,000, at that time the costliest and most imposing struc- ture in northern Alabama. The enter prise was ridiculed and the building was known for long time as 'Linn's Folly" This building is now the best corner in the city, and is worth enough to justify the most sanguine anticipations of MT Linn.
 The paid up capital of the bank was $50,00O many of the historic characters of the city and state figuring as its in- corporators and stockholders. The City bank was organized in April 1880, with capital stock of $S0000, as a private in stitution, Mir. Cameron being the cashier. On the 14th of May, 1884 this bank and the National bank of Birmingham were merged into the First National, the con soldated stock being raised to $250OOo and subscribed by the owners of the old banks.
 The business of the institution requires the services of ten clerks, and the de- posits of $S1S, ,60153, at the report issued the 20th of January last, make it rank as the first in that line in the city, and among the foremost in the state. During the past year the individual deposits ln- creased $250, ,000 a fact that indicates an encouraging improvement in the man cial condition of the city and surround ing territory, as we'll as a high degree of confidence in the management of the in stitution.
 When the individual deposits run $74O,- 574.03, it indicates that the business men of Birmingham are in pretty fair finan- cial condition, and that the enormous wages paid out by the factories find their way into the home channels of trade.
 Just how much this institution and those connected with 1t have contributed to the development and prosperity of the city and surrounding country is matter that no power can determine. It mas directly made a large part of the city history. and 1t has indirectly contributed to almost every enterprise of moment that has given Birmingham identity aboard.
 With assets of over round million Of dollars. the institution is power in It. self. and, when the combined capital or it's officers and stockholders is taken into consideration, the city of Birmingham could but lilly do without the enterprise After reviewing its history. its influences and associations, we feel like proposing Toe Jefferson's famous toast May it live long and prosper"