The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-28
AN 1NTERESTING LITTER.
written to Col. ThOs. w. Holloway by Mr.
wilmer Atkiuson, Proprietor OF The
Farm journal OF phiIadelphIa.

My Dear Sir: The making of
money is part of tho genius of an
American, but for the saving of it he
is not so conspicuous. Imprudonce
aud extravaganza aro wofully appar-
ont. The inculcation of habits Of
saving promotes thrift, industry and
independence. 1t lessons cxtrava-
gance and the chances of want and
poverty in old age and sickness. 10
stimulate saving by offering easy op,
portunities and needed security to
millions striving to be provident, and
millions moro thoughtlessly improvi-
don't, is worthy of the loftiest states,
manship.
The primo requisite to induce
methodical saving is the convenient
opportunity of depositing small
sums as they are received or aro
available before they burn hole
through tho pocket, and arc spent
for something not necessary and per,
manontly valuable.
No less important is a guaranty Of
undoubtcd security. This is lacking
with individuals, or evon with cor
porations, who often, for tho sake of
larger gains, resort to operations
which have ended in disaster and
ruin. The safety of tho dollar put
away is moro important than tho re.
turns it may bring in the way of in.
terest. A place near at hand whore
dollar may be deposited, aud where
it is absolutely against the burglar,
the thief and the temptations of the
saloon keeper, must everywhere prove
strong inducement to saving.
The National banks do not and
cannot fill this need. X National
bank can only be started in towns of
certain sixe now far above tho
average Of the country village. Then
they will not tako very small &C..
counts, and do not allow interest on
those which might be worthy of their
taking.
The established savings funds aud
banks are in tho aonters Of indust-
RIGS, tho large towns and cities. In
Now England the average distance
from tho postoffice to tho nearest
savinga bank is 10 miles, in the Mid
die States % miles, in the Southerp
States 33 miles, in tho Western
States rs miles, and on the Pacific
Slope az miles. The whole average
for the United States is over 90
miles.
Ninety per cont Of the depositors
in postal savings repositories would
be- those who now have no facilities
for safe saving, In Canada, wherp
postal savings banks have been in
succelsful operation since 1868, over
onothird of tho dopositors are farm
ers, In the United States the chin
ney corner, the trunk, the bed tick
ing, the old stocking, hide amounts
OF money which, though small indi-
yidually, collectively make a grand
total now practically withdraw from
circulation and non. productive. AL
most all Of this would be turned
ovor to the caro- of the Government
if postmagters were authorized to 10.
ceive it.
Postal snvings repositories will
help mako better citizens. The man
or woman, boy or girl, who has
savings account will hpcpme at once
an upholder OF law and ordor, and
t"ko deep and growing interest in
the welfare Of tho State. All the on.
lightcned countries ssof the world long
ago discovered this, and have placed
postal savings banks in successful
operation.
Great Britain established them in
1851, France in 1882, Austria 1888,
Canada 1868, Italy 1876, Belgium
1860, Sweden 1884, Netherlands
1881, Sandwich Islands 1886, etc,,
etc. In all these countries tho plan
has worked we'll
In Great Britain one porson in
every eight is a depostor in the pos
tai saving banks, and in single
year as many rs ono million people
have opened now accounts.
In this country where tho post.
Office department now handles safely
and economically over ono hundred