Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-09-01
THE COUNTRY BANKER.

One of the most practical and bust
nsssliko papers read at the recent SEES
sion OF the American Bankers Associa-
tion in Denver, COL. was by Mr.. W.
S. Witham OF Atlanta. Ga, on 1.-The
Country Banker In part hs said
When We began giving banking fncil-
ities to rural districts our critics were
legion and many friends predicted dis
aster. That has all been changed by
the past ten years Of unequalled sue
cess. can cite you to number OF
corporations in the United States
branches. Do not the telephone and
the vestibuled trains of this electric
age multiply ones capaoity9 The fact
is, banking as we'll az other lines OF
business must take on prcgreasive
methods. Castor oil is not now given
in tea cup, 1t 10 oapsuled. A sixty
iiay hank note was once the limit but
now six months note sells NV readily.
| 1t lie not nnprofessional now for the
| bunker to advertise his wares and drum
for trade. 1t la not inconsistent with
conservative banking to contract for
| the future delivery OF money, ns tho
merchant does for goods The severity
of the panic Of '9S, with its disasters,
can never be repeated in thia country
because of the new methods OF bRnking
and because the clearinghouse OF
money centres have remedy for
panios.
cross the face OF Grecian temple
was written these words, "Know thy
self. " Across the ledger Of every
country banker l would write these
words, "Know thy depusitor. 1t ia
all well enough to got introduced to
yourself DOW and then. but. fellow
banker, take my advice: Know thy
depositor and know him we'll. " The
study Of mankind Is man, said Pope.
do not know what bank Mr.. Pope
was connected with, but In this he
spoke words of wisdom. In town o.
1000 population employ SIS, 600 CAPT
tai, and that 10 cash. For a popula
tion of, say, $500 use 1926, COO. Keep
out Of larger towns If you want large
profits and contsntment. Direct all
your energies to the protection OF the
stakeholder, for he is the third and last
claimant to the assets of the bank.
When he is safe, of COURSE the depos-
itor all and other creditors are secure.
Don't borrow money of your own bank,
for in case you fail il looks and feels
better to owe the other fellows bank.
Pay only small dividends or none until
your surplus equals or exceeds your
capital. We began BY paying 40 per
cent dividends, but we have learned
better. Do not permit removals and
extensions OF notes. .'How can you
prevent it?' asks one. As you are the
pioneer banker in the new town, do not
begin 1t. Never ask renewal or ex-
tension Of your own payablss. You
fixed the due date aud signed it-meet
II. Don't 60 into schemes. Stick to
your last, or, as another has said :
"Behold the postage stamp, how 1t
stichsth to one thing till 1t gets
there" A banker once went into
boom real estate. 10 his surpriss, real
: estats wsnt down aud his bank went
up. In rhyme hs tells the sad story
Just about three years ago,
i bought q lot, dhd.bought 1t low
The man that sold 1t told me SO,
. And he's the one that ought to know.
, Fifteen thousand WAS the price,
lie didn't have to ask me twice;
paid IL half In one big slice,
And felt as rich as Calvin Brice.
And for the rest gave my note
And as my name chilly wrote
had no thought no NOR n goat I,
How big the load I'd have to tote.
:. Now sit In silent gloom
I Thinking of my awful doom;
2 want to lay me in my tomb
d Before we hit another boom.
9 Lend your money to your regula
custornsra and do not make a rule o
b buying commercial paper. A well
I managed country bank with a capita
9 of SIS, 900 is entitled to the same credi
s basis as mercantile house having
Il rating OF six times that amount. Tn
n records show that 81 per cent of tn
Q commercial houses fail while in SOM
9 States-ths State Of Georgia. for in
n stanoe-not one country bank ha
Q failed since the close of the civil war
p No amount of capital with brain
Ir can take the place Of that one qualifi
cation 30 essential and widely recog
10 nized rs peculiar to bankers-integrity
It No bapk can live without it.
% Live 50 as to render good statemen
10 of your own personal stewardship an
IT to find yourself stakeholder ir tha
o big bank above. which shall pay div
10 bends through all eternity.
10 Nv ----a--