The age-herald., 1899-05-03

aged new accounts by sending out hand someiy bound books of deposit and check books with the name of the depositor en- graved upon the checks. The innovation aroused desire to secure the books and brought business. Every new account af- forded an additional avenue for currency to the interior, as remttances to planters and storekeepers were of frequent occur renee. But the manner in which the notes of the bank were brought into almost na- tional circulation was by inviting the steamboat men to bring their freight bill checks to the Citizens bank for payment. These bills aggregated from 8 900 to $l0 900, and they were generally paid by checks on some one of the numerous banks or bank ing houses of New Orleans. It was de- cided innovation and great saving of time and labor to the collectors, who in the past had been obliged to present each check at the particular bank upon which 1t was drawn.
 In this way, as was foreseen by MT. Cammack, the steamboat men became of great service to the bank, as the major part of the sum of their collections was carried out of the city to be disbursed throughout the Mississippi valley, In pay ment for fuel, wharf boat due, stores, wages. port charges, etc. Thousands upon thousands of dollars were taken out Of the city every week by packets bound for points on the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio rivers and their tributaries, the Wa bash Tennessee, Arkansas and Red. In this manner throughout the wide territory from Pittsburg, Pa; St. Paul, Minn., and St. Louis, Mo, to the gulf, these notes were kept in constant circulation until they became better known than those of any bank in the south or in the union, and the circulation Of the bank mounted up to four or five million dollars, then an unprece- dented- sum.
 The following clipping from the Conner clal Bulletin of New Orleans gives an idea of the banks credit:
 The extraordinary success following the reorganization of the Citizens bank, the unparalleled pinnacle of fame, the remark able extent to which operations have reached. the great advance in the value of the stock, the steady increase Of its already vast business, have attracted large share of the attention of the moneyed men of the country.
 During the panic of 1857 the bank with stood a two days run upon it and came out with flying colors, while others fell all about it. This established its credit so firmly that one of its notes was good as national bank note is today.
 The bank was known both the the Cltl- zens' Bank of Louisiana and La Banque des Citoyens de la Louisiana. The denom- nations were also printed in French and English: five, cinq; ten, dix; twenty. vingt; fifty, cinquante; one hundred, cent; one thousand, mile. It will be readily seen that the French names of any denomina- ton but ten were unpronounceable, but the ten, dix" seemed to attract the eye and to meet public demand, always existing for something unique, unusual. As the re- suit the $10 notes of the Citizens were sell dom if ever, In any other way referred to than as 'dixes" And, besides, it was the most natural way in the world to identify this particular note. The denomination, too, was a convenient size for the steamboat men to meet their obligations with, not too large nor too small; and of the many thou sands of dollars taken out of the city every week by the river boats very large pro- portion of 1t was in "dixes." In conse- quence these notes had a much larger cir culation than any other notes issued by the bank. and ere long the expression. "a dixie note' or a note from the Dixie bank was very common among the large number of people everywhere who were familiar with the currency. This the most natural thing in the world, for the word Dix" Is prominent on the front of the note, and so much so on the back that the observer, in nasty glance would see nothing else.
 A common, almost universal expression used by the steamboat men when leaving from the "up river'' country for New Or leans in answers to inquiries as to their destination was were going south after t1ixies" or going to ''Dixie land"
 Gradually the southern country began to be known along the river ports as "Dixie land" because so much money came from 1t. From this beginning the word has grown to general usage, and today 1t Is synonymous with the south everywhere.
 Mark Twain. when pilot on the Missis- sippi, probable handled many "dixes,' and, like others, wished he had more. Among the steamboats on the western rivers at the time were the Henry Chouteau, Republic, Diana Chenoworth, W. M. Morrison, Mag nolia, shotwell, Ohio Bell, Queen City. Alex Strader, B. J. Adams, Eclipse, Belle Key Robert I. Ward, Grand Duke, Hta- watha, Fortuna. Glendale, Alvin Adams. Indiana, Kate Adams. Judge Torrance, J. Simonds, Caroline D. Watkins. c. B. Church, Concordia, Natchez and Princess.
 Every survivor of those days who was connected with any of these boats, and many of the older residents of the ports where the boats touched, will tell what blessings came to them from Dixie land" in the fifties.
 Farewell, my notes, and whereso'er ye
 wend,
 Shun gaudy scenes and be the poor mans
 friend;
 You've left poor one; go to one as poor.
 And drive despair and hunger from his