The age-herald., 1899-09-17
A BLESSING TO THE
 STATE OF ALABAMA

doubtedly been of great service in enhanc- ing the value of city property in Alabama.
 Ask yourself this question: Does not the more liberal degree, knowing full well that when the mortgage becomes due. if the party is not able to pay it, that he can get the money from a building and loan association to pay off the debt?
 l am writing this article to all fair minded men, and let me ask you this ques- tion: Is it not true that every kind of business has to be perfected by time? So also is it true that any great business, as well as any great man, is always subjected to more criticism than that of little sig nificance and little prominence.
 Common Sense
 There is a popular but erroneous idea ex- isting in regard to maturity For instance. not long since the writer heard a person remark that he had not settled with a building and loan association, ana had to cancel his stock for about 50 cents on the dollar. This being such a remarkable statement it excited the writer's curiosity and he determined to ascertain the facts in the case. which are as follows: The party had subscribed for twenty
 shares of stock, worth, at maturity,
 Sl,000. He had paid on the stock 72
 monthly payments of S each, or a
 total of....... ...... ........ ........ .S5O4 O And he received for it's cancellation
 value the amount of S50i he had
 paid in, with per cent per annum
 profit for the average time his
 money had heen in the association,
 or a total profit of....... ............ 12O 96
 Cash cancellation value received $624 9s
 You who read these lines Stop min ute and think! Have all your investments in the last ten years been as good or better than this shown here? Have you not in- vested money which has made you no re- turn whatever, and on which you cannot even get back the principal? The way in which. the building and loan business is often spoken of is misleading. The build ing and loan business in the United States has reached the magnitude of $500 ,000, ,00O composed largely of the small savings of members here and there over the country. To be sure. the estimates put forth by members of associations a number of years ago were entirely too high, in that they apparently would mature in certain
 
 time The estimates at first were all made very much too short, and the stock not having matured in the time expected caused considerable l-feeling in Alabama toward a system which should have stood in universal favor. In great many places in the United States we find the building and loan business developed until it is al- most perfect And while we do not excuse mistakes made by any association hereto fore, yet much of the abuse heaped on the building and loan system is like that enumerated in the first part of this article.
 Absolute safe'y
 By the terms of the charter of the Ala bama Home it can neither borrow money, buy real estate, nor hypothecate its mort gages.
 The money paid in by members is loaned on first mortgage on improved property in the cities of Alabama. Before a loan is made the abstract of property has to show a good and perfect title, and insurance has to be carried with loss payable to the as- sociauon.
 Stock in the Alabama Home has cash withdra awal value, making 1t very desir-
  banks on our stock about 90 per cent. of the amount paid into the company thereon. Do you know any other investment offer ing greater inducements that this? The Alabama Home does not hold out fabulous pr ofits as an inducement to prospective in- vestors, but offers you a reasonable profit and absolute safety. In fact in order 10 do the highest class of business and offer a safe investment, we must give the borrower good, reasonable terms, and pay the in- vestor only a moderate profit.
 Would you not prefer a smaller profit and a greater degree of safety, or a larger profit and less degree of safety? The safest business is loans on homes with a high moral risk. The Alabama Home has so perfected its plan as to be able to reach this class of business,
 To Investors
 The Alabama Home offers you the oppor- tunity to lay aside your savings and have them returned to you with a reasonable profit. Young man, what will give you prestige in this world? What will enable you to take advantage of bargains when you find them? Nothing but ready cash. The great question that confronts the young man of today is how he Is to &C., cumulate and get ahead in the world. Ex- perience has proven that no one ever ac- eumulated anything who does not save systematically. Money hoarded away is We'll saved though saved at a loss, but how much better to accumulate in systema tic and profitable way? The great trouble with the majority is that they do not save any, thing. and old age overtakes them stin at the bottom of the ladder, toiiing. As years go by, the responsibilities of life increase, and the ability to save up your earnings and accumulate becomes less from year to year.
 Young man! You who are not yet into the realities of lifel Invest your savings and have them returned to you with a profit at time when an amount of money will mean great deal to your happiness. Investment in The Alabama Home offers great inducements to those who would save up their earnings.
 To Borrowers