The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-01-17
AN AUTOMOBILE BANK.
A French Invention and 1t Travels
to It's Patrons Instead of Their
Coming to 1t.

One of the most brilliant ideas OF
modern times has just occurred to
the local authorities which admins
ter the public moneys of the town Of
Mezieres, in the Ardennes, writes a
correspondent of the London Tele-
graph. The new scheme consists of
an automobile savings bank" The
terms requires some explanation.
The inventors apply it to new sort
of motor car which they are having
built. The vehicle is propelled by
electricity and contains four seats,
one in front and apart from the 9th
ers for the driver. The three places
behind are arranged around revolv-
lug table in the middle of the car,
one at each side and one at the rear
of the vehicle. Writing desks are fit
ted over each of the three seats and
devised in such way that they can
be either folded fiat against the
sides of the carriage inwardly or
opened outwardly. The central table
also contains desks, besides book
shelves and a small metallic strong
box. Such is the new automobile.
The use to which the authorities of
Mezieres intend to put their inven-
ton is as follows:
The car will travel around the
country, making stoppages of an
hour or so on prearranged days in
| the different localities of the depart-
ment. The passengers will be two
clerks of the local treasury admins
tration and cashier. They will car
ry with them a complete collection
of savings bank books, registers and
forms, and the third of the above
mentioned officials will be empow-
cred to receive moneys. Your read
ers will have now OWNED the pur-
pose of the financial authorities of
Mezieres, 1t seems that these gem
tlemen, assembled In council lately,
came to the conclusion that some-
thing should be done to encourage
thrift among the peasantry of the
Ardennes. On the other hand, it was
recognized that the saving propensi-
ty was already very marked among
the countryfolk. What was. needed
was that the administration should
meet their wants half way. The
peasants put by their earnings thrift
lily enough, but frequently fail to
invest them In savings banks because,
especially in the busy summer
months, they have little time for
journeying to the few principal
towns where the offices are situated.
So the authorities determined upon
sending the savings bank to the
cauntryfolk instead of waiting any
longer for the latter to find time to
come to the offices:
The description of the vehicle,
which the authorities have built ae=
cordipg to their own designs, re=
quires no further explanation except
to say that the movable desks are
intended for use by the public, hence
the arrangement by which they can
be opened outward over the road. 1t
is reported that the scheme meets
with the unqualified approval of the
savings bank clerks, whose days
hitherto throughout the fine season
have been spent in musty offices.
But, contrary to what might have
been expected, the public does not
look upon the innovation with unal-
Logged delight. Some suspicious per-
sons have spread runner that the
administrative meter ear will not al
ways convey savings bank clerks. but
will occasionally bring-more often,
perhaps, than would be desirable
that unwelcome visitor, the tax col
lector.