Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1907-10-11

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pie of Iowa and Des Moines in partlc-
ular have heard much concerning the
Metropolitan Mercantile and Realty
Company, and some perhaps more
venturesome than others, have placed
their cor fidence and dollars in this
Negro enterprise, which has done so
much and bids fair to do even greater
things in the future 1t is safe to say,
however, that the majority OF people
who have given the matter any seri-
GUS consideration, though impressed,
have not clear understanding as 10
what this. institution really is, many
confusin it with insurance compan-
les, building loans and some mistak-
ing it for a benefit society.
n The Metropolitan Mercantile and
1 Realty Company is a Negro corpora
tion founded about eight years ago in
the city of New York, combining the
real estate, mercantile, banking and
beneficial business. 1t was incorpor-
ated for the purpose Of providing a
way for the Negro to earn dollar as
well as spend one. It is capitalized at
100000 and has branch Offices in a
score of states in the east, west, north
and south The company has built
nearly one hundred homes \ for its
stockholders, besides a hospital in
Philadelphia, a Masonic Temple in
Savannah, Ca, and an apartment
house in East Orange. N. j.; owns and
operates a department store in Balti-
more, Md, and flourishing grocery
business in the city of Plainfeld, NJ
j., savings bank in Savannah, Ca,
and has an insurance or beneficial de.
partment attached, operating in six
states which has q membership Of
100000. In a few weeks the company
will open in the city Of New York the
largest department store in the coun-
try owned and operated by Negroes.
having 81, 600 square feet of flooring,
three hundred persons. gI
A few weeks ago Mr.. L. H. Smith,
the company's chief representative In
this section, who is making his home
in .Des Moines, arranged a series Of
stereopticon exhibits and lectures
which was OF an educational charac-
ter and enlightened the people as to
the achievements and holdings Of the
company. This was a source Of much
interest and enjoyment to the many
who attended the lectures. The Rev.
T. u. Griffith, pastor Of the Corinthian
Baptist church, while on a trip east
made personal investigation of the
company in the interest Of his people
and paid visit to The Metropolitan's
Department store In Baltimore, Md.
What he saw and his impressions are
best told in his own words: s5
While on my trip to the east, att
tending the National Baptist Conven-t
tion and the jamestown Exposition,
stopped at Baltimore for the express
purpose Of viewing the department.
store of the Metropolitan Mercantile
and Realty Company, and may freely
say that was pleased and satisfied
with what I saw. The store is located
on Eutaw Place near Druid Hill ave
nue., where scores of our people are
securing valuable property. It has a
most convenient location for this rea-
son. # sGS I5 + 5 # 535
"The building itself has a basement
and three other stories. On the base
ment floor they have their groceries
and there was every evidence OF a
large patronage. On the main floor
they have a soda fountain, notions
mems furnishings, shoes and Office Of
the store. The second floor lis given
to ladies clothing and millinery. The
third floor has the Office OF the COM
pany and q large store room They
keep two wagons going and on Satur-
days they use two extra wagons.
Il "rThe manager OF the store, Mr..
Diggs, informed me that they have
twenty-nine clerks, that the major
part Of their patronage Is from the
colored people. but they also have q
good deal OF trade from white people.
I talked with a number OF leading
men In Baltimore, all Of whom spoke
in complimentary terms OF the vol
,lne Of business which is being done.
on the whole the business impressed
me as conmsndable. It was inspir-