Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-03-04
MONEY OF AMERICUS IN
TIMES OF DIREST NEED
Her People Are Equal to
Occasion.

The retirement of the issue of clear
ing house certificates, issued by the
Americus banks several months ago
when the entire country was sorely
in need of circulating medium, recalls
to the minds of many here other
periods of distress when money was
needed.
This was during the reconstruction
period following the Civil War. when
and there was little money circulat-
ing.
Confederate money was worthless,
and there was little of any other
kind to be had
But in every instance Americus
arose equal to the occasion, as dur
ing the recent stringency.
In the Olden days we did not issue
clearing house certificates, but MON
Ely, the real article, and it was as
good as Uncle Sans gold, or anyone
else's. And it was made right here
in Americus
Individuals issued money; the In
ferior Court of Sumter county, is
sued money; the City Council of Am
ericus issued thousands of dollars of
real money, and it was all as good
as gold, and finally redeemed in
coin or greenbacks, dollar for dol
lar.
The occasion demanded it, and the
money was forthcoming
Four months ago the Americus
banks, as did those of every Georgia
city, issued clearing house certifi-
Gates, to meet the demand for a cir
culating medium. Only $4,000 was
thus issued in Americus, and this
amount has all been redeemed
This 'Americus money" circulated
like gold bills while the need for
the substitute" existed.
In 1893 another period of financial
stringency existed and again scrip"
was\ issued, and for two or three
months "Americus money" was again
in circulation.
During the Civil War of the sixties,
and for some time thereafter, the
need of a circulating medium was
sorely felt, and again Americus met
the emergency. There was not a
bank in the town, and money of any
description was scarce.
About that time John A. McElroy,
afterwards a we'll known citizen,
came here in North Carolina tobac-
co wagon. He decided to open a
bank" though he had no capital
But he conceived a plan, and car
ried it to success.
Mr. McElroy printed his own mon
ey and opened the Sans Souci Bank"
in little frame house where the
handsome Allison building now
stands.
He capitalized his bank" at $780,
600 and issued that amount of Sans
Souci scrip in denominations of sc,
10c, 25c, SOC, and dollar bills. Citi-
zens accepted it as they would gold
bonds. Sans Souci scrip served it's
purpose and was redeemed in real
currency.
This was about 1862, when the need
of money was sorely felt.
In 1863 the cotton warehouse firm
of John V. Price, located where
Parker's warehouse now is, put out
a line of local currency. This, too,
was as good as gold
People here accepted it readily,
and eventually the entire Price is
sue was redeemed
About 1867 the City Council of
Americus put out an issue of 100000
in paper money. 1t was printed here,
and in bold red letters that could not
be mistaken. 1t was "Americus mon
ey" and passed in Americus like gold
certificates pass now.
The Council Money was issued un-
der the administration of Mayor T
NJ. Furlow and Mayor A. s. Cults, and
for many years and the principal
circulating medium.
The money" was in quarters, hal
yes one, two and five dollar bills.
For nearly ten years the "city coun-
ell money" circulated, and even now
an occasional bill, still as good as
gold, shows up among some ones re-
lies Greenbacks were very scarce,
while silver coin was rarely seen,
and brought premium.
One would readily pay go cents or
rs cents for silver half dollar, which
was exhibited with considerable pride
by the lucky owner.
Another issue of money, well re-
membered here. were the bills of the