The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-02-10
AGGREGATE IS NOW
MORE Than 100000
Policy Of the Local Banks to Encour-
age Industrial and Agricultural De-
veIopment.-voIume Of Loans Show
That Business is Improving.

In sending out its quarterly report,
made to the Comptroller of the Cur
rency on February 5, the First Nation
al Bank of Commerce makes this as
sertion: a.xgs 4
"As the scenes Of the past months
Of d.sappointments and uncertainties
fade into a memory. and the country
again proceeds along a course Of pro-
gress and achievement, our people
should not be unmindful of the lessons
taught by experience which suggests
the Importance of forethough before
casting forth efforts for better or
worse"
The statement Is significant, mas
much as it comes from the largest
banking institution in South Missis-
sippi and voices the prevailing senti-
ment in financial and business circles.
That the depression is over and that
business Of all kinds Is rapidly recover
ing from the depressed condition pre-
vailing last year is amply evidenced
by the facts and figures contained In
the statements of Hattiesburg banks,
two of which appear In another part
of todays paper.
That the people of Hattiesburg and
the Hattiesburg territory are mind
full OF the lessons taught by expert
ence" is evidenced in the increased
deposits of all the banks of Hatties-
burg.
These statements show that bank
deposits have increased more than 20
per cent. during the past three months
and that the three banks of the city
have on deposit something like ST.
100000. 1t is doubtful is here is a
100000 1t is doubtful if there is a
city in the State that can make a bet
ter showing.
The First National Bank of Com
merce alone shows aggregate loans of
$1,S57 609.49, which indicates a liber-
al policy, despite the stringency
through which the community has re-
Gently passed. The Hattiesburg Trust
& Banking Company, the youngest
bank in the city, shows loans of $685.
695.1s, with deposits of $167, Jos 3d.
an excellent showing. The Citizens
Bank publishes no statement at this
time, but Cashier Ballard says that the
deposits have increased more than
$4,000 within the past three months.
1t is the policy of all the local banks
to encourage the Industrial and agri-
cultural development of Hattiesburg
and the territory tributary to the city.
In this connection, the First National
Kank of Commerce, in a letter to it's
depositors, says:
"A people who have conquered diff
culties and established themselves in
comfort and reasonable plenty, should
consider the conservation of assets.
and opportunity. and philosophize ac-
eordingly and thereby more securely
preserve unto theselves their own,
and fix more permanent. the substan-
tial qualities of their communities.
In furtherance Of this end we know
of no better plan than to encourage
economy and thrift, and steadily keep
before US the Importance Of promoting
and stimulating our own agriculture.
"The production of food stufrs at
home is the most important item to
consider in the economy of a people,
as the supplying of such actual neces-
stiles is the greatest absolute es-
Tential to be faced and the paramount
item to consider in the trade balance
Of this section. This problem, master.
ed, we can but progress in the most
sumpticus fashion and it therefore |
behoove7 our people in all walks of
life to consider the question of further
enlarging our agriculture. and we be-.
seech the public to keep this subject
in mind at OF times, never falling to
embrace rtasopable opportunity 70
advance this. he only earthly Great.