Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-06-16
THE EXPANSION OF GE0RGIA'S
BANKING BUSINESS.

| The most remarkable business phe-
nomenon in Georgia in the past ten
years has been the enormous increase
in the number of banks within its
bounds. and the tremendous accretion
TO the banking capital of the state.
Ten years ago there was a sudden eX-
pansion apparent along this line, char
ter after charter was called for, and it
soon became evident that the banking
business was about to enjoy an area
of expansion and prosperity unexcelled
III the previous history of Georgia. In
every county banking corporations
were organized, and it soon became a
saying that every cross roads village
in Georgia was about to establish a
bank
The wonderful development that
came to South Georgia has been re-
sponsible for the establishment of the
greater number of the new banks
whose existence dates within the past
decade. immigration pouring into this
section and the tremendous increase in
its wealth demanded more adequate
banking facilities The business men
were not slow to meet the needs and
to-day in every county south of Ma
con there is to be found one or more
well conducted state banking institu-
tions, all of which appear to do
thriving business, to meet the needs #
their municipalities satisfactorily, and
to pile up dividends and reserve funds
year after year
At the recent meeting of the Geor-
gia bankers at Tybee a statement was
made of the growth of the banking
business in georgia that possesses
much interest. 1t gives a clear in
sight into the wonderful progress the
state has made in recent years and
throws a food of light on its present
prosperity. From this statement teh
following is clipped as telling III the
most succinct way how banking has
expanded as the state has taken on
new life and developed in agricultural
and industrial lines:
"a comparative statement from the
banks in Georgia, taken from the little
book sent out by Mr. Mills B. Lane in
the summer of 1893, shows that there
were then but 108 banks in Georgia,
including both state and national, with
capital and surplus of SIS 1888, 515, and
81 of these only were state banks.
From State Treasurer J. P. Browns
report, we had in 1909:
487 state banks with capital
of =. =. :. :. =. $40 ,22S, ABB
Surplus and net profit of 11,2S9,977
102 National banks, cap. 1851 800
Profits 9,l6h3So
$52,167 ,315
Secretary Hillyer reports $40 state
banks in 1911. Gain in banking cap
ital and surplus of $26, 627, 900, or 13
times as much capital and surplus in
1909 as in 1898.
I'm 1898 deposits in all banks
amounted to .. =. :. $1S,419,S24
In 1909 deposits in all banks
amounted to =. .. e. e.. 81, 1922 $50
cover six times as much money was
on deposit in 1909 as in 1898, a gain Of
600 per cent. Hon Robert e. Park
says in his report of December, 1904,
that when he assumed the duties Of
state treasurer in November, 1900,
there were about 140 state banks,
against the 4S7 working under state
charters in 1908, as per Treasurer ].
P. Browns report The increase is
three and a half times within nine
years.
These satisfies are tabulated to
show the changed conditions of the
state of Georgia, as compared with but
a few years ago in relation to bank
ing. The state treasurer had less than
100 state banks to examine in 1898,
only 40 to check up in the year 1900,
and in 1909 he had to investigate 4S7
banks, either personally or with the
aid of assistant bank examiners.