The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-01-18

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the frontier, SO to speak. The devel- |
oped country was beyond the pines, |
but the movement had started in this |
direction, and it was growing stronger |
There was no precedent
to guide our people. Those who lived
in Hattiesburg and the newcomers
generally had limited means, and
were mostly people who had lived in
small communities where things had
been done on a small scale, and where
there was little progressive spirit,
Those at the helm had these condt
lions to meet, the responsibilities to
shoulder. and the consequences to
bear. They bravely undertook to take
care of the incoming multitudes, and
the increasing volume of business. AS
new citizens settled in our midst, they
also took an active stand with their
predecessors for the best interests Of
Hattiesburg. Hattiesburgs future has
only recently been hewn out of the
rough. and the work was done almost
entirely by people of little training and
limited information at the commence
ment.
Young men came here in great num-
bers and there were comparatively few
seasoned, experienced men among the
early arrivals. The country not only
had to be developed, but also the men.
There are numbers of them living in
South Mississippi today who, fifteen
or twenty years ago, represented lit
tie, but who through willingness to
work and manliness of character have
achieved success. They fearlessly as
sumed the burdens of this new sec
ton, and while they had many trials
and lost many an advantage gained,
vet they prospered sufficiently to abb
sorb and assimilate the waste, fric-
ton, heart aches and disappointments
that come and go with the building OF
new country. In those days there
was nothing to do except step for
ward. Preparation had to be made
for the vast development that was TAX
ing place, the proper housing and car
| ing for our population, and the Gre
ating of industries and employment
There was nothing to do but go for
ward. move ahead and do the best
that could be done under the circum-
/ stances, and too great praise can not
be spoken for those who took the
situation in hand went ahead thrash
ed out a plan, did things, helped 9th
ers, and inspired all Of the habits of
thought and action that made Hatties-
burg and South Mississippi.
Sept. 2, 1895, This bank opened for
business in a small place, furnished
with homemade furniture, built by
local workmen, and it has continuous
ly since that day been doing things
for Hattiesburg and South Mississippi,
and the owners of the stock of this
bank can take credit to themselves
for much that has been done. This
bank has seen almost every brick
house in Hattiesburg built, almost all
Of the residences, and has directly or
! indirectly been the inspiring cause OF
much of these efforts. 1t has started
many a man in business, and some OF
our largest industries commenced in
a small way through assistance rem
dered by this bank, and there, are few
of the important or prominent firms
in our section that have not been al
some time assisted by this bank.
1.-THE banks record is one of sue
cess, At no time in it's history has
there been a season when it was moi
succeeding, but in the early days Of
Hattiesburg profits were more easily
made, and were larger. The institu
ton has not in recent years earned
as rich profits, but it has fixed Its
future more permanently. While con
ditions have changed, greater conser
vatism and care are practiced and the
bank is now saving where 1t once suf
fered waste, and its future is more
definitely guaranteed by the develop
ment of a trained, tried, experienced
corps, who have grown up with the
bank, and have been refined in the
crucible of experience. They should
therefore, by every rule of reason, be