Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-06-16

provoke no rear on the score Vi 80
curity, when we gain true concep-
ton of the amount of business done
One industry alone, the marketing OF
cotton, with the interests allied and
connected with it, results in the pay
ment to cotton and cotton seed pro-
ducers OF an amount something like
$4,000 100000. With lumber interests,
the development Of natural resources,
and the furtherance of cooperative
investments incidental thereto, the
amount of business to be transacted
by the banks is by no means circum-
scribed There is a demand for mon
ey in many other fields, and the banks
are decidedly responsive to this de-
mand, accomplishing an imrbeasure-
able amount of good in encouraging
the citys growth, in fostering good.
stable investments.
The Merchants & Planters Bank, as
an outgrowth of the private banking
house of Buck. Smart & Co., founded
in 1870, did not operate under it's pres
Pine Bluff. irrespective of its sfze
markets in the South. During the
ent name until 1876. Originally, the
capital was $15,O0O.O0, and the bank
prospered from the start. The char
acter of the initial business transacted
was restricted, but after it assumed
the name of Merchants. & Planters
Bank, it's doors were opened for the
varied business of a general banking
concern. The bank still stands on
the site it originally occupied. The
organization of the Citizens Bank was
effected in 1887. This strong enter
prise is domiciled in the well-equipped
six-story office building on Second
street The Bank of Pine Bluff came
into existence two years after the Citi-
zens' Bank, and, like the others, has
steadily increased it's capital and
financial prestige. Through the influ-
ence and thrift of the employees OF
the Cotton Belt Railroad, particularly
those engaged in work in the shops,
the Cotton Belt Savings Bank and
Trust Company was incorporated in
1895. Only recently it moved from
Barraque street to occupy the beauti-
fully appointed quarters under the
Hotel Pines, more adequate for Its
expanding business. The year 1908
marked the appearance of the Sim
mons National, the sole national bank
of the city, and the Peoples Savings
Bank and Trust Company. Within
decade of their operation they have
.prospered continuously, and have re-
ceived an impetus towards steady
growth.
i Considering the former laxity OF
i state laws relative to the banking In
situations, the showing of the banks
is a most creditable one. That the
banks have survived SO many trouble
some periods OF depression as well az
initiation, which usually resulted In
, the former, bespeaks high degree Of
is one of the greatest inland cottor
city over 14O, 900 bales, and while thit
! last season there was handled in the
of finance in the officials who nav
superintended the operations.
. Pre.eminently . Cotton Market.
integrity. intelligence and knowledge
exceeded the record of past years
the receipts in the course OF recen
seasons have rarely been much les'
than 100000 bales, with every indica
ton that there will be no decrease
It offers superior advantages IN tn'
i, way of warehouses and compresses
!, with their extensive warehouse space
The warehouses are all OF the brlcl
standard variety, with an aggregat'
capacity Of about forty Thousand
) bales. AS natural result of the com
) plete equipment for storage OF cotton
! the insurance rate is somewhat unde
that of most of the cities of Arkan
sas.
During the marketing Of the cotton
Pine Bluff presents its busiest ap
J, pearance, the season being at It's heigh
: in the interval between Septembe
9 and February, although shipping Otter
I continues throughout the summer. A
!. an. incident to the part that the com
presses play in affording facilities
= for the concentration Of cotton here
] In a large measure, New Orleans ant
. Memphis commission merchants hav
t been displaced by the agencies OF tn
: spinners established in Pine Blum
: and. also, by the local commission
merchants and buyers. The competi
e ton is such that5the farmer is ASSURE
an excellent income from the sale
r of his product. being enabled to re
D alize the highest price possible. TIL