Evening journal., 1915-04-09
Home Wilmington Branch Farmers Bank be Opened Monday


in pink and grey. with mahogany
trimmings. This room is fitted with
massive mahogany tables and couches
as well as chairs and private tele-
phones and breathes of welcome and
comfort
On the south of the main entrance
is the presidents room, fitted in har-
mony with the public lobby, the cell
ing being old ivory while the walls
are finished in light buff. The furn-
iture is mahogany.
As one enters the new structure
he is impressed with the massive APP
pearance of the huge vault, towering
upwards toward the ceiling. This
vault built two stories high. is equip
ped with an elevator.
The money vault is enclosed by
massive door weighing fifteen tons.
The vault is divided into several
sections, and large enough to accom-
modate money and valuable papers.
In connection with this money vault
is a storage vault in the basement
accessible by the elevator, where sill
verware, household treasures and
other valuable articles can be placed
in safekeeping.
The main compartment of the vault
on the first floor contains the safe
deposit boxes and teller cages. meas
uring 9x16 feet and is subdivided by
steel grilles.
Particular study has been given TO
the officers rooms. which are located
on the first and second floors Of the
building and arranged in conjunc-
ton with the tellers' departments
a..
Market street, is the reception room
Of the board of directors, measuring
20 by SO feet and from which access
is had to the balcony which extends
around the interior of the building.
This room is handsomely furnished
in mahogany and stenciled in style
10 harmonize with the public lobby
The walls and ceilings are Of a darker
shade than of the public lobby.
To the rear of the first floor is
a spiral stairway extending from the
basement to the three rooms in the
rear of the second floor. which will
be used by the bOokkeepers and other
employees.
Ample consideration has been given
to the protection Of the clerks and
watchmen through the adequate sys-
tenn of burglar alarms and automatic
signals. Each department is fitted
with a relay of call bells, operated
automatically and in conjunction with
these a powerful gong has been Sc
creted and can be set in operation
from any part of the building.
Communication between the differ
ent departments is accessible through
a private telephone exchange, dicta-
phone and telautograph systems. Car
riers for the transportation of pass
books and other articles provide the
quick means of transport between the
different tellers' booths.
Another very imposing feature is
the bronze banking screen which is
laid out TO give complete satisfac-
ton TO the patrons of the institution.
\ The latest methods in banking have
N been arranged for, and sufficient tell
ers' windows have been provided TO
s give quick and satisfactory service.
The building was started in March,
n 1914. and completed in one years
time by w. Howard May, builder,
of Wilmington.
HISTORY OF THE BANK.
or that little Legion of Honor OF
81 American banks which has fought
n through the financial battles OF a CEN
n tury to prosperous and it is to be
hoped permanent, peace, none Is more
remarkable than the Farmers Bank,
the only bank in the country which
has a sovereign State behind it. II
was. the custom. It is true, in the
81 early DAYS for State. when granting
" a charter to. a new bank TO. demand
VI the right To subscribe to the bank S
81 capital stock and from such under
81 writings many States made handsome
# gains. for they usually sold out their
n bank stock at the first opportunity to
take a good profit. Il is true also that
some bank stock is still held by the
# States. but of no other banking insti-
s tuition in American than the Farmers
Bank of Delaware is the controlling
interest owned and exercised by a
sovereign State.
The Farmers Bank was organized
with the view of being in reality
<& State bank, and that in effect is what
& II has always been. The State OF
Delaware owns 81 per cent. of its
stock and of the nine directors oil
zach of the three branches OF the
sx bank Wilmington, Dover and George
A# Town three are appointed by the Gen
|s# sral Assembly at its biennial meet
XE ngs. The bank is a regular deposl,
## tory of State ana county iuhu9' "uu
q he dividends on the stock owned py
he state go to the State school fund
s These dividends since the organization
.% If the bank have been about S3'f2O''
< 300 as follows: . a.,
per cent. for 90 years $4,000 'OOC
ner cent. for years 900. lzO'OVu
q per cent. for 12 years eoO'OOO
S372O OOC
Total ....'.... ..
The state. being the majority stock
colder, has received nearly Sz'oOo'-
0O.
IA The Farmers Bank was incorporat-
4 February 4, 1907. as "The Presi-
lent. directors and company OF the
FARMERS Bank of the State OF Del
ware" II was the second banking
Institution organized in the State its
,nly predecessor being the bank ol
delaware. incorporated in 1875.
The preamble of the act incor'
|E orating the Farmers Bank recite'
sz24 he reasons for "the establishment
III a bank for the State Of Delaware
pom a foundation sufficiently exten.
IS i've TO answer the purposes INTENDED
{ III hereby" as that it "will be conducive
<& the general interests of the State