The Dickinson press., 1916-05-27

died on the depot platform at Mandan
from heart failure, and he was the
onlv one who had the combination
to the safe. A mechanic drilled the
safe and opened it and with Mr..
LYON we went over the assets and &C.
counts; 8 100000 deposits and
$50, OO0.O 90 loans, and not a penny out
| of line in any of the accounts. I
retired and turned all the assets and
liabilities over to the First National
Bank of Mandan, and the Northern
Pacific Bank was no more.
Thus nv educational r as a
banker was started.
I Think of this vast ire of country
at that time, from the Missouri river
to the Montana line, served locally. by
three modest banks. The First
National at Dickinson a $5O,0OO
capital and 100000 deposits; the
First National of Mandan, $50,O00.O0
capital, and I think more than
$40, 100000 in deposits.
When I look back over those 26
years I think what a blessed privilege
to have lived in a developing country.
In those days, and for a decade be-
fore and some time after, I never
drank anything stronger than tea
and coffee, but as I look back now it
seems as though I was soaked and in
] toxicated by love of work, ever ex-
, ceeding INV love for my family, and
the Lord knows I dearly loved the
good wife and babies.
I remember in 1898, when funds
ran low and a 100000 rediscount
ARRANGED in Chicago failed to show
IN. Roadmaster J. B. Kelly told me
he had $4,000 in cash and I wanted
Thin to put it in the bank, but he
lacked confidence and refused. "Well
then" I said, "Let me have it and ]
viii Owe YOU nv note for it at 6 per
cents "Al1 right" The thing was
done and into the bank it went. Our
friend and your respected townsman,
John H. Daily, then section foreman
at Glendive, I learned had about the
same amount in his belt or stock
inc. and it was secured in exchange
for Stark county warrants. Another
s25OO.OO was anchored by diplomacy
and terms too delicate to mention in
public. That was a lot of money
under panic conditions at that time.
Was it easy? It was not. The
prevailing rate of interest was IL per
cent in advance and money was worth
it.
Cheap money is often more dis
astrous than that obtained at a high
rate. Less than ten years ago l paid
8 ner cent per annum and a bonus of
s1S.OOOOO for the use of 500 100000
for three ears and I figured it out
later and found it had cost me just
- ner cent per annum, and while
had f. 7 was on easy street and it
was worth the price and secured on
my own terms that a offered Tor
it.. That money was obtained some
where in North Dakota, and not west
of the Missouri river.
But now I feel about borrowing as
the darby woman in q Virginia court
seeking a divorce felt. We'll, what
YOU here for Dinah well, ledge,
Al wants a divorce" whats the
matter. don't your husband treat you
right !" eyes, ledge, he treats me
All right, and / got no fault to n
with him about that" We'll, don't
he nroyide for you?" Eyes, he pro-
vides for me all right. He gave me
s;xtv cents Saturday night" "Wel]
chen. what's the matter?" "Well
Jedge, I Just materially have lost my
taste for him." :,
T1Today in the Slope country west Of
the Missouri river, in North Dakota
to the Montana line we have ia
hanks. with Is banks between Lem
mon. IS. D., and the Big Missouri OF
IN Milwaukee railroad in South Da'
kota., ali this territory was formerly
tr;h,itarv TO the Northern Pacific
railway between Mandan and Wibaux
Montana.
These 1924 banks have an aggregat.
capital and surplus OF! $2'9Sl,llO.O'
DEPOSITS Of $16,902,90O.OO., Loan!
and Discounts, 81, $1,000 90. The II
banks over the line serving the countr!
formerly included in the Standing
Rock Indian Reservation have an ag
creoataI 81, s282, 10000 capital ant
s,irniils.3 81, l75, 10000 inadepositss ant
S9o3. 10000 in loans and discounts
And our country here in all this grea
repion Sc only developed rs per cent
Thal Total value Of the principal agri
crltural products for North Dakot'
n 1918. Including live stock and dair'
products marketed, Oh amounted t
ELECTROMAGNETIC. Averaged among tn
M.355 farms Of North Dakota, i
amounts to $3,465.O0 per farm.
We are part Of the magnificent EN-
n;ra embarked in the Ninth Fedora
Reserve District, with the banks Q
this district and at the Twin Cite