The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-18
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 of Birmingham-the First National bank.
 It has It's roots deep into the vitals of Birmingham for It's life is co-termlnous with that of the city. It was born on the same day that Birmingham had it's birth, 1. e., one of the banks that 1t ab- sorbed.
 In my mind 1t gathers up large part of the financial growth and story of metropolitan city that started less than half century ago as a boom town, and is just getting rid of the stigma, for every one realizes that today Birmingham is growing surely and soldly.
 There is something in the Old Testa- ment which sounded an indictment and gave forth a warning, My people per ish for lack of vision" I haven't time here to take up the cudgels against the Phillistines in favor of the dreamers but the world would have been dreary place had it not been for men of daring and adventure, and their descendants the promoters.
 
 dream come true. Birmingham is today what it is because men with vision planned it. Birmingham is the child of faith couple on to hard works. The old Baptist and Methodist doctrine hitched together for service. Historically the First National bank of this city was chartered in April 1884, about one year before I came here, as successor to the business of the National Bank of Birmingham, which was organ ized in 1872 concurrently with the found- ing of the city itself, and the City Bank of Birmingham, which had successfully operated under a state charter for sev eral years"
 The National bank was established on the corner now occupied by the Brown Marx building. It's owner was Charles Linn, and when he was courageous enough to erect $35,OoO building upon it the people immediately gave it the nick name of "Linns Folly" but he was a | man of vision, faith and deeds, and be- l fore his death turned the laugh on those who thought they had made joke at | his expense.
 1 MT. Linn was no timid, time serving, routine business man. In his blood was the daring of a Swedish sailor. He made the trip up the Alabama river as far as l Montgomery, where he lived for while. He was a far-sighted and public-spirited citizen. It was he who gave to Montgom- cry it's first steam fire engine. The city bank was established by Mudd Hudgins and Josiah Morris, names well known to ali the old timers (Joe l Mudd, descendant, has just gotten lieutenantcy). William J. Cameron was the cashier and laughs to this day at the time MT. Hudgins began to close the doors of the bank at high noon.
 When the National Bank of Birming- ham consolidated with the City bank and took the name it now bears as the l First National bank, William Burney was president. John c. Henley vice president I and w. J. Cameron cashier Since then l the presidents have been w. J. Cameron, N. E. Barker, w. P. G. Harding, John l Barr and Oscar Wells, a galaxy of names wea known in tn ebanking woorld.
 Tire original capital of the First Ma tional was s25O. Since then it has been | steadily increased until it is now S1, O.000, with surplus of the same amount. It | has paid dividends in excess of $2, 2,0oo 000. It is the largest bank in Alabama and one of the largest in the south. It has depositors in 30 states, in the ca- nal zone, the Philippines, and in many | foreign countries, including Mexico, Bra gil, Ecuador, China, Italy, France and | Cuba. It has 1s,OOO savings and 12,0o0 l checking depostors, and ranks among the 100 largest banks in the national sys- tenn.
 | It is now in it's own building again after temporary removal in order to en- large and beautify and make more com fortable it's quarters for it's employees and the public. It purchased it's present site and building in the fall of 1910 John Barr told me when the bank first moved into it's present quarters that the thought they would be big enough for the next 20 years, but since then it has been twice necessary to increase the facilities tc keep pace with the rapidly growing busi- ness.
 If you haven't been in 1t since it was remodeled. just step on the inside ant YOU will see one of the best arranged banking houses in the country. I an glad they eschewed the garish in the in terior decorations, for the bone finisf gray Tennessee marble with the Caer stone wall and pillar effects gives it ar air of restfulness that is most pleasing Everything has been done to make il comfortable for the officers and employes and to aid the customers in being handled without confusion or loss of time |
 MT Wells, the able and progressiv, president, had five things in view 1T making the changes. The first was fo better lighting and ventilation; second for increased working space and suffi
 cient ventilation; third, to arrange tn
 fixtures so that the officers would be a
 the front. and to separate the saving
 department from the commercials; fourth
 to increase the vault space for the bank
 records as well as those for the publi
 in the way of compartments for storin,
 valuables; fifth, to make the fixture neat but always keeping in view to ar
 range them so that clerks and customer . could be better accommodated. Afte , having gone over the changes, think h succeeded admirably.