The Ocala banner., 1922-01-27

had her second serious misfortune.
The first was in the great confiagra-
tion of 1888 when most of her busi-
ness houses, her hotels and some of
her dwellings were completely destroy
ed.
In 1897 was just after the great
freeze-such as is now being felt by
California-the failure of her two
banks and the loss of Marti City and
her cigar industries.
Those were perilous times-times
that tried mems souls so to speak.
When the outlook was so uninvit-
ing it required stout hearts to start
the work of recuperation and restora-
tion in efforts TO save the city and
county from utter desoIation.
1t was then that the Munroe and
Chambliss bank had its birth which
gave ray of hope as silver lining
to a dark and dismal sky.
1t was an undertaking that reQuir-
ed fortitude and courage and proved
to be veritable life-saver-an ark of
safety to our business industries.
It gave hope and courage to others
and was the beginning of our second
era Of prosperity.
The young bank made loans that
enabled many to stand upon their
feet once more and the bank became
Immediately popular, restored conf
dence and by pursuing a courteous
and conservative course has retained
is popularity as is shown by its in
creasing deposits.
+ not cnly made loans to many
worthy and deserving persons engaged
in various enterprises but in num-
her Of instances blazed the way for
inaugurating new industries which
largely helped to make our county
famous along the broader lines of
agriculture.
II led the way for planting water
melons and cantaloupes and other
truck that is now pursued with so
much profit and was the first to in
augurate the movement of growing
improved breeds OF hogs and cattle
3 and all along has stood right behind
our Fair Association and other move
ments for the strengthening and
bros. 'sning our agricultural indus
tries
1t remained a private bank until
1907 when it became state bank and
it continued to expand and in order
section it blossomed out into a Ma
tional Bank in 1914 and later on be-
came a national depository and is
= now recognized as one of the states
safest and soundest fiscal institutions
AS State Bank its first published
| statement showed deposits in the sum
of $4,000.
Its first statement as a National
Bank showed deposits in the sum OF
100000
Nts last statement showed that it's
deposits had increased to the round
SUM of S1.112,000
On its twenty-fiifth anniversary it
issued the following statement:
"On January nth, 1897, we started
business under the title of Munroe
4 Chambliss, Bankers and have been
doing business continually ever since,
hrst as private bank, second as a
havr ~znl
bank. In 1897 it may well be said
that there was a complete stop in
progress. We had recently suffered
the disastrous freeze which killed ev-
cry orange tree in the county. follow
ed by the failure OF our only two
banks. Business was at low ebb
and there was practically no credit.
There was no export of citrus products
and very little, If any, of other pro-
ducts People seemed 70 be thankful
If they could make enough to keep
body and soul together
In 1921 the export of vegetables
anu citrus fruits from this county
amounted to S2,000,000. 90; farm val
ueS have grown from 81, 500, 10000 to
$9,490, GOO 90.
IN 1897 there We're no highways. We
SIMPLY had sandy tracs leading from
Oeala TO different points, making
travel slow and arduous. Today we
nave ESQ miles of graded roads partly
hardened, and the Dixie Highway well
started. We have bright prospect OF
durable pavements being laid during
the coming year in our city.
AS our county has grown in wealth
anu Importance, so We have grown,
Until to-day our deposits run over one
million dollars. and our capital. sur
plus and undivided profits over one
hundred thousand dollars. We could
not have accomplished this without
tne loyal support of our friends, and
We Ieel that we have always merited
sach support by giving good service,
attending to the wants OF our custom
eTs as far as in our power lay. We