The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-12-18
PRIZE ESSAYS
IAREANN0UNCED.
BY CREDIT BODY.
Four Students of City Schools
Are Awarded Cash Prizes
BY Bureau
UNDERSTAND BUREAU

Award Of prizes made by the Bis
marck Credit Bureau for the best
essays on the credit bureau or its
functions was made today, it was
announced by ]. Henry King, man
ager. In the High School essay con-
test. Elizabeth Russ won first prize
Of $40 and Anna Nordstrom second
prize Of So. while in the grade
school contest Dorothy C. Butter
wick won first prize OF SO and
Emma May BrittiH won second prize
Of IS.
The essays were numerous and
showed that the purposes and fUnc-
tons Of the credit bureau are be
coming we'll understood in the city,
Mr.. King announced.
The prize winning essays are as
follows:
WHAT Is 4 CREDIT BUREAU?
$1,000 1st prize ESSAY written by
Elizabeth Russ, End year high school.
To answer the quest on, What IS
!. Credit Bureau it Will perhaps be
easier and clearer TO explain IN 81
brief way the workings and plans OF
the Bismarck Credit Bureau and It's
many functions.
Organized a couple Of years ago,
il was modelled after several other
Bureaus in the State which had been
in operation Succo SstuIly for mum
Der of years. Primarily Il Credit
Bureau works for the protection OF
the merchants of rhe city who Join
together to obtain information tor
the mutual benefit OF its members.
To do this al association was
formed having Il clerical office with
Il paid secretary TO supervise the
work Of the Bureau. In Bismarck,
starting with Il few members, the
Bureau has now grown so that mem
bership is composed of practically all
The banks and business houses in
the city. These firms pay It monthly
subscription, and in return are en-
abled to get an accurate credit eA-
pertence" report on any customer who
may ask for a"credit account al their
respective places Of business. These
overratings are obtained, classified
and endorsed by the secretary, and
the information thus obtained is
available at a moments notice to
any member.
For instance, Mrs, Smith goes into
Jones store and wishes to open Il
charge account Mr.. Jones doesn't
know Mrs. Smith, and. naturally
doesn't care TO furnish her with
goods If She is unable to pay for
for them. Or ii, on the other hand
her credit is good, he wishes TO re
tain her rs customer. SO he goes
to the phone and calls up the Credit
Bureau ana asks for Mrs. Smith )
rating. governing himself according
to the report.
The Bureau also keeps track OF
newcomers TO our city; finds out
their paying habits in the city they
came from; notes all changes of adj
dress Of residents, and issues a week
&ly bulletin together with 4 list 81
,s'ehattel mortgages filed during tht
current week. Also bad checks re.
ported by members is included N this
bulletin together with any othe,
items which might be OF interest ol
Importance TO its members.
The Bureau also has Il collection
department which handles slow ant
bad debts; generally, accounts which
are too small for regular court pro
ceedure.
All Of its functions are purely mu.
tual, and to be successful requires
the cooperation of It's entire mem
: bershp. 1t endeavors to DO away
with the petty annoyances and loss
rs resulting from Improbable &C
counts and gives the merchant mem
bers an opportunity to give credit
where credit Is due
It works in the interest Of notf
the merchants and their customers
creating better trade relations with
8 fewer losses. thus lowering the cos
Of doing business and consequent,
lowering the price Of goods.