The Enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 192?-1930, 1927-03-11
Chicago Negro
Progress Center
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grandeur that surrounds them. AS
they gaze upon the magnificent
beauty of the great lake and see
the glorious homes that grace the
Lakeshore drives, they do not feel
as things apart. They love to stand
and think of the time when they
too will live on the lake front with
the breezes blowing into their win
dows. 1t is not foolish imagination
either, for have they not purchased
blocks of houses on the worlds
most beautiful boulevards?
The Night Life
Chicago has its cabarets with
painted women, drunken men and
bawling saxaphones. The night life
is controlled by Jewish interest. Tie
rate for one night of fun is much
cheaper than in Harlem. Admis-
sion is $1.15. You can purchase
large bottle of gingerale for
$3.50. And IL you take your own
"moonshine" with you, you can
make a night of it at compare
lively small cost. The revues are
about the same as you will find in
similar places elsewhere.
They mix them up in Chicago.
BLACK and Tan" are the favorite
colors. In fact the mixture appears
to be the life of the night life.
After a hard days work the big
butter and egg man" turns them
on at the cabaret. The majority OF
the women are hard and much
painted. The skirts are short show
In ell
Apparently they were having big
time. The dancing was not much
worse than what you can see at the
best type of social functions.
The crowds / saw at the cabarets
were happy and well behaved. They
laughed to the harsh notes of the
trombone and pitched dollar bills to
the woman who can shake that
thing the best and exhibits the
most of her well rounded body. 1t
is all in fun, they tell you. To-
morrow you will find them hitting
the pace that makes or kills, for
the almighty dollar.
The Backbone OF Prosperity
The barometer of progress in any
community is its financial institu-
lions.
The Binga State Bank stands like
the Rock of Gibraltar. Its magni-
ficent front of white marble is SIM
ply an indication of what is going
on inside. Beautiful in its appoint
ments. Efficient, capable, courteous
workers handling long lines of pa
irons with the smoothness of well
oiled machine.
In the basement you can see a
massive vault The side walls are
lined with thousands of safety de-
post boxes. The attendant in charge
of this department stands watch be-
hind bars of steel. He throws open
the door for you to enter. You
stand and gaze, happy in the
thought that here is an institution
owned and controlled by race OF
people only a little more than half
century removed from slavery. In
| the center of the vault where the
cash lis piled in high stacks there
is a door that weighs several tons.
Fires may come and robbers may
try to break in to steal. but they
can not reach what is behind that
gigantic door.
On the main floor are seven or
eight Teller Windows. Each is a
separate compartment, divided by
grilled steel. And at each window
stands a teller serving the throng
of depositors. Marble counters add
to the charm of the bank. There
Is an exquisitely furnished room for
lady patrons. Directly in the rear
YOU 90 through doorway that leads
| 10 the bookkeeping department.
A dozen or more girls are busy with
typewriters, adding machines and
bookkeeping machines.
On the second floor front is the
private office of Jesse Binga, the
president. 1t has the look of money
and power. A desk of mahogany,
hand carved. A chair that matches.
The walls are panelled with the
same wood. 1t is the most beauti-
full office l have ever seen.
On the same floor, rear, there is
a cafeteria, complete in every detail
for the convenience of the workers.
Mr.. Binga talked to me while he
ate. No time is wasted during bust
ness hours. That's system.
The only Colored National Bank
! in America is the Douglass National
Bank in Chicago. The present build
ing is being remodelled. 1t is too
small for the more than two million
dollars of deposits. A thrill goes
through you as you feel the bright
new bank notes issued by this bank.
am keeping a five spot" as a
souvenir. Unless l get broke In
tend to keep it. stuck out my
chest with very great pride-for am
not a member of the Negro race?
On both sides of the aisle are ten
tellers hard at work. In the center
behind bars of steel through which
you may see, is a. vault OF latest
construction. Three thousand new
safety deposit boxes are being add
ed. Evidently the colored citizens
of Chicago are using this modern
means for safety. And 1t is
mighty strong indication that the!
have something to protect. 1t II
unusual for people to rent safet,
deposit boxes for old rags and news
papers.