The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-10-08
BEHRENDS BANK AND STORE HAS 10TH B|R THDAY.
Alaska S Largest Merchant and d Leading Financier
 Modest About Success

the absence of any monetary in. stitution in the town, offered the accommodation of accepting money for safekeeping. His establishment was the newest and the smallest ir the Territory then.
 Today this pioneer merchant and financier, still slender a:i1 erect, his hair whitened by passing years, but with complexion so clear and eyes so bright that they belle his age, stood at the front window of his bank, bulwarked with re- sources that aggregate more than two and a quarter million dollars and looked across the street at his mercantile house, filled with var jed lines of goods that invoice in excess of two hundred thousand dollars. His business is the oldest and the largest under one continu- ous ownership and management in Alaska now.
 10th Anniversary Tomorrow
 
 "Tommorrow," rec alle B. M. BehrendS in a reminiscent mood, will mark the fortieth anniver- sary of my entrance into business for myself. The morning of Oc- tober 9, 1891, I opened the doors of my store in building that oc- cupied the present site of the Alas ka Meat Company In the same year, however, I bought the south east corner of Seward and Third Streets, and soon moved my busi- ness there. Gradually stock and building have been enlarged to to- days proportions, but the location remains unchanged.
 Both Started Together
 "Coincident with the beginning of the mercantile business was the beginning of the banking business, which at first was merely the &C., ceptance of money for safe-keep- ing. In a comparatively few years, however, this undertaking expand ed into the various forms of bank ing, and the banking business was moved into rented quarters immedi- ately south of the store Subse- quently the present site of the bank was acquired, and occupied as now.
 Until 1904, the business of the department store was conducted under the title of B. M Behrends, Merchant. Then it was incorpor- ated under it's present name of the B. M. Behrends Company.
 Bank Is Incorporated
 Tt was not until 1914 that the banking business, which up to then had been conducted under the style of B. M. Behrends, Bank CT, was incorporated under the name of the B. M Behrends Bank. !"
 MT. Behrends came to Alaska in 1887 from Kern County, Califor- nia He obtained employment with the Sitka Trading Company, general merchandising establish ment with it's principal store at Sitka and branch in Juneau on the present site of the Thomas Hardware Company. He was man. ager of the Juneau branch from 1887 until 1891, when he started into business for himself.
 The B. M. Behrends Bank has capital of $100,O00, surplus of $100,000, undivided profits of $25,- 303 and deposits of $2,l29,889.
 The B. M. Behrends Mercantile Company is incorporated for $2O0,- 900, fully represented by stock with out taking into consideration sur plus accounts.
 Asked to Explain Success
 ITO what do you attribute your success?" the largest merchant and the leading banker of the Terri tory was asked.
 "Modesty forbids me to ascribe any of my trade or fin ancia achievements, such as they are. to uncommon inte l e ual endOw- ment'," he replied with an engag- ing smile-the store and the count ing house have not impaired an innate sense of humor Sustained diligence in effort and an abiding faith in the progress of the com munity are chiefly responsible for what measure of accomplishment is mine."
 Read and Heed
 Asked for message to aspiring youth on the fortieth anniversary of his business and financial ca- reer, MT. Behrends answered.:
 That might be presumptuous for me to attempt to give. Any sort of success is dependent on many factors. Some are beyond the con- trol of individuals. But If good health be granted. which implies orderly habits and temperance in food and drink, and if endeavor be directed by ordinary common sense and be made persistent, then with moderate degree of frugality, which means methodically saving something over expenditure, there cannot be in the bright lexicon of youth, as Richelieu said, any such word as fail"
 ATTENTION
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