Evening star., 1933-03-26


n indeed, the second bank char
NM tered south of Philadelphia be-
v gan business within the limits
Of the original Ten-Mile
Square.
When the corner stone of the District Of Co.
1umbia was laid at Jones' Point, near Alexan-
dria Va, April Is, 1871, we are told, there we're
net over five or six institutions engaged in
banking in the United States. The first bank
of discount and deposit was organized in 1871.
and the first charter granted IN New England
was to the Bank Of Massachusetts,, issued Feb
Huary Z, 1874. 'tf"- =
In 1892 the population Of the United States
was probably slightly under four million people,
including slaves. The population Of Alexandria
at that time being around three thousand and
as the corner stone Of the White House was not
laid until October 49, 1892 and the corner stone
of the Capitol not placed in position until
nearly . year later, it can be assumed that the
population Of the Federal City was then rather
small consisting principally Of mechanics
working on the public buildings, and on the few
private buildings then under construction.
The first Bank of the United States was
chartered at Philadelphia by Congress on Feb
ruary ~, 1791 and under the terms Of the
charter no bank could be authorized by that
body during the life Of the charter which ran
until March 4, 1911.
On account of the fact that large sums Of
money-rather immense for that period Of our
history-were to be expended by the Govern
ment and spectators in the new Federal Capt.
tai, the municipalities of Alexandria and
Georgetown early saw the need Of bank to
take care Of the handling Of considerable sums
of money, checks and other securities between
the District Of Columbia and outside cities.
There was always Q keen business rivalry be-
TWEEN Alexandria and Georgetown, and not only
did these towns take into consideration the
present needs and demands but also antic-
pated the coming here of the Government itself,
set for the year 1900
Both Of these places wanted bank-a
branch Of the United States Bank at Philadel-
phia. But their desires in this connection did
not receive favorable attention. Alexandria was
the first to broach the subject. A resolution
was passed appointing committee to draft q
memorial to the parent bank, but even this did
not receive q favorable response, and on Thurs
day evening" December 29 1791, We find the
citizens and merchants of Alexandria meeting
IN Wise's Tavern to consider the propriety and
sxpediency Of renewing their application to the
president and directors of the Bank Of the
United States to obtain office or branch
bank at that place. But this request was like
wise refused, and the people Of the Old Domin-
ion city then turned their efforts toward Vir-
ginia, under whose State laws it was being stin
governed. And here its appeal received warm
response. The Bank Of Alexandra came into
being in 1892, was incorporated on November
% of that year and was opened for discounts
on April 9, 1893. It was the first bank char
in fact, there was at that time no other bank
in the entire South except the unchartered
Bank of South Carolina and a bank at Rich
mond organized about the same time.
Wise's Tavern still stands on the southwest
corner Of Royal and Cameron Streets and is
one of the most historic spots in Alexandra,
particularly for its association with the life of
Gen. Washington. The older part known as
the Old City Tavern, built in 1852.
The new part Of the hotel was built in 1892.
oL10,,k fnL L. -. lek,r
an Englishman who came to America shortly
before that date. He purchased the Franklin
Hotel in this city from the trustees of John
ONeale in 1919 and moved here at that time
from Baltimore, where he was the proprietor
Of the Indian Queen Hotel. On Washington's
birthday, February %, 1926, he opened what
was for many years subsequently known as the
National Hotel, at Sixth street and Pennsylvania
avenue and retired from business about 1874.
In 1843 he was living in the Decatur House,
corner Of jackson place and H street, which
he purchased, and he died between this date
and 1916, when the city directory records his
widow as residing at this address
THE Bank of Columbia of Georgetown was
J the second bank established in the District
0f Columbia, its charter being received from
the General Assembly Of Maryland, passed
December a. 1898, the authorised stock to con-
dst of 10000 shares Of 500 each an amount
equal to 81 5000 Samuel Blodgett was its
Arst president, and by 1909 the directors were:
John Mason, c. Worthington William Mar
bury John Cox, John Threlkeld, Walter Smith,
Henry Foxall Marshall Waring James Dunlop,
Philip Barton Key, jeremiah Wins and Thomas
Peter. all prominent Georgetown people. At
this date Gen. John Mason was president Of
the hank. He was the son Of George Mason Of
Gunston Hall, author Of the bill Of rights and
other historic documents, and resided On