Page 68 - Industries_of_San_Antonio

68 SAN ANTONIO-HER TRADE,

cilitate business to such an extent that the withdrawal of their aid would
lock the wheels of commerce by impeding the transfer of funds between
debtor and creditor, vendor and vendee—in short, but for their agency,
financial matters would lapse to the crude condition of uncivilized coun-
tries. The expert, educated financier, as all Bank officers are supposed to
be, is as much the master of a science, as the most eminent philosophers,
jurists, physicians, or sages of whatsoever profession, and in fact as much
of the happiness, comfort and well-being of the people is resultant from
his faithful administration as any of them. Banks, through their officers,
are the custodians of the financial reputation and credit of a city, her
commerce, progress and prosperity. Therefore, there are no factors of
equal importance in the civilization, improvement and commercial ad-
vancement of cities. San Antonio is as well equipped with sound, sub-
stantial and excellently conducted financial institutions as any city of
comparable size in the country, among them, the youngest, in point of ex-
istence, though holding equal rank as regards capital, ability and civic prom-
inence in the personnel of its officers and directors, with any cotemporary,
is the Texas National Bank. It was organized under the National Bank-
ing act of 1864, on 31st January, 1885, and opened for business in all the
details of modern banking, February 9th, 1885, with an authorized capital
of $750,000, of which $100,000 is paid in. It is a matter of interest to note
the happy association of citizens of especial prominence in the civic, social
and commercial biography of the city, in the personnel of the originators,
directors and officers of this Bank, prominent, not alone for their individ-
ual success in commercial pursuits, but for their private worth, and their
enterprising interest in all that effects the public welfare and the reputa-
tion of their city. If we were allowed to prognose the future history of
this Bank, basing our prediction on the well-known characteristics of its
managers and custodians, it will be distinguished by wise judgment,
which will govern the salient features of its management, which will look
not to temporary applause, but to permanent success. Its policy to keep
its business entirely within its control, to keep its resources available for
any emergency, and allow no temptation to lure it beyond the limit of
absolute safety, recognizing the fact, that conservatism in banking, is the
great balance-wheel which keeps the complex commercial machinery of a
community in good working order, and it will wield a controlling in-
fluence on the finances of this section, an influence of a healthy, ben-
ficial character, consistent, of course with its successful management.
The following are the directors : J. S. Alexander, president ; G. W.
Brackenridge, president San Aantonio National Bank ; H. B. Andrews,
vice-president Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway—Sunset
route ; A. Belknap, president San Antonio Street Railway Company ; B.
F. Yoakum, division freight agent Missouri Pacific Railway ; Arch. A.
Alexander, assistant cashier. And the following are the correspondents :
Mercantile National Bank, New York ; Central National Bank, Philadel-
phia ; Third National Bank, St. Louis ; Ball, Hutchings & Co., Galveston.