Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 3 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 10

If there is one thing that Californians have a right to be proud of, sensitive as they always have been in matters of financial and commercial integrity, and conscious of the high standing of California and its credit in the outside money-world, it is that their banking institutions, both with respect to the character of the men behind them, and the sanely conservative way in which they are administered, are without doubt of such a grade, strength and vigor that they have long since come to set a pace for similar institutions in many of the much longer established' and more populous commonwealths. And prominent among these live wires of trade, social life and political administration on the Pacific Coast must be rated one of the undoubted bulwarks of Fresno County, the First National Bank of Del Rey.

This well-equipped and fully-manned house of business was incorporated on July 20, 1917, under the banking laws of the State of California; and on the sixth of August it opened its doors and bade the public welcome.

Its officers, to whom the people looked for confidence and leadership, were as follows: President, H. S. Hulbert, the rancher two miles south of Del Rey; Vice-President, H. J. Hansen, also a rancher, two miles west of Del Rey: and A. A. Werner, Cashier and Secretary. Board of Directors: H. S. Hulbert, H. J. Hansen, A. A. Werner, George Meyers, rancher two and a half miles southeast of Del Rev, and Ralph Mitchell, manager of the California Associated Raisin Company at Del Rey.

Prosperity has smiled upon this bank since it was first thrown open for transactions, as may be seen by its report of the Spring of 1918. Its total resources and liabilities were $139,870.89, and of the latter the paid in capital stock was $25,000, with nearly $95,000 of individual deposits subject to check. State, county or municipal deposits aggregate $4,500: there were $2,525 worth of certificates of deposit other than for money borrowed: and over $10,000 of time deposits, subject to reserve. Of the resources, on the other hand, there were loans and discounts totaling $70,226.08, United States Bonds to the extent of $5,000, Liberty Bonds amounting to $1,000, $5,000 worth of bonds and securities pledged as collateral for state or other deposits, postal excluded or bills payable, stock of the Federal Reserve Bank (fifty per cent, of the subscription) to the extent of $850, furniture and fixtures valued at $2,147.36, lawful reserve with Federal Reserve Bank of $7,500, cash in the vault and net amounts due from the national banks aggregating $48,147.45, the whole showing what even a town of the size of Del Rey, if it but have the Del Rey spirit, can do.

Already this bank has played its role in the development of the town and outlying districts: and it bids fair to be of more and more service to the community and the county in the bright days of the near future, dawning for Central California.

The bank will move into its new concrete structure about August, 1919. This new building is a model of its kind and is equipped with the modern appliances of banks in the larger cities, viz., electric wiring protection, safe deposit vaults and accommodation for the storage of private boxes.

The organization of the bank was due finally to the efforts of its president, Mr. Hulbert. Attempts had been made to establish an institution, but not until Mr. Hulbert and Mr. Werner put their shoulders to the wheel, was the organization completed. Mr. Hulbert is the leading spirit of Del Rey and is now erecting three substantial buildings, with a frontage of ninety-six feet. These buildings are to be occupied by entirely new concerns which will add much to the now constantly growing prospects of Del Rev.