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bay st\ Louis.
Merchants’ Bank Stockholders Meet and Elect Officers. Special to The Times-Democrat.
Bay St. Louis, Oct. 16.—The fourth annual - stockholders meeting of the Merchants’ Bank took place last night. There was a good attendance and much feeling manifested over the showing for the past year which was evidenced by a net profit of 28 per cent. The same officers were re-elected:	Chas.	L. Hopkins, president;
L. M. Gex, vice president: Roger de Monti azin, vice president; Geo. R. Rea, cashier, and John B. Spotoruo, assistant cashier. There was one addlton to the Board of Directors, R. R. Perkins, who with J. O. Mauffray, Roger de Montluzin, L. M. Gex, A. L. Stokoe, J. A. Breath, Chas. L. Hopkins, John K. Edwards, Chas. G. Moreau. H. H. Gordon and Joiin Osoinach will compose the directorate.
■X/O.
(AjuvnW-
EPOS ITS:; 0cti 1904’ $ 40,000.00
~	J3ct., 1905,	72,500.00
Oct., 1906,	112,500.00
______	Oct., 1907,	145,000.00'
These figures indicate* the growth and strength of the four years business of ;
BAY ST. LOUIS, MISSISSIPPI.
NET DIVIDENDS
-EARNED:________________________
These figures show tbe efficient management . i done by its officers and directors.
First Year: Second Third "Fourth “
14	Per Cent'j
15	Per Cent. 24 Per Cent. 28 Per Cent.
- -	B 0,A RD OF DIRECTORS: ~	~
CHAS. L. HOPKINS, President;	L.	M.	GEX,	Vice-President:
.=	DR. R. DE MONTLUZIN, Second Vice President.
iJi A. BREATH	J. K. EDWARDS-	W: -H. GORDON
JOS, O. MAUFFRAY, CHAS. G. MOREAU, JNO. OSOINACH .	K- R- PERKINS, A. L. STOKOE.
G.	R. REA, Cashier; J. B. SPOTORNO.. Assistant Cashier..
EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS OF THE MERCHANTS BANK
Bay St. Louis’ New Bank Closed Its Fourth Tear of Business Tuesday Night and the Handsome Net Dividend of Twenty-Eight Per Cent. Declared. — New Board of Directors and Officers Elected for the Year. — Proj-pects for the Forthcoming Year Bright and Big Business With Larger Returns Anticipated.	••
Completing the fourth year of its existence, the Merchants Bank of Bay St. Louis on Tuesday night, at the annual meeting of its stockholders, closed the fourth year of its business with th 9 most gratifying results to one and all concerned, and which must and will satisfy those of our people not directly interested, but who have the be3t interest and success of Bay St. Louis and Hancock county at heart.
Completing its magnificent new home, the Merchants Bank during the year has had incidental and numerous items
*
of expense not figured in. the cost-of the building, but resulting therefrom, and ! notwithstanding this extra expense of moving, etc., which has been quite heavy, Cashier Rea and his Board of Directors were able to announce to the stockholders assembled that the net earnings for the year ended were 28 per cent., exceeding the earnings of any of the three previous years.
Comment on this announcement seems unnecessary, for the figures speak volumes and tell their own story—truthful, forceful and eloquentn^and must be a fearful rebuke to the pessimist, the knocker, the perennial derider. In its wisdom the Board ordered the earnines ! distributed and that a part be paid at once in cash to the stockholders, who, in a day or two, will receive their checks. The dividend will be appor- j tioned as follows: Ten per cent, paid j cash to the stockholders, ten per cent.
, to the surplus fund, and the balance to remain on the books as an emergency on surplus fund in abeyance.
In recognition of the services of the old Board of Directors, one of the most active and harmonious bodies of friends and representative business men ever • assembled, their names were placed in 1