(2) Banks. There are at present eight banks in the county, at Pooles- 

 ville, Gaithersburg, Rockville (2), Silver Spring, Kensington, Sandy 

 Spring (2). A ninth is in process of organization, at Bethesda. These 

 banks are all in good financial condition. Their total deposits amount 

 to more than two and a half million dollars. 



(3) Others. The Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Montgomery 

 County has its headquarters at Sandy Spring. On December 1, 1911 

 this company reported its condition as follows: gain in risks during the 

 year, $275,648; amount of risks in force that day, $16,259,835; gain in 

 premium notes during the year, $90,646; premium notes in force that 

 day, $2,518,016.45. 



There are about 60 blacksmith shops in the county. Of other business 

 firms not yet mentioned in any connection, there are perhaps a dozen, 

 including a Mutual Building and Loan Association, and several Real 

 Estate and Insurance Houses. In addition, there are several large land 

 companies operating in the county, but financed largely by outside 

 capital. 



(g) Land Development for Suburban Purposes 



In the lower end of Montgomery County, the conditions are almost 

 ideal for suburban development. This is the only section adjoining the 

 District of Columbia which is not separated from it by marshy ground. 

 The prime requisites of a suburb are, first, a location both convenient 

 and naturally attractive, second, good transportation facilities at a 

 moderate rate, and third, satisfactory local conditions, as to sanitation, 

 lighting, local government, etc. These requisities are all met here. 



The development has taken place chiefly in the Wheaton and Bethesda 

 Districts. In Bethesda the greater part of the district has been taken 

 up for this purpose. Relatively little farrtiing is done here now. Most 

 of the land that has not already been subdivided, has either been bought 

 up and is held awaiting development, or is valued at so high a figure that 

 farming is no longer profitable. The land is for the most part rather 

 level and open and comparatively unwooded; the ridge or watershed 

 through the district affords good natural drainage and excellent water 

 supply. Gas and electricity are available in most sections. A great 

 deal of wealth has been invested here. Chevy Chase, for example, is 

 Washington's most aristocratic and fashionable suburb; its Country 

 Clubs are among the largest in the country, with grounds that are 

 unsur])assed anywhere. Except for Che\y Chase and vicinity, the 

 development is still largely in the future. One tract of 4,000 acres, 

 extending from Chevy Chase to the Great Falls of the Potomac in a 

 strip nine miles long and one mile wide, has just been acquired by a 

 land corporation which announces extensive improvement in the near 



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