The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-13

States maintains two very nOta-
BILE schools. One is the Military
llCNIII Academy at West Point, the other
- the Naval Academy at Annapolis.
As a matter OF fact. every department of
the government is. in a sense, training
school and a knowledge of the life his
tories of many Of the captains of industry
and finance throughout the land would
show that much of their success in later
life was due TO the knowledge and ex-
perience gained while they were serving
the government in their early years. In
the military and naval establishments men
of talent are not, under present condi-
tions, so liable to leave the service they
were in the past Nevertheless, the ex-
ecutive ability gained and fostered during
military life has in many notable instances
been found of value in commercial pur
suits. City governments have also been
Indebted for many improvements TO the
Skill energy and scrupulous honesty of
men who had in the past worn shoulder
straps in. the military service. 1t is hardly
necessary in this connection to mention
the late Colonel Waripg, who revolutionized
street cleaning methods in the city of New
York and opened the eyes of its inhabitants
TO the possibility of keeping the streets
and avenues of the city in proper condi-
ton. The lesson taught by Colonel War
ing was so thoroughly learned that not
withstanding the criticisms and statements
to the contrary the streets of the American
metropolis are as a rule kept in much bet
ter condition than those of the average
city.
Another of the men who after spending
years in the service of the government was
called TO fill position of Importance in
the outside world is Rear Admiral Francis
T. Bowles, formerly chief constructor of the
navy and recently made the president of
the Fore River Ship and Engine Company
in Boston at a salary 1t s>said, at $4,000
a year At the head of one of the great
educational institutions in the same city is
Henry Smith Pritchett. who resigned from
the government service when superintend-
ent OF the coast and geodetic survey to
become the president of the Massachusetts
Institute OF Technology.
INSTANCES ARE NUMEROUS.
Instances of this sort might be multiplied
indefinitely Each of the great depart
ments of the government has its graduates
doing work of Importance in the business
world. While the army and the navy have
sent out many highly trained specialists.
IL is. perhaps. the Treasury Department
which has proved the greatest success as
training school for business life. In the
army and navy many motives combine to
keep the bright and energetic young man
In the service. He is actuated by feeling
of duty to the government which has edu-
Gated him he has before him the hope of
distinction and he knows that right con-
, duct and devotion to duty are guarantees
that he will be retained in his position
until he reaches the age OF retire
ment and that afterward the govern
ment will provide him with an in
come during his declining years. To
the man of exceptional ability in the
Treasury Department. however, these in
centives 10 continued service are lacking.
When one OF its officers employees by
the work which he has done attracts the
attention of private corporations or insti-
tutions which have noted his career and
worth. a fattering offer is made for his
services and il is seldom declined. Go over
the list OF bank men i'm New York, Chi
cago and other large centers and you will
find not few who have gained their first
iAIrels i'm government work Take. for
instance. the Chase National Bank of New
York The former president. Mr.. III. w.
Cannon, and the new president. Mr.. \.
Barton Hepburn. both eX-controllers
OF the currency. Take the National Park
Bank. Mr. Albert II Wiggin. who re-
Gently left the National Park TO become
the vice president of the Chase National,
won his first spurs a bank examiner
where his ability attracted such marked
attention that he Immediately received fat
teTtns Inducements from Boston banking
interests and later from those OF New
YoF5- Going To Chicago we find the presi-
DEBIT OF the Commercial National Bank of
that city. james ii. Eckels. to be an ex-