Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-11

stipulated expressly that It was to bs car.
ried as an ornament and not as a means Of
support; for although seventy years have
passed since George H. Wood became a
FACTOR IN the human race. his eye Is as
Keen. his brain as active and his foot as
hght as that or many man half his years.
Mr.. Wood was born March 81 l8S6 I'm
Concord N. H.. He comes of sturdy stock
accustomed to give and to take the knocks
as they come. Companionable and cheer
!ui, ne has always kind word for his fell
low and q heart that never permits him to
do an evil turn. He knows hard work and
mas done his share Of II both in private and
puoiic HE. He began to earn his own nv-
ing at the age of twelve years. when he
became an apprentice In a gun shop In his
home town.
Two years later he went to Boston as a
clerk for an uncle who was a -four MGR
chant. Another year found him back in
concord, clerk In the old American Hotel
that belonged to another relative. In 1852
ne went to New York as clerk in Lovejoys
Hotel in Park row, later on accepting a
similar position in Park & Tilford's Hotel
In the same city. While employed In this
hotel he met Miss Virginia Ellis OF Macon.
ga, who was boarding there and attending
school In Brooklyn. Although Mr.. Wood
was then but nineteen years of age and
Miss Ellis seventeen, they eloped and were
married in Washington. Parental forgive
ness followed and Mr.. Wood and his young
bride went to Macon where the son-in-law
entered the employ OF Mr.. ELS.
Young Wood found his environment
somewhat unpleasant during the turbulent
between the states. His sympathies were
not with the south, and the last boat sailing
from Savannah in 1851 bound for New
York found him a passenger Mrs Wood
then visiting In Nashville, Tenn. preceded
him. He enlisted and served as hospital
steward until the close OF the war. June
10: 1855: he was appointed a clerk in the
office OF the auditor for the Navy Depart
ment and was transferred October % 1865,
to the office of controller OF the currency
Mr.. Wood has been married three times.
His second wife was Miss Caroline Allen a
descendant Of brother of Ethan Allen.
The present Mrs. Wood was Miss Alma
Stevens OF this city.
Changes Wrought by Time.
When George II. Wood entered the Office
OF the controller of the currency, Mr. John
JOY Edison. now president OF the Washing
ton Loan and Trust Company. was a 81. 400
clerk. Another Of the clerks Of that date
was Mr.. John D. Patton. now a national
bank agent. Only one person antedates
him. Miss E. r. Hyde. who began her
service in this office at copyist. and Is still
able to compete with clerks many years her
junior. In 1865 there was force Of sixty
FIVE employees. although the national bank
Ing system had then been In operation but
two years. Today, after forty-two years.
with the work Of the Office more than
tHc lOtdi luHiUcE Oh employees.
including messengers is only 101. OF which
number the salaries of thirteen are reim-
bursed by authority of law.
Mr.. Hugh McCulloch the first con-
troller. had just retired when Mr. Wood
began his service. He has, therefore, serv-
ed under Hiland R. Hulburd John J. Knox,
Henry w. Cannon. William L. Trenholm,
Edward S. Lacey. A. Barton Hepburn.
James H. Eckels, Charles G. Dawes and
William Barrett Ridgely. or these Nc
Culloch. Clarke, Hulburd, Knox and Tren-
holm dead Messrs. Cannon and Hep
burn are identified with prominent New
York banking institutions. and Messrs.
Lacey. Eckels and Dawes are high officials
in Chicago financial concerns. Deputy
Controller " P. Snyder. 1SS6-1SS7. is now
president of the National Bank OF Com
merce of New York. and Deputy Con-
troller Lawrence o. Murray. 1898 1892 is
assistant secretary of commerce and
labor. Mr.. Thomas P Kane. the present
deputy. succeeded Mr.. Murray. He has
charge of the detail of the office. The eff
ficiency of the present force and its ability
to handle the enormous work required of it
is due, 1t is conceded. to the training OF
Mr.. Kane. who has grown up with the
has shown the clerks how to accomplish
that which is required Of them.
Progress of Banking System.
During the term of service of Mr.. Wood
the national banking system OF the United
States has grown rapidly. afrording year
after year an index to the prosperity of the
country. The call for the report of condi-
ton In July 1885, showed ,295 active banks.
as compared with 5.5S7 that reported in
March of this year. A comparison OF the
resources of the national banks of these
two periods shows at glance the tremen-
dous strides that have placed this country
in the lead in financial affairs. The capital
stock of all national banks in 1865 was
$325. S44 $3.50: in 1905. 1850. 49,. SS467. Notes
in circulation in 1865. $131. 452, 15S: in 1905.
$3.50 955 1850. Individual deposits In 1865,
1898, So, 1913 Sc; in 1908. $3,777. 474, 0O6.1Z.
Loans and discounts in 1865 1851 1906 AT. G6:
in 1906 So, S51 S5S, 47290. Total resources
and liabilities in 1865 s1,126. AS. 4s1 Sc: liz
1905, $7,30S, 127 6s616.