Omaha daily bee., 1906-07-22

II
4 many methods. To accumulate a colOs-
sal fortune by us.rg the capital inherited
from an opueut parent as base on /
which TO pile up more dollars with no
more effort than Is required TO employ
competent clerks and astute lawyers
may or may not be commendable, accord.
ing TO the point of view, but to start as q /
copper smelter in a Welsh town and I'm flf-
teen years, through unaided personal ef-
fort, guided by an active mentality and
determination 10 give value for every dol
lar received get together a fortune of more
than 5,OO,ODO, that Is a method of beCOm- /
ing a millionaire against which there can
be little criticism.
There is a millionaire I'm New York who
has reached that enviable position, and, /
strange to say, he wishes every day that
he could exchange his richly furnished
home and the environment which circum-
stances make II necessary that he should
occupy and fee TO the open, where his
energies frst developed and where, in the
game of chance, with natures storchOuse .
as a stake, he won and is stin winning
George Mltchell-"pain George MITCHELL I
his intlmates call him-is that man Withinl
period which is usually considered as be-
ing barely sufficient for a man to ground
himself in the knowledge which will ena bic
MIN Unally to accumulate a competency /
THIS man has got together a great fortune. I
And he looks upon these millions only az
the natural result of an uncomfortable in |
clination to keep busy. to engage thosL
powers which God gave him along with a
well body and healthy mind.
This man, who in few years has ex-I
changed his tough Mexican pony for an
automobile, the discomforts of a shack in
a mining camp for a luxurious dwelling
overlooking Central Park, a pool I'm the
hollow Of a mass Of copper ore for the
latest production In marble bath tubs, |
the crude surroundings of a Southwestern
eating house for what the Waldorf-As-
toria affords resents the inaction which
wealth has forced upon him and sighs for
those scenes which set the stage in the
earlier acts ~ his HES drama.
George Mitchell was born in Wales fortv-
.vo years ago. He was a sturdy lad and
when II came to choosing an occupation ne
craved something in which he would have
10 use pair OF strong hands and an active
body. From his earliest boyhood he had
seen the yellow smoke curling from, the
tops OF the Swansea copper reflneries and
he had always wanted TO mingle with the
broad shouldered smelters he saw S.Jiv
going to or leaving the works.
Young Mitchell was as active mentaIly
as physically and even before his ap-
premiership to one of the big smelters ba
had acquired knowledge Of the secrsts %
copper refining which made II eaav for
him to gain rapid promotion Strengtb ~
will and capacity for work, either rnen-
tai or physical, made f. possible for the
youluIul SmelteT 10 ma time for ieChnfcaI
study. He took up mining engineering
and acquired, in addition to his fund OF
Information regarding copper refining a
practical knowledge OF the methods oF 10
eating the veins OF metal and how 70
wrest the valuable ore from the earth's
treasure chests.
COMES FOR HIS FORTUNE.
Mitchell was twenty-four when he de-
cided TO come to America and try his luck
In the mining regions OF the West He
brought with him a young wife and a
oany glri lie mad a few hundred dollars
with which to begin his tight for a for
tune. He knew the fortune was here and
he knew he could win Il unless greater
difficulties than he had ever encountered
stood in his way.
The young man found that there was a
demand for his services. Steady men with
his knowledge OF mining and refining we-e
not plentiful and within a short time ne
had found a position. This was in 1889.
and for six years he gave all that was in
him 10 his employers. When, in 1895,
Mitchell found himself superintendent he
also discovered that he was credited with
having an almost superhuman power OF
finding copper ore 1t was said George
Mitchell could smell copper vein.
His fame in this respect had spread
throughout the mining country and an
ofter came to him from the owners of a
tneTe
was more to he taken out of the property
and told Mitchell to go ahead and get It,
New methods and practical reforms In
some OF the processes which had been in
use In the refinery showed at once In the
Increased output Of the mine and inside
OF eighteen months the mine was turning
into the copper market an average OF 10,
tons a day.
The first big returns began to come to
. Mitchell in 1855 after he connected himself
with a mine in the Cananeas. He intro
duced his hot blast furnace there and soon
acaulred interests in the property which
netted him his first million dollars. Mr.
Mitchell was asked recently how II felt e
hnd ones self the possessor or million
all earned through persevering EFFORT anc
a steadfast determination TO give value
In either brains OF personal services fol
every dollar
''It's a mighty comfortable feeling" wat
his reply. And while we are talking
about Il let me tell you that a million dol
lars Is an awful lot OF money. People hav,
got so used 70 talking in the eight hgure
these days that they don't realize what
big pile a million makes. / used to g
on by myself In my home in Los Angelo
and think Il over. George I would sal
70 myself. George, do you know you ar
a mlllionnaireT Then would try TO under
stand that the old days OF planning an,
trying 70 make my income NJ In with ou
expenses were over. II took some tim
to get used 70 the idea that needn't worl
any more II I chose TO stop. Somehow
didn't want to stop This wasn't becaus
had desire to pile up money. ! can
see any fun In that. But the habit O
work Is very strong once a fellow get
Il implanted In his system. 7 guess
Is a disease with me. for I never hay
been able 10 break the habit since l cor
traeted II IN the Swansea smelter twent
years ago"
like to rest, don't your" Mr. Mitche
was asked
Yes, indeed" was the quick answer
like 10 sit M here with my friend VU
Jams and talk over things. Williams Is
Welshman, too. We have a good man
things I'm common, but Williams has ha
bad luck and I have been fortunate"
Then an expression OF wistfulness can
into the eyes OF the millionaire mir
owner He was Just plain George Mitcl
ELL while that expression lasted. y
leaned back IN a great upholstered cha
and gazed thoughttully out Of the VII
dow.
'1sn't that a peaceful plOtursr' n