The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-01
BANNER BUGGY KINGS
BIG CHRISTMAS GIFT.
Russell e. Gardner, of ST. Louis, Makes
Present of $4,000 In Gold to His
Employees.

Employees.
Russell E. Gardner, the Banner Buggy
king of st. Louis, always noted for do
Ing the unusual thing-both in the man
ufacturing world and in private life-has
said Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year" to his employees with a cash gift
of $4,000
Every one of the 500 people at Gard
ners Banner Buggy works got from So
up, according to length and character of
service-and in gold
There's a time for giving money away
as well as for making it, said Mr.. Gard
ner when asked about the gift land this
is my time to give This has been ban
ner year In the Banner Buggy business
and | want every employee to know that
l feel grateful for the service given and
l didn't know any better way to impress
1t on them than by the little gift | have
made. 1t isn't much where there are so
many, and it may not be the best way
to add to the holiday cheer, but it's my
way"
Then Mr.. Gardner chatted about his
ideas of business and philanthropy,
finance, politics, shipping rates, deep wa
ter from st. Louis to the gulf--he be-
lieves in a ships channel, believes 1t will
be constructed and bring the worlds
markets to the doors of the great produce
ing middle west, help solve the trouble
some question of transportation and be
one of the greatest factors | nthe promo
ton of the happiness and prosperity of
the country.
But of himself Except as his expert
ences may help another mani Mr.. Gard
ner talks reluctantly.
lie Is a man of positive ideas. in his
business with one idea-to turn out the
best buggy in the world for the least
mcney-not the least cost to himself, but
to the consumer.
II don't believe in pilng up lot OF
money that you can't use in a right sort
of way said he once to a friend. when
you do that you only make a target for
some fellow to shoot at-that is to squan-
der the money after you are gone. or
take away before you die After man
has got all the money he can reasonably
spend think he's foolish to go on piling
up more just to make a ig pile"
And Mr.. Gardner Is a rich man. He
has made his money himself In less than
twenty years, making Banner Buggies
after coming to st. Louis a green country
boy from farm in Tennessee.
Coming from the hickory timber coun-
try of that state. he knew good buggy
timber, found 1t paid to know It, made
a study of 1t and began acquiring hickory
timber land Today he is the largest
Individual holder of hickory timber lands
in the United States-and 1t Is from hick-
DRY that the finest buggy wheels and other
parts are made.
Mr.. Gardner is a genial man. likes his
fellow man, likes to give him good time.
He entertains much, keeps his yacht AN
ME RUSSELL under steam at his dock on
the Mississippi, river all the time, and fire.
ouently takes large parties for trips OF
several days duration.
He has one pet aversion-buggy drum
mers. He won't have travelling salesmen-
says they are an unnecessary burden on
the cost of production-so cuts them off
and relies on the mails to reach his Gus
toners. and make his sales at cost of a
few cents for postage and gives the buy
er the benefit of this savng-in reduced
price on the Banner Buggies