New-York tribune., 1908-11-01

Samuel Wooiverton, president of the Gallatin
National Bank, was born farm at Stockton
N j. He was more interested in business than in
school or farming. and in December, 1882 he came
to New York looking for a job. He was then
eighteen After taking charge Of construction
work in the engineering department OF the West
Shore terminals and doing some clerling in mer-
camille establishments he found himself possessed
of a small nest egg and an ambition to become a
banker This was in 1888. when he entered the
employ of the Fifth Avenue Bank as messenger at
the regulation salary of s. a week. Mr. Woolverton
admits he lived a pretty quiet life at this period.
not going to many theatres and attending strictly
to business Evidently the early mercantile tram
ing not lost. for his advancement in the bank
rapid. Within years from his start as an
apprentice he assistant cashier. ana ne re-
signed TO become cashier of the Gailatin National
On what salary he married and similar personal
details are considered OF public interest os M
Woolverton. He does not essay the role OF ADVISER
to ambitious youth Besides being president OF the
iIslIatin Bank he is secretary OF the Clearing
House Association. Like some other selI-ihaoo
presidents Mr. Woolverton was found oy Ihe IN
terviewer laboring strenucUsly at his oesk a1'eR
banking hours.
ca.es W Ncc,arrsh president Of the Mechanics
National Bank was born in Monroe, n. Y, in 1853
and after a brief schooling began TO WORK III q
village store where everything from boots 10 coo-
fish was sold. The hours were from before Dawn
until toward midnight which was favorable train
ing for the first rounds OF banking career AT the
age OF eighteen he got minor place In the Gosheh
IN W National Bank and anxious TO ma
a larger field after two years experience in rural
finance He had been supporting himself then Tor
some years He came TO New York in 1873 Win
letters of recommendation but owed 1t to MS own
hustlng talent that he landed JOB as CHECK
clerk in the Produce Exchange Bank. He became
receiving teller the of t7genty-one and later
assistant cashier In 1898 ne became cashier Of the
Leather Manufacturers National Bank, and when
this bank was merged into the Mechanics National
in 1904 he was elected president Of the comblned
Institutions
Il never worried about long hours in my appren-
tce days. said Mr.. McGarrah. I'VE often left
the bank at L o'clock at night and there
was no nay for overtime. Mechanics have shorter
hours but less pay than bank employees they would
get as much If they worked as long. While the
banking stint is long, the clerks survive If
they take care of themselves The modern In
crease of diseases like locomotor ataxia and
T3right's disease Is due to overwork but to
worry and improper habits I believe in annual
vacations, however, and think can do more
work in ten or eleven months than IN twelve. A
character like Russell Sage was an exception; he
probably took so much pleasure in the accumula-
ton of wealth that he didn't need recreation or
extensive rest. The s. a week messensershp
salary is little too small. wouldn't have mes
seuger at less than $500 year, and the ordinary
apprentice salary is from 800 to $1,000 year.
While the bank supplies luncheon to its clerks,
DO not think it necessary to establish gymnasiums
or anything of that sort. We expect our men TO
look after their health themselves"