The Washington herald., 1908-08-30

bushels Of grain stored in an elevator
that had been placed in bankruptcy.
AitchelIs bank was named as receiver on
condition that it would have every busheI
OF grain in the elevator remeasured-
Mitchell was appointed TO put this her
culean task through. and for the better
part OF two years he spent every work
ing day, stretching from in the morning
20 at night, personally overseeing the
remessuring- He went 70 his work clad
IN oveTals and carrying a dinner pail.
and he returned in like garb when the
days dusty work was over His faith
fulnesg AZ this one-too-pleasant work,
which was finished q short time before his
bank ran up against the snag Of hard
times, was one OF the things that led the
directors 10 give the young man a chance
70 retrieve the fortune Of the institution
Before ne took 20 banking by the mes
seEger route. Mitchell was first inclined
70 civil engineering. and during one
school vacation he helped TO survey for
the Chicago and Alton, OF which his fath-
er was promoter. The party that he
was with one day came 70 the notorious
Suy Bottoms OF Pike County. and found
them so deeply covered with water that
the supply wagon could not take the
party across 10 dry land Mitchell and
his companions stripped, put their clothes
IN the wagon. sent It 10 make the cross
ing four miles distant, where there was
a bridge. and began 10 wade through the
bog The rest Of the day they fought
almost for their lives-with the myriads
OF mosquitoes that swarmed down on
them; for the wagon. finding the bridge
washed away. was compelled TO make a
long detour. and did not come 70 the re-
lief OF the badly stuug surveyors until
dusk But despite this and other hard
ships that befeu him as q rodman and
levelman, Mitchell wanted TO stop school
and become q railroad man in earnest
His father. however. would not listen to
the boys wish, sent him back 70 school
20 hnish- and thus saved 10 the Middle
West its best-knOwn banker.
Brothers with Parallel Careers.
The Forgan brothers. OF Chicago. Ike
Mitchell have got there through their
own initiative. and. ike most Of the couu-
try's most famous bankers. have never
engaged in any business other than bank
ing Both began in minor positions in
Scotland: at fifteen David. the younger,
became a messenger BY that tine.
James. ten years David-s senior. had
risen q notch o. two and been assigned
BY his new connections TO Montreal 4
few years later. after having passed
through all the various positions leading
up 10 II. he found himself inspector OF
agencies for the Bank Of Nova Scotia
About this time David immigrated 70
Canada and became manager Of a branch
bank The tvso brothers transferred their
activities 70 Minneapolis about the same
tine also. the elder was called 20 Chicago
IN 1SS3 by Lyman J. Gage 70 be vice presi-
dent OF his bank, and the younger was
called 10 Chicago six years later 10 head
another Institution When Gage became
Secretary Of the Treasury James succeed
ed him 70 the presidency. and some time
later. when James bank and David's
were united. David became vice president
OF the bank OF which his brother was
president He now heads an important
bank OF his own organization
Both men. as one would suppose, since
they are Scots. are enthusiastic golfers.
and they divide their tine about evenly
between the links and their banking Of
fees David was on the links when news
came 70 him of a big failure III Chicago.
He laid down his clubs, pulled cut stub
Of a pencil and card. and figured dill
gently for q few minutes.
Yes" he said. when he had finished.
these poor people VII eventually get .
per cent Of their money Tel the news
paper editors for ne TO state this fact and
make the investors feel cheerful" He
showed the fgure-cOvered bit OF paper IN
his pocket, picked Up his clubs. and tr-rn-
ed 70 his companion. -'Now." said h.
with the fire OF the goIE iend once more
alight in his eyes shall We play another
rouudz-
David. who IS forty-siX. was the first
amateur champion golfer Of the Western
Golf Association. He has a wonderful
memory for championship plays and can
describe them accurately months after
they were made The records OF the
Western Association are at his tongues
end, and when g fine day comes along it's
dollars TO doUEhnuts that II VIII fad lis
private Office vacant and its owner on tbs
links
tCorgdsht. 1ss. b. the Associated Lsts-z-y P-0SS1