The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-24
GRAYSOA FAIRBANKS.
HANDLES BIG MONEY
~ Basker and Assistant Treasurer of
the Y. N. c. A. I'm France.

and sous and francs which pour into
the canteens OF the Y. NJ. G. A, A. L.
r. land eventually unon the desk of
one man In the Paris office. The man
to whom SO much comes. IL il Stays
with him for only few seconds at
the most. Is Grayson L. Fairbanks.
the assistant treasurer Of the Y. NJ.
G. A. In France, upon those competent
and broad shoulders has fallen the job
of receiving and disbursing more than
"a few million francs each month.
He handled in December the trifiing
sum of $4,000. 900. the total amount of
money received from the field by the
treasurer's Office and in January. there
passed through his hands $4,000 900
francs. A total of 100000 francs for
two months overturn is no small thing.
perhaps that amount can give some
idea of the size of the job Mr.. Fair
, banks is carrying.
He has to be sure. plenty of natural
qualifications and the proper profess
sional experience behind him to make
him sufficiently unafraid Of his re-
sponsfbilitIes Mr.. Fairbanks halls from
Richmond. where he has been for many
years associated with the Bank OF
Commerce and Trust. and where he
also carried on large insurance bus
mess.
Mr.. Fairbanks In used TO the sight
and feel OF money. and its handling
in large quantities. He. as first as
sistant TO John r Christie, is the ac-
fuai receiver OF all J. NJ C. A. mon
eys. Mr.. Christie goes about attending
directors meetings and arranging loans
in his office at IL rue d'AEuesseau, re-
ceiying and counting the money.
That might seem to be a pleasant oc-
cupation for a man until you realize
the hugeuess Of the task.
One year or so ago. the Y. NJ c. A
had a personnel Of 1000 workers in
France: today II has 5000. and so pro-
portionately have increased the num-
Der OF cantecns.
SO that instead Of receiving and dis
bursting some 20.ooo.o0o francs n month
considered heavy business last
summer-the "Y' In December reached
it's top notch of s3.0e0.0oo.
The other day Mr.. Fairbanks said a
frantic message came from one of the
regional banking eenters--of which
there are FIVE in different parts of
France-that there were more than a
100000 francs down there. and that
tho Paris Office would have to send
down to get them.
1t appeared that great many troops
had been passing through that town
on the previous one or two days; and
any number OF secretaries had utilized
the opportunity TO deposit their re-
ceipts of weeks with the regional bank.
The result was that the bank was
Overlooking and we had to send two
or three nfeR down there with daffle
bags to get the money and bring ii
up to Paris. They arrived in Paris
late at night. could not get room.
and had to sit UP all night in the
rntA1 Cthrayfnr r~1fa riding their fra
with a gun.
Which is an adventurous life. If only
hank clerks Behind and around him,
in his offices. Mr.. Fairbanks has
sm1if barking establishments svefkef exFey.
the detail Of the "Y's' immense bank
ing system.
All OF these are professional bank
ing men cashiers. tellers and clerks
from banks at home. The regional
banking offices are In charge OF these
men. and there the secretaries Of that
re slon fle their money and accounts.
One Of these men has been doing wall
liable service up at Brest changing
currency. An American Express Office
has now been installed there to take
over the job. and an office built for
that company next to the II" hut, SO
that the thousands OF men passing
through on their way homo can get
their French money changed. That
turnover alone amounts to hundreds
OF thousands Of francs a week. II is an
endless process for French currency
turned in In Immediately turned back
into American and SO on all day long.
The organisation Of the banking end
Of the central office Is scientific and
but there Is no telling as
the style and the form In which the
money itself will arrive at cashiers
desk. The star Of men IL engaged all
day long day after day. untying the
money from the rough bundles in which
Ii comes. All kinds Of currency, bills
and coins. tied together In bag or
at the nearest regional Of