The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-09
TRUE man OF
STEEL TO Get
CARY'S BERTH
James A. Farrell Has Won
Way to Top by Mighty
Labor and Study.

'I NEW lew york, Nov. e.-"His mine
is an automatic cash register anc
adding machine combined"
This is the remark made by
former business associate about
James A. Farrell, president of the
u. S. Steel 90. and probable sue
cessor. to the late Judge Gary as its
directing genius.
1t describes Farrell aptly. The
new leader of this great $780,
10000 corporation seems almost
more like a character from some
modern novel than real, flesh
and blood man.
Began at the Bottom
Farrell is mountain OF a man
we'll over six feet tall and weigh
ing around 225 pounds-and none
of it is excess weight.
His mind, one of the most
capable business instruments In
America, is packed to the brim with
facts, a bewildering array. They
lie piled up in exact order, each
where it can be found.
Offhand, and without consulting
any notes. Farrell can give dizzy
ing list of details about the Stee
Corporation and its business.
He can cite obscure items about
exports, profits and arrangements
of each subsidiary plant.
He can tell where dozens of the
company's ships are.
He can reel off long string Of
facts about the various foreign
ports where these ships call; theil
depth of water, their port anc
custom charges, their rail anc
wharf facilities.
Steel men talking about the
time that Farrell, as a witness II
the governments unsuccessful sui
to dissolve the steel trust, occupied
the stand for nine solid days anc
answered questions through all o.
that period without once reSortin(
to notes or memoranda.
Such a brain full of information
postulates a tremendous capacity
for work. Farrell today works JUS
as hard as he did years ago wher
he was just one of the hands.
Daily he puts in full day at hi
office; and every night when hi
goes home he takes enough wori
with him to last some men for an
other full day.
He was born in 1868 in New
Haven, Conn, the son of a sec
captain who was lost at sea dur
ing Farrell's childhood.
Works as Day Laborer
At fifteen Farrell gave up hi
dream of a college education anC
went to work as a day laborer in s
New Haven steel mill.
Fourteen months later he wa
made mechanic. He spent hi
evenings studying. His study anC
application brought their rewards
When he was 81 he had moved t.
Pittsburgh and become foreman il
charge of more than 300 workers.
It was Farrell's hope to become
a salesman. His wish was gratified
Here his amending study of TIT
steel business proved valuable. H,
was not the good mixer" the othel
statesmen were, but he knew NOR
about steel than any of them.
Three years later he was sale
manager; a. 80 he was genera
manager Of the whole concern.
He lived close to the mill. Fo
years he hardly went out Of sigh
o fit spraying, ugly buildings.
Then came the great steel con
solicitations, with the United State
Steel Corporation emerging SUI
preme. Farrell, his company alb
sorbed by the new firm, becam,
foreign sales agent for the entir'
company.
Foreign sales of steel we're arount
$35, 100000 a year when Farrell
took charge. Within eight year
they had risen to $90,00O,O00 a year
now they run around $30,000,000 6
month.
So, in 1911, Farrell became presi
dent of the corporation. And nov
he is slated to succeed Gary a.
supreme arbiter of its destinies.