The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-10-17
70 TIN u E ID
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Master of Millions
Visits in Bismarck

Master OF MllllOnS
Visits in Bismarck
since 1887. He will be here two days,
he said.
Although big financial affairs have
engrossed him during the interim,
Mellon recalled as though it were
yesterday the dedication of the
Northern Pacific railroad bridge over
the Missouri river in 1882 and the
hay business which he established to
supply stockyards along the railroad.
He operated a hay-baler here and
bought hay in the bottom lands.
raising some himself. A negro named
Crawford was hauling the hay with
mules in anticipation of the spring
flood and Mellon happened to be
watching when an ice-jam caused
the river to go out of its banks. Il
saw the wall of water coming" Mel
Ion said. 1T looked four feet high,
although it probably was only a foot
deep. Crawford didn't see it until
1t was almost upon him and when
he did he climbed up on the hay
wagon and started those mules out
of there. They were running in wa
ter when they finally reached the
bluffs"
The hay, recalled this master of
millions, was spoiled when the water
soaked it. And there was hint of
the reason for his business success in
the shadow which passed over his
ruddy old face at thought of this
loss.
What q man of means does when
out with friend was disclosed by
Melons references to shopping
sprees" with Col. Little in Boston.
Col. Little asserted and Mellon
did not deny-that he loves to shop
and so, on their occasional visits in
the east, they have gone shopping
together although they rarely
bought much, If anything.
This quirk in the make up of a fl
nancial giant moved The Tribune re-
porter to inquire the reason. well,
l knew Col. Little had a beautiful
home out here-and we had lot of
fun" was the smiling response. The
inference was that he wanted to buy
something for the Colonel. The in
timation was, also, that either the
Colonel was hard to satisfy or OBJ
jected to whatever purchases were
proposed. But the fun was mutual.
Talk of Old Days
"reminiscences of the old days
came naturally to these old friends
as they talked. I'VE had a sort of a
clus," Mellon said, and recalled that
1t was located in the house which
Col. Little built and which the Mel
lon brothers bought from him after
he had lived In it less than a year.
1t was while this club was in oper-
alton, at which the young men of
that day frequently gathered. that
Andrew w. Mellon came out here for
visits. They went on hunting trips
and Mellon recalled returning with
a wagon box loaded with game.
Because they liked to hunt. he said.
they frequently had more birds than
they could use and so they kept the
old Sheridan House practically sup
piled with game. During that period,
he said. a dozen deer were killed
within the city limits.
Biographies describe Mellon as a
man interested In educational and
projects and one sees
proof of this in the interest with
which he recalled various happenings
Of his residence here.
For oyo N, ola fhnro u,oc tl>o no.a aT
a settler in the river bottoms who was
trapped by flood. 1t was freezing
cold but the ice was not thick enough
to bear his weight and he dared not
brave the frigid water. so he climbed
a tree and remained there all night.
His hands and feet were frozen so
badly that they had to be amputated.
Subsequently, Mellon recalled, he
had hooks placed on the ends of his
MANNED arms and later became man
ager of the Standard Oil company
here.
For three years of his stay here
Mellon was chairman of the Board of
county commissioners.
Business Slightly Improved
Business throughout the country.
he said, is getting a little better but
mot appreciably So" He believes.
however, that things are either pick
ing up or are getting ready to move,
basing this view on his knowledge of
the carborundum business.
AbrasiveS are used, he explained, to
repair and clean machinery which
has been idle and recently the demand
for this product has shown some i'm
provement throughout the nation as
q whole. The financial situation has
stabilized, he said. and things IN that
respect are improving.
Although he spoke with a bankers
caution, Melons knowledge Of the
business world is wide and accurate.
He Is closely identified with many Of
the nations leading industries and fl
nancial institutions. The list Of or
CARNATIONS In which he is q director
is long one.
The story that he and Col. Little
had planned to 60 hunting, circulated
in Bismarck when it was learned that
Mellon was coming here, is q fable.
I'VE are little beyond that" Col.
Little explained with a smile, and
Melons comment was that he came
out here simply ito visit my old
friend"
Bismarck's distinguished visitor Is
"a years old, Of medium height but
strongly built and well preserved. His
eyes still are bright and keen and
form something Of q contrast with his
quiet manner. They are, in fact. the
eyes Of a master Of millions, but the
impression they give Is much stronger
than that. One feels. as he looks i'm
to them, that they are the eyes of 4