Having launched ourselves into the venture, we decided to supply ore to every one who needed it, by mining and transporting with the newest and most effective facilities, and our profits we invested in more ore lands.
Mr.Gates became the president of the various companies which owned the mines and the railroad to the lake to transport the ores, and he started to learn and develop the business of ore mining and transportation.

He not only proved to be an apt scholar, but he really mastered the various complexities of the business.

He did all the work, and only consulted me when he wished to; yet I remember several interesting experiences connected with the working out of these problems.
BUILDING THE SHIPS After this railroad problem was solved, it was apparent that we needed our own ships to transport the ore down the lakes.

We knew absolutely nothing of building ships for ore transportation, and so, following out our custom, we went to the man who, in our judgment, had the widest knowledge of the subject.

He was already well known to us, but was in the ore transportation business on a large scale on his own account and, of course, the moment we began to ship ore we realized that we would become competitors.