The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-09-20


and patient industry.
BY the first year of the present centu-
ry, he had amassed something like $685.
600. FOrty-tor years have since clap
sed. by the natural course of accumula-
ton, this sum would have amounted at
the end of such a period, to nearly Sc
600, 600; but, in Mr.. Astor's hands, il
has increased to nearer four times that
amount, for we should be moderate in es-
llmating his actual wealth at SO, 0O0 200.
In 1900, the man of thirlv-sevcn could
look back with satisfaction upon the ca
reer OF the boy of eighteen, who, under
the shade of linden.tree, near his native
village, had resolved, on the eve of leav-
ing his home for a foreign land, to be
honest, and industrious, and never to
gamble
In 1909, he founded the American fur
company, but, soon dissatisfied with even
the large profits derived from that con-
Germ, conceived the idea of founding a
permanent settlement ON the Pacific, con-
neccd with the settled portions of the
country by a series Of trading posts. and
by these means to monopoIise the fur
trade west Of the Rocky mountains with
IN the precincts of the United States.
The provisions, goods, and ammunition
OF the Pacific settlement were to be sup
Piled by vessel sent annually from New
York. The same vessel was also to con-
vey supplies to the Russian establish
ments in the north, and receive lurs in ex-
| change. With these latter and those
amassed at the settlement during the year,
she was TO proceed to Canton, and invest
The proceeds of her cargo in silks, teas
and nankeens. Accordingly, in 1910,
party OF 60 men started from New York
for Oregon, and in September of the same
year, the Tonquin was despatched on the
same errand. This vessel and one or two
subsequent ones were lost--the colonists
were exposed to every trial and suffering
and, during the war of 1912, the settle
ment, unprotected by the government of
the United States, and threatened by a
British man of war, was treacherouslv
sold, by one Of Mr.. Astor's partners, 10
the northwest fur company.
Thus ended grand and well contrived
enterprise, after SO great an outlay and
loss as would have annhilaled most
American fortunes. About 81 ,O00,O00
were eXpendad in the carrying out of
plans which were entirely frustrated, and
which were in progress at the same time
that the American fur company was in
full operation, when the ships Of the pro-
tector were in every sea, and his cargoes
in every principal city Of our country.
AS an instance of the magnitude of the
views of Mr.. Astor, it is stated that, had
his agents succeeded in ctlecting a perma-
nent settlement at Astoria, he anticipated
that the establishment would prove a bill
Of costs during the first two years. and
would not begin to afford very profitable
returns before the expiration of the second
decade. During the third decade, it
would have netIed him something like
$l,OOO,OO per annum. If we esteem
him an enterprlsing merchant who awaits,
for year, the return of his vessel from
Canton or the Pacific, what term shall we
apply to the adventurous and sell-relyng
spirit, which, regardless of the changes
and chances of this mortal life, organses
and executes a vast and costly project,
destined only TO mature at the expiration
of ten years p
One OF the greatest sources of Mr.. As
tors wealth, however, has been the nalu
raj rise o! real estate in New York. At
one period, he invested two.,hirtls of his
annual gains in land, and he now posses
SEES Wh0le acres in the most valuable quar-
tiers OF the city. And it is a singular lea-
Iure IN the history of one dealing so con-
stanIly, and in so large sums, and, more
over, whose entire fortune was probably,
al tlmes, on the bosom OF the ocean, Lh0t
he 'cas neUer kao'on 10 mortgage lot.
Mr.. Astor has always been an early riser,
but has devoted fewer hours. perhaps, to
mis- counting room than most mercantile
men. He generally left business at two
O'Clock In the afternoon, although it is to
be presumed That his mind was always
engaged in the acquisition of that vast for
tune which has been heaped together by
his own exeriions alone, and amid many
and great obstacles.
Hunts Merchants Magazine for Au-
gust contains the sketch Of John Jacob
Aston, from which we have taken the lib
erty to clip and conjensc the foregoing
paragraphs. We refer our readers to the
magazine itself for many interesting facts
IN the life Of Mr.. Astor, which our limits