The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-05
schemes OF the Day-what's Hundred Mil
lion

Mons
"a man who cannot make $25,0 900 year
must be ninny." Such was the remark Of
young man the other day, in high fever Of spe-
culation, with fortune Of million or two
looming up in the future, to his admiring gaze.
.'As times 60, man must be a dolt if he cannot
make $4,000 year." Money has been cheap
so long, it is now mere drug in the market;
old fogies with hereditary fortunes and very
superficial knowledge of Wall street, are wor-
ried to death with the possession of their wealth.
Nor do their Juniors care much about Kidding
them of the encumbrance. When accommodation
can be had on the merest shadow of personal Sc
curity, the blessings of riches do not redeem its
drawbacks Wealth has its necessary disadvan-
tages. Like no6leSse, richesse o5Hge; and the
man who would make fortune must renounce
many pleasure dearly cherished by fashionable
youth. But, these objections removed, if a man
resolves TO inict riches on himself, and seriously
to undergo the painful operation of making
money, there is no reason why he should not
gain fortune in less time than the affections Of
wife.
Such, at all events, is the sentiment of the
Wall street sages. Far be it from us to gainsay
it. These are times in which it argues more
boldness than judgment to deny the truth of
any statement, however incredible it may seem.
The world, and especially the United States,
are in whirl Of excitement. The barriers of
hmm nd lpo LODI La;
leaped on every side. Art science, philo-
sophy and trade are progressing with such
rapid strides that the eye cannot measure their
pace or the mind fix limit to their course.
All are stimulated and fostered by the golden
shower which recent years have poured on this
happy land: and, for the first time since the
world began he who really contributes one line
to the advancement Of mankind is morally GER
tain of substantial reward. Merchants and spe-
culators are not the only recipients of wealth;
both the manufacturing and agricultural classes
are waxing fat and strong, professional men
participate in the general spoil, and even ar
lists and poets are sure Of dinner. Comfort
is no stranger to the poor mans home-luxury
peryades every chamber Of the house inhabited
by the educated citizen. The age in which we
live has much better claim to the epithet of
golden than the periods usually distinguished
by that title.
In proportion to the increased profit earned
in ordinary transactions, commercial operations
have become more extensive. Spectators cal
culate their gains by millions-mere thousands
are Of little moment the great operators Of the
day cannot afford time to think of schemes in
volving less than six figures. One company
purchases right Of way across Nicaragua for
$4,000 year, expends couple Of hundred
thousand dollars or so. in organizing means of
transit. and finds no difficulty in disposng of four
millions Of stock. The net profit of this single
operation must have exceeded three and half
millions Of dollars. In another case, single
individual places half dozen steamers on q
popular line Of travel, and is reaping very
handsome return from the investment. pays
for his steamers with his profits when com.
pany covets the vessels, and offers the fortunate
proprietor the trihing sum Of one million and a
quarter to assign his interest to them Many
other operations, Of no less magnitude, are be-
ing successfully made every day in Wall street.
and now and then you hear of canal, to cost
500 600. to connect the Atlantic with the
Pacific. What arc hundred millions
But these cannot compare with two or three
schemes OF recent birth, at which the strongest
faith actually staggers An application has
been made to the New York Legislature for
charter for company to build railroad FROM
the Atlantic to the Pacific States. Another
party has applied to Congress for grant Of
land sixty miles wde-thirty miles on each side
the Throughout its whole length to San
Francisco. Ii does not require Cassandra TO
foretell the fate Of such an application as this:
but at one period the applicant had fair pro-
mise Of success and could reasonably indulge
visions Of being. at no very distant day, the
largest landholder. and probably the most in
fuential individual in the world. Settlers
would eagerly flock to the neigbborhood Of
line which would be constantly thronged with
travel; and before the original shareholders had
bequeathod their interest to their children
thouSands Of rich farms, hundreds Of villages,
and scores q prom.s.ng cities, would cover the