The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-02-16
In at the Bottom.

In at the bottom, is 4 phrase which is.
undoubtedly, readily understood by the bu-
siness men of Boston. We have had some
experience in this line for the last three
Years. We have lost no money by that
experience. however, vet we doubt if any
one who has gone in at the bottom can
say rs much, and that their experience
has not been costly and vexatious. When
we contemplate the vast amount of mon
ey we might have made. if we had believ-
ed the stories of those who have waited
upon lis and who have insisted upon
throwing two or three millions of filthy
lucre into our treasury if we would only
consent to allow them 10 do So. we are
amazed ut our stupidity and want of sa-
gacitv How we might have rolled in
wealth and retired TO private life, relieved
from the cares and burdens of business
and publishing newspaper for a living.
When we consider all these things and
contemplate how we mi ght have Travelled
into foreign countries, have passed our
summers in London and our winters in
Paris. had we zone in at the bottom in
petroleum. in silver mines, in gold mines.
i'll copper mines and paper collars, We feel
Inundated and detected How can We
feel otherwise! Let us explain how We
have lost fortunes upon fortunes in conse-
quencc OF orr dogged obstinacv and fear
OF little responsibility \ very dear
and particular friend of ours called nj
our Slnctrlm. who had secured two hum
dred acres OF land in Pennsylvania which
WIS full of the richest veins of coal known
throughout the coal regionS Of that state.
He and two other gentlemen. one of whom
WAS 4 resident of Philadelphia. the other
4 New Yorker worth one million. and
himself. were the sole owners of le>>ees oi
this valuable property. The amount
which they had agreed TO pay the original
owner was two hundred thousand dollars
Zach of the three Were TO put in fifty
( thousand each. which would make ON,
hundred and fifty thousand dollars: anj
Ill they wanted was fifty thousand NOR,
to control the property. Our very deal
friend had looked about him for >uitabl,
person To be admitted into the concern
who should come in ut the bottom: and
he had come to the conclusion that ",
were Just the man. He told uS how they
proposed TO purchase the property for twC
hundred thousand. then make the capita
one million of dollars. which they coul,
easily dispose OF i'll the market and whicl
would put two hundred thousand into Gu
pocket a. our share. THIS great and gi
gantic enterprise was 10 he called tn,
Pennsylvania SUsquchannah. Lachawan
III, Allegheny and Philadelphia Goa
mine and transportation company. w,
were delighted with our friend. and aston
i>lied at the magnitude OF this m,lnmotl
affair lie told liz we were fool to plo;
along publishing 4 newspaper merely Il
get three meals per dav and place t,
sleep, while we could ride in our carrilg
and live like king the remainder Of on
days by coming in at the bottom in thi
grand scheme. We suggested that tift,
thousand collars WAS more money THAI
we had laying round loose and a; our dis
posal, and should he obliged TO decline hi
generous offer on this account He sal,
this need make no difference, rs our not
ior the amount was perfectly good, and IN
could raise the money on ii easy in Stat
street. where our credit. he was please,
to sav, was 4 |. We did not see it ex
ac!ly IN that light. and declined that prop
oSition also. and regretted that our inabil
ity to raise the money must be our eXcuS
for not .oing in at the bottom. Som
time after we met this dear friend. wh'
then had Il seedv look, whereupon We in
quired of him about that coal mine. III
replied. "D-n the coal mine-it ha
gone up, and the bottom is knocked out.
, His New York and Philadelphia friend
had deceived him He had made an eS
animation of the coal mountain, and
| was full of rocks and nothing else.
Another dear friend had splendid sil
| yer mine in Nevada-really good thing
Judge Wickham, shrewd business MAJ
: had been over it and knew all about i,
, Big thing, fortune for those who went i
! at the bottom. As particular favor the
} were disposed to allow us to come in a
the bottom and we should he made pres
: dent Of the Nevada. Reese River, Colo
, RADIO and Pumpkin Valley Silver Minin
company. The capital was to be on
l million of dollars, to he thrown upon til
: Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Blu
Etlo markets. 1t was only necessary
= raise one hundred thousand dollars for
$ working capital to pay for surveys, stamp
: mills. &c. Professor Sillyman had mao
4 geological survey of the property an
|, pronounced it the best mine in the Rock
: Mountain region; SO it was sure thin
= any way and we run no risk in coming
n at the bottom. Having no money to il
n vest in the Pumpkin Valley enterprise, "
Il were under the disagreeable necessity {
r declining the offer OF our dear friend, ais
|, the presidency, greatly to his astonisl