River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-01-29
EOpp'S COMPANY (LIMITCD.)
From Chambers Journal

acquaintance in London. knew little O
MIR. kopp-such being his name-fur
Their than he seemed perfectly respect
able, and was spoken Of as being in bust
ness in the city. On the present occas
ion hcwas lively and chatty, making re-
marks on the fashionables who were driv
ing along in their smart carriages
Drawing my attention to handsome
phaeton, driven by man SLOWLY
dressed, he said That's smart fellow
lie was once clerk in some government
office, but getting disguised with The
drudgery, he watched his opportunity
attached himself to good concern in the
city, and is now making his three or fouI
thousand year" In this intelligence
felt degree interested. | was not i'll of,
Tor | had fair competence; but why not
|, like the ''smart fellow" in the phaeton,
get into 'good concern in the city O.
what sort of concern is the gentle
man connected with g ! inquired OF my
companion.
"Oh ! he is promoter Of companies
and managing director in one of them
and | don't know what besides. You
must have heard his name Ftzbarton.
Tie is rising man, a member Of two OF
three clubs, and will probably soon be in
Parliament"
On parting with my acquaintance, |
thought good deal of Fitzbarton and the
easy way in which he glided into a for
tune. | got restless, and made up my
mind to ask Kopp fhe could point out
anv Uav hv which / ,nioht c,llo,v fho e,,o-
cessful example of Fitzbarton. At the
next interview, Kopp expressed himself
delighted with the inquiry.
at is very curious you should have
mentioned this TO me for only this
morning was thinking of you in connec-
ton with an affair am shortly to bring
ont and it is just the thing that slikely
to suit you. Come and sit down here and
| will explain the nature of the under
taking-a splendid piece Of business, if
am not greatly mistaken" We sat
down, and Kopp opened his budget. ut
is, he continued, "a joint stock concern
to supply want which every one must
have experienced more or less in life, and
which has for its intention to offer aid to
our lellow-men, as much as to put
profit in our own pockets. ] want to
raise capital of about 100000, which is
to be lent to small tradesmen, to officers
in the army or navy when they require
outfits, to help clergymen to buy livings
to give assistance, in fact, to every per-
son whose position and character render
such an investment safe one. At pre-
sent, man may be ruined for want Of
fifty pounds at short notice, or he may
miss making fortune for want of few
hundreds. The business in this way is
done now by Jews, money lenders, and
extortioners, who charge their 60 and 50
per cent; whereas We, as a company,
would be content with 10 or Is. You see,
the extent to which cur business could be
carried is unlimited, practically, and our
success is certain. provided we have bust
ness men on our board. Here is pre-.
liminary prospectus; look over it, and LET
me know tomorrow what you think OF
it,"
looked over the prospectus; its sta
tistics, compiled apparently with great
care, we're really most promising, and the
affair seemed likely TO succeed. What
my position was to be in connection with
the company was yet to learn; but on
the following day was enlightened.
met Mr.. Kopp in the afternoon, and he
told me that though he was beset by APP
plicants, yet he would take care that |
had scat on the board, and should com.
mence my experience as director. "The
directors fees, he said, twill amount to
something considerable-probably to five
hundred pounds year; and the work
will be very light, because ] shall do
nearly all the work"
| knew but little about companies then,
yet was aware that mist possess some
shares in order to be qualified as direc-
tor, SO asked my generous friend what
sum must be invested by me.
'lf you work hard, he replied, 81 will
tell you what ! will debut you must
not mention this to the other direc.
tors--I will hand you over $500 worth Of
shares fully paid up, aud you can repay
me for these out Of your directors fees.
will make that ali right"
now began to see before me very
bright prospects. was to be co.direc-
tor with some very well known names-a
Scotch peer. and NJ. r., general officer,
ali admiral, and two city men. All the
preliminaries being settled, found that
Kopp was going to supply all the money
for the preliminary expenses, and that
none of US had any risk. Such a safe af.
fair was very satisfactory; and as ! found
| should not have TO attend the board
meetings more than once week, could
spare sufficient time to be director OF
two or three companies, and might, there.
fore, net above l. 900 per annum,
II was by no means unpleasant to see
ones name in the papers as director Of so
ilourishing company as "kopp's Com
pany (LimitedD, and associated with the
respectable names on our board. | was
congratulated by many acquaintance,
but cautioned by one or two over prudent
friends, who no doubt meant well, but
whom dared not tell that | incurred no
risk, in consequence Of being qualified as
director by my friend Kopp. We took
offices in the city, and had board meet.
ings, at which, however, our NJ. Y. rarely,
if ever, attended and soon found that
nearly all the work devolved on me. We
advertised in every paper, and we had
$1,000 subscribed by the public, which
III. a