The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-01-28
KOPP'S COMPANY (LIMlTED).

LepPtNCOtt IE AeOfuuys
KOPP'S COMPANY (LIMlTED).
One autumn, not long since, was
staying with my family at Brighton: and
as strolled along the beach enjoying the
fresh air and the sight of the equipages
that dashed along l was accosted by a
gentleman with whom I had made a
slight acquaintance in London. knew
little of Mr.. Kopp-such being his name
farther than that he seemed perfectly
respectable and was spoken of as being
in business in the city. On the present
occasion he was lively and chatty, max
ing remarks on the fashionables who
were driving along in their smart car
riages. Drawing my attention to a
handsome phaeton driven by a man
showily dressed, he said: That's a
smart fellow. He was once clerk in
some Government office, but getting dis
gusted with the drudgery he watched his
concern in the city and is now making
this intelligence l felt degree inter-
ested. was not ill of, for l had fair
competence; but why might not l, like
the "smart fellow" in the phaeton, get
into good concern in the city,"
"What sort of a concern is the gentle
man connected WITH" / inquired of my
companion.
"Oh! he is a promoter of companies
and a managing director in one of them,
and I don't know what besides. You
must have heard his name FitZbarton.'
He is rising man, a member of two or
three clubs, and will probably soon be
in Parliament"
On parting with my acquaintance I
thought great deal Of Fitzbarton and
the easy way in which he had gllded into
fortune. l got restless and made up
my mind to ask kopp if he could point
out any way by which I might follow the
successful example of Fitzbarton. At
next interview Kopp expressed himself
delighted with the inquiry.
alt is very curious you should have
mentioned this to me; for only this morn
ing was thinking of you in connection
with an affair am shortly to bring out;
and it is just the thing that is likely to
suit you. Come and sit down here, and
will explain the nature of the undertake
ing-a splendid piece of business, if am
not greatly mistaken" We sat down.
and Kopp opened his budget. cit 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 fellOW.men as much as to put
profit in our own pockets. 1t is to raise
capital of about ESQ, 900, 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 person whose
position and character render such an in
vestment safe one. At present a man
may be ruined for want of fifty pounds at
short notice, or he may miss making
fortune for want of q few hundreds.
The business in this way is done now by
Jews, money-lenders, and extortioners,
who charge their 60 and 80 per
cent; whereas we, as company, would
the extent to which our business could be
carried is unlimited, practically, and our
success is certain. provided we have bust
ness men on our Board. Here is prelimi.
nary prospectus; look over it, and let me
know tomorrow what you think of it."
Hooked over the prospectus; its sta
tistics, compiled apparently with great
care, were really most promising, and
the affair seemed likely to succeed.
What my position was to be in connec-
ton with the company l was yet to learn
but on the following day / was enlight
ened. met Mr.. Kopp in the afternoon,
and he told me that though he was beset
by applicants, yet he would take care
that had seat on the Board, and should
commence my experience as a director
The directors fees" he said, "will
amount to something considerable
probably to $500 year; and the work
will be very light because shall do
nearly all the work"
I knew but little about companies
then, yet I was aware that must pos
sess some shares in order to be qualified
as director, so I asked my generous
friend what sum must be invested by
me.
IF you work hard" he replied, II
will tell you what / will debut you
must not mention this to the other d.
rectors-I will hand you over e5O0 worth
OF shares fully paid up, and you can re-
pay for these out of your directors fees.
l will make that all right"
I now, began to see before me very
bright prospects. I was to be eo-di-
rector with some very weil-known names
"a Scotch peer, an N. p, general off,
Ger, an 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 q
safe affair was very satisfactory, and as
found should not have to attend the
Board meetings more than once a week
I could spare sufficient time to be di-
rector of two or three companies, and
might, therefore, net 81 600 per annum
1t was by no means unpleasant to see
ones name in the paper as director of so
fourishing company as "Kopp's Com
pany (Limited)" and associated with the
respectable names ON our Board. l was
congratulated by many acquaintance,
but cautioned by one or two over-pru-
dent friends, who no doubt meant well,
but whom dared not tell that incurred
no risk, in consequence of beng quail.
fed as q director by my friend Kopp
We took Offices in the city and had Board
meetings, at which, however, our N. p.
rarely, II ever, attended, and / soon
found that nearly all the work devolved
on me. We advertised in every paper
and we had $500 subscribed by the pub
lie, which Kopp assured me was quite
enough to begin upon.
DuSjng six months I attended Board
meetings, which took place once . week;
the city men now and then came, the
General was regular attender, and we
waited for business. The Scotch Peer
rarely made his appearance, for he lived
long way of. How His Lordship might
have been induced to enter the concern