The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-28
How ridden Made His Money

from the Chicago Tribune.
Samuel J. Tilden, a lawyer by profess
sion, who began life poor, and who has
never been engaged in any large, lcgiti-
mate business transactions, has a per-
sonal fortune which is variously estima.
ted from three millions to seven millions
Of dollars. 1t probably does not fall
short OF the former figure, and, before
the shrinkage in New York real estate
consequent upon the panic, IL may have
approximated the larger amount; II Is
not unnatural, now that Mr.. Tilden as
pires to the Chief Magistracy Of the
nation, that people should be interested
in knowing how he amassed this colossal
fortune. In the case Of great merchants
like A. 7. Stewart, or hereditary estates
like the Astors, or confessed railroad
iobbers like Vanderbilt, it Ia easy to
understand how great wealth should be
accumulated. It is not 50, however, in
the case OF lawyer, or other profession
al man, who has no money left to him
and engages in no business. No lawyer,
il Is sale to say, since the days OF the old
Roman counsel who used 10 defend
the Colonial Governors and share their
plumber, has ever amassed by the prac-
lice OF his profession any such amount
of money and property as Samuel j. Til
den possesses. 1t is not within the poss-
Utilities OF the most laborious and most
successful career at the Bar. Lawyers
rarely begin the study oftheir profession
till they are past 81, and are otoften ad-
mitted TO practice before they are %. With.
out some adyentitious aids, the first ten
or twelve years ota legal practice Is
hard life OF study and labor, with few
cases and small recompense. Sometimes
It happens that family influence or ad-
mission to partnership with a well.es::
tablished firm accelerates success and
profit. But Mr.. Tilden had none Of these
advantages. As rule, q lawycrs prac-
tice rarely becomes more than selt.sup.
porting before he is So or 40years OF age,
and Woodworking lawyer Is pretty well
worn out by IS or 90, and not equal or
ambitious to measure strength with the
younger men. Successful and lucrative
Iaw.practice does not usually extend over
twenty or twenty-five years. Very many
good lawyers in our large cities are well
content 10 earn from $1,000 to $1,000 a
year; $4,000 year Is regarded as an ex.
ceedingly lucrative practice; $4,000 u
year is an exceptional'inco from alaw
practice, and the number Of lawyers in
this country who earn more than $780,
600 nfees may be counted on the fingers
OF two hands.
How is II, then, that Mr.. Tildon has
amassed q fortuned counted by the mil.
lionsS We have never heard OF any lega-
cies that were left him. We know Of no
silent partnerships that could hsve
brought him this wealth. Tie has never
been ranked among the great lawyers Of
The country. The most conspicuous case
with:which he was ever publicly identi.
lied was the scandalouS Burdell bogus
baby lawsuit some years ago. Yet Mr..
ridden has never had any other ostensi.
bic business than that Of q lawyer, and
has been able to accumulate his millions.
How did he do II?
The fact Is, Mr.. Tilden's so-called law
office has beenia mill-a railroad mill
where railroads were taken and ground
up, separating the good meal from the
chat. Mr.. Tilden and his partners
always kept the good meal and the chat