Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-04-14

word. In l63 his income was $lS, 100000 in 1864
81 900 600 in 1865 81 600 900; in 1866, $500 900;
an average of about 81, 900, 600 year. When he
was nominated for Secretary of the Treasury, he
estimated his annual income at 81 100000 The
business of the house is worldwide. A foreign
bureau has been established at Manchester, where
English goods collected, examined, and
packed. A Belfast firm has factory where linens
are bleached. AT Glasgow the firm have house
for Scotch goods. In magasin at Paris are collect
ed East India, French, and German goods. The
wooden house is in Berlin, and the silk warehouses
are at Lyons. Payments made at the Paris
Bureau, and all the continental business centers
there. Then there are mills in Europe and the
United States which manufacture goods exclu.
sively for this firm, and there are buyers and
agents who constantly travelling from Hong
Kong to Paris, from Thibet to Peru. To begin in
shabby shop with a few thousands, and to establish
such vast mercantile fabric as this, was the lie
work of the smooth shaver, bright-eycd gentle
man, who, as one met him on Fifth avenue any
fine morning during the past year, looked neaier
hfty-three than seventy three.
Mr.. Stewards bcnefactions were on the same
large scale as his business. lie gave as prairie
yields crops. Although he was American in all
his instincts, his heart, was warm toward his ma
tive island. When there was o famine IN Ireland
he sought for ship. a British vessel was offered;
he would have nothing but an American vessel.
One was found with an American captain and an
American crew, and was at once chartered The
vessel was loaded with provisions, and under the
American flag entered the harbor of Bel
fast. The agent at Belfast was directed to adver-
tse for young men and women who desired to 20
to America, and free passage was given TO as
many as the vessel could carry, the only require.
ment being that each applicant should be OF good
moral character and able to read and write.
circular issued by Mr. Stewart himself and
sent to his numerous friends, stating the fact that
he expected large number of young people and
asking employment for them. When the vessel
reached the hal Dor of New York. places had been
found for almost every one of the new emigrants.
After the Franco German war Mr.. Stewart
chartered steamer and dispatched her to llavre
with $500 barrels Of flour for the relief of suffer-
ers in manufacturing districts One of the Paris
newspapers, in commenting upon this gift at the
time, said: sit is from republic that such exam
plies of generosity and true grandeur come to u.s.
Can we show ourselves worthy of the sympathy OF
a people represented by such men 7"
Wnen Chicago desolated by fire in 1871,
Mr.. Stewart gave $4,000 for the relief of the
sufferers. A princey charity was his proposed
home for working women on Fourth avenue,
which is still unfinished. The building has cost
81 100000. The main object was to furnish
building wherein lodging, food and warmth could
be furnished at the lowest possible rates. Each
working girl was to pay fixed rate for lodging,
the benevoence of the plan consisting in the fact
that every one would secure more comfort than IN
a squalid lodging in tenement-house. Although
Mr.. Stewart was not considered generous to local
charities, he gave in his own way. lie had
Scotchman's hatred for professional beggars..
The public events in Mr.. Stewards life have
been few in number. In 1867 he went to the Paris
Exhibition as United States Commissioner. This
was the only public office which he ever held.
He President Grants first nominee for Secre-
tary of the Treasury but law which prohibits an
| importer holding that Office prevented him receiv
| ing it.