The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-09-20
J. Gould's Career.
New York (iraphic. |

New ork Graphic.
The early history of Jay Gould is very little
known by the public. Yet it is full of remarkable
episodes that prove him to be an extraordinary
man, quite apart from the accidents of life, and
show that he is one who makes events not one
who is entirely controlled bv them
HE DABBLEs IN LEATHER.
jay Gould born in Rensselaer, County, in
this State He has published book giving the
history OF that county. and containing some bio
graphical details He was. it seems in early life,
ok-peddler, an engineer, and a Spectator in a
small way. His first important introduction into
business affairs through the we'll known leath-
er tannery of General Zadock Pratt, who had made
Il fortune in the State Of New York i'll tanning
leather, but when the chestnut-treeS became scarce
i'll his native State he moved to talesburg Penn
sylvanla, and there established large tannerv
here Gould became acquainted with him. 1t seems
he aforementioned Pratt very pleasantly i'll his book
and the Old gentleman took rather kindly to the
young adyenturer Indeed Gould is represented
as having strange power of fascination. During
his career even before he became known, lie has
been able to interest some OF the leading men in
the different kinds Of business in which he has
been engaged. He once said to a triend-thS was
i'll early le-"There is no difficulty about getting
acquainted with any one you please. You have
only to seek their acquaintance and interest Your
self III their business II is quite as easy to know
noted and rich people as it's to know poor people
Upon this theory Gould has acted all his life
eral Pratt, whom he induced take Il kind of
partnership in his business although without any
proprietary interest While III this position he
persuaded Pratt to make Il great many speculative
ventures Chance finally brought Gould to New
Ork, whore he became acquainted with the firm Of
Loup Il Lee leather dealers in the swamp Lee
had Just returned from europe having been in bad
health, lc and Gould soon formed very intimate
acquaintance. Pratt had in the mean time, be
come suspicious. and wished to get rid of his asSo
ciate but the tannery had become involved and
he could not free himself. Here Gouds ingenuity
manifested itself He induced Loup Il Lee to ad-
vance the money to buy this tannerv, representing
that he held one-third interest and. rs the story
runs, he secured the remaining one third interest
in the tannery, the two thirds advanced by Loup q
Lee being sufficient to pay for the whole property
\ partnership of course resulted. Gould then be-
ing a member of the firm, and on PENNSYLVANIA
soil, his signature committed his partner. lmme-
dlatcy he launched ont in his daring schemes He
bought another tanncrv at Fonda. New I ork, and
still another in different part Of PENNSYLVANIA
lie went into all kinds OF enterprises but here was
brought to light the curious limitations OF this
strange and strong mans genius He had no head
for details. He knew nothing OF the Obligations
he assumed and could never tell what became OF
the money he spe-.. Being without the education
OF bookkeeper, he had none OF the sense which
even small Store-k keepers have of knowing how
their accounts stand. For Il time all went swim
ming but finally the large sums that were drawn
upon the firm of L.oup II Lee, IN New York caused
alarm Bills were presented for Il 900 and S5 Olo
and no account was ever rendered of the eXpeudi-
tnres Mr.. Charles NJ. Loup. who was a merchant
of high standing, sensitive to his honor, accuS-
toned to odaShioned ways and who, although
not a book keeper himself had a natural tonducsS
for balance sheets and liked to be able to account
tor his finances was really distressed and alarmed
lie sent a book keeper to the tannerr al Galcsburg
to investigate the affairs OF the firm i'll that quar-
ter. The man Of figures was puzzled and con
his hands on but there was neither head nor tail.
beginning nor end to JAY Gould's accounts. uue
thing. however was ecrtain-the firm had become
tremendously Involved and it was doubtful whether
the New York house was net lnsolvent on account
of Iay Gould ! eccentric and daring spectlationS
For it seems that in addition to what he did in
PENNSYLVANIA he had persuaded the Junior part
ncr Lee TO embark i'll all manner Of outlandish
ventures 1t these turned ont well they would
have realized immense sum, of money! but ii they
turned out badly complete ruin must result Among
other things corner was gotten up on hides. Not
onv was all the hides in New York bought up,
but all that were expected to arrive within six
months were purchased in advance Altogether,
things seemed to be III such Il state that when Mr.
Loup obtained a glimpse Of the enlangiement he
became fairly bcreft Of reason
MS rvrrprf.Isl rrt<,s ru,,,,t , ,rirlul.
=,
\ person. WI" WaS FtJSehI l%HS lhe St"ry "l q
Ti'i N'pi' t'i''' ~" '''i '" ''''u ~ ''""I'
!''I n"'loitnN' H'c' l'lVI' 'l'H'' III" h'" "''H Ut
iuu'I' % ~" 'irS, "ii!ltuuoi ventures "A"Se Haiie
Hau pee!l ">eu ID! "oulu i"I SPttui'ltNe PURPOSES
"S 2'Hl'' Hi"'H'l' i' ''t 'tt'" oA'Ittlcit Jay
N""iu Ieilttilru '"'''' c't N"'l''' ntti ~ Il"
VI 'i,'-lil' I4'" Il" I'S''4
m TO- trHlne uu1pufSt "l WRATH lE"iiE INC merchant
ne hL-hSh i'tl2 Wa i'nSatkFH l"I GpllHtlS
WIN "hlch L" tIartcletl%c ans Fohdu'I. ne III
'II ~" t'iHiida'tu pN u'UU tuli upon ms iitt
ana etTlhg M IN" once "Iihou' Sa'llS W"F". ha'
hlgnt mares VI l"up s,loI hiih.eH' SCI, lie WAS lne