Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-19
Me-, work Cor. Phfladelphfa Times.

Ne5c York Cor. Phatddetphao 1aHsSS.
1t has been said that if you were
to put a Georgia "cracker" and g
Vermont Yankee on a desert island
and divide the land equally between
them. the ''cracker" would have the
Yankee at work on rented land in
less than a month. I do not know that
this is so, as there is wonderful shrewd-
ness under the surface of both these
American types, but it is certain that the
Southern men who have drifted North
and engaged in business have held their
own with remarkable success. A rum
ming review of some of the most promi.
nent Southerers who have come to the
front in Gotham, with some gossip of
their lives and fortunes, will point a
moral if it does not adorn tale.
think the best record made by any
Southerner in New York, since the war.
is to be credited to John H. Inman, the
head of the great cotton firm of Inman,
Swami g. Co. He came out of the army
with his parole in his pocket. ragged,
penniless boy. He reached New York,
in 1865, with less than 800 and no
property. He secured place as clerk in
the cotton firm of Anstett & Inman. and
in two years was offered partnership.
AT twenty four years of age he had en-
tire charge of the business, which was
then immense, and by 1870 had accumu-
lated SO, 900. Last year-just ten years
after-he was worth nearly So, 900, 600,
and had net income. in 1880, of $780,
000 He is just thirty-six years of age
and is the head of his firm-now Inman,
Swami s. Co.-which did cotton bust
ness last year of over $4,000, 900, and
sent a profit to the balance-sheet of be.
tween $3.50, 900 and 100000 He has
large enterprises outside of his firm,
having last year over 81, ZOO, 900 in ferti-
lizers, and will by the time he is fifty
years of age be one of the richest men
IN New York. With nearly 50, 900, 900
as nest-egg at thirty-six years of age,
an income of 5000, 900 in a growing
business and q clear head and perfect
health, he will get above $40, 000, 900 be.
fore he is fifty years of age if nothing
more than ordinary intervenes. AL
though a mere youngster, his opinion is
authority in the Cotton Exchange, and
he enjoys universal confidence and re-
spect. He is director of the Fourth
National Bank, and is identified with
many important enterprises. Mr.. w.
II. 1nman, of the same firm, is worth
about $2,000,000.
THE RICHEST soUTHERNER.
The richest Southerner in New York
city, suppose without doubt, is Victor
Newcemb, the young man who was made
famous through his gigantic railroad
movements in the South and Southwest
last year. He first inaugurated in South
ern railroad circles the principle of con-
solidation with which Jay Gould oper-
ated so heavily in the North and West.
He took charge of the Louisville and
Nashville property when it was single
line of road and its stock was worth
about thirty cents, and he was about
thirty-four years of age. 1t is said that
he held about 50, 600, 900 worth of the
stock of his company, which averaged
him fifty cents. 1t is said that he, Mr.
George Clark, of Clark, Dodge 81 Co.,
and two other persons held controlling
interest in the road, which would have
necessitated their holding over 81, 500, 600
of stock. This did not average over
fifty cents to the purchasers. In little
over one year, by a series of exploits
that were dazzling and brilliant, he had
consolidated into practically one system
about four thousand miles of road that
took its place among the finest systems
of the country. The stock ran up to
1856. and, paying'about IA per cent. on its
capital, was doubled, and now ranges at
about 90. Newcomb, then retired from
the presidency on account of ill-health,
taking, it is said, over $4,000, 900 clear
profit on his investment, besides having
added enormously to his fortune by in
cidental investment in stocks. His for
tune is now put at from six to eight
millions-a very pretty figure for man
who is just turning thirty-seven years of
age. Mr., Newcomb has home in Louis
vile and place at Long Branch, and is
now looking for house in New York,
which he will make his permanent resi-
dence. He is said to be largely interest
ed in the Mexican railway scheme, deals
literally in stocks, is "bull" in his SEN
tlment, and is classed among the most
skillful and successful operators in the
city. In giving Mr.. Newcomb place as
the richest Southerner in New York there
are two points of doubt-frst, as to
whether Jim Keene is a Southerner, and,
second, whether his fortune is larger
than Newcombs. Keene went to San
Francisco from Lynchburg, Va, and l
am positively informed was born there,
of English parents My informant is
very positive on this point, saying that
Keene told him 50 when he met him In
London in 1872, when Keene did not
have $500 on earth and certainly no re
serve in heaven. At any rate, Keene is
smart enough to belong to the Southern
colony in New York, and though he
dropped over So, 900, 900 in wheat in his
last deal in that useful cereal, is still
quoted at $4,000, 900. 1t is whispered,
however, that Mr.. Keene has dropped
some plump amounts in the last few
days, and it is certainly known that he
burned his fingers in late raid on the
market. Mr.. Keene has frequently mis-.
calculated the New York market He
sold 10000 shares of single stock when
he first came here and expected to see
it drop twenty per cent. 1t yielded a
half cent, which it recovered at once.
"Why. in Frisco" said Jim, 1--WE would
have driven that stock out of sight" If he
has added to the five or six millions that
he came here with he heads the Southern
ers in Gotham in point of wealth; other
wise he must give way to Newcomb,
who has been uniformly successful.
The first old veteran of them all, in
years and old fashioned reputation, is
Charles M. Fry, the President of the
Bank of New York, the oldest bank,
believe, in the city. Mr.. Fry is Vir-
ginian, and through long life has been
distinguished for probity and high char
acter. He is a millionaire easily, and
has large, though quiet, influence. 1t is
noteworthy fact that the youngest bank
President in the city is SOutherner,
Mr.. James Woodward, of the Hanover
National Bank, young Marylander,
filling this bill. He is also director in
the Louisville and Nashville Road, and
has universal respect and confidence.
RAILROAD MAN.
Mr.. r. T. Wilson is perhaps the rich
est Southern railroad man in New York.
He is a Georgian, who was born and
reared In the 'cracker" country and has
all the shrewdness that is ascribed to
that people, to which is added unusual
sagacity, broad liberal views and an iron
will. He is now in absolute control of