The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-30

Correspondence of the Philadelphia Times.l
NEW YORK, January 27.-It has been said
that if you were TO put Georgia
cracker" and a Vermont Yankee on a
desert island and divide the land equally
between them the "ciackcro would have
the Yankee at work on rented land in less
than month. | do not know that this Is
so, as there is a wonderful SbrewdneSs un-
der the surface OF both these American
types; but il is certain that the southern
men who have drlfted north and engaged
in business have held their own with re-
markable success. A running review Of
some of the most prominent sOutberners
who have come TO the front in Gotham, with
some gossip OF their lives and fortunes,
will point a moral II il does not adorn a
tale.
think the best record made by any
southerner in New York ,ince the war is to
be credited 10 John II. Inmln, the bead of
the great cotton firm OF Inman, Swami. &
Co. He came out OF the army, with his pa
role in bis pocket, a ragged, pennless boy.
He reached New York in 1865 with less
than 500 and no property. He secured 4
place Us clerk in The cotton finn OF Ans ett
& Inman, and in two years was offered a
partnership. AT twenty-four years of age
| be had entire charge OF the business,
which was then immense, and by 1870 had
accumulated $4,000. Last year-iust ten
years aiter-he was worth nearly S20O0,000,
and had net income in 1880 OF 100000.
/ Next 10 Mr.. Inman in promise and ability,
If not in wealth, comes john &. Latham, the
head Of the wel.known house Of Latham,
! Alexander Il Co. He is young Ken
tuckiau, haiing from Hopkinsvilr, and
came TO New York with few thousands in
his pocket, gathered by years OF serycein
dry goods. In partnership with II: +.
| Alexander and X. =. Salter, both southern
ers, he started brokerage and banking
| business, paying special attention to stocks
and cotton. The young firm had about
| $50, 900 capital, but compounded success and
confidence from the start. They now pay
| SIS GOO Office rent, and their business in all
| its departmt ntS runs up To about sI0,OO0,000
year. The house has CORES spondents in
every southern city, and through its special
partner, Mr.. G. &. Miller, fine northern
and eastern connection. IL stands among
the first houses in the city, and is fine eX-
ample OF what young southern blood can do
| in the way Of building up great business.
THE RICHEST sOUTHERNER.
The richest sOutherner in New York
city, suppose without doubt, is Victor
NeWcOmb, the young nan who was made
famous through his gigantic railroad move
ments IN the South and Southwest last
year. He first inauguraied in southern
railroad circles the principle OF cODs0Iida.
ton with which Jay Gould operated so
heavily in the North and West. He took
charge Of the Louisville and Nashville
property when it was a single line Of road
and its stock was worth about thirty
cents, and he was about tbirty.fOur
years Of age. 1t is said that
he held about. $4,000 900 wolth of
the stock Of his company, which
averaged bin fiftv cents IL is said that
he, Mr. George Clark, OF CLARK, Dodge
Co., and two other persons held a control
ling interest in the road, which would have
necessitated their holding over S4.500,00O
OF stock. This did not average over 90
cents TO the purchasers. In little over
one year, by series OF exploits that were
dazzling asd brilliant, he bad consolidated
into practically one system about four thou
sand miles OF road that took IT. place among
the finest systems OF the country. The stock
ran up to 1S5, and paying about IA per cent.
on its capital. was doubled, and now ranges
at about 80. Newcomb then retired from The
presidency Oh account Of ill-health, taking,
il is said, over $4,000, 600 clear profit on his
investment, besides having added enor-
mouSly to his fortune by incidental invest !
ment in stocks. His fortune Is now put at
from six to eight millons-a very pretty |
figure for man who is just turning thirty
seven years OF age. Mr.. Newcomb has !
home in Louisville and a place at Long |
Branch, and is now looking fDr house in !
New York, which he Will make his pefma- |
nent residence. He is said to be largely in |
terpsted in the Mexican railway scheme, |
deals literally In stocks, IS bull" in his |
sentiment, and is classed among the most !
skiIful and successful operators IN the city. |
In giving Mr.. Newcomb place as the rich
est sOutherncr in New York there ale Two |
points OF dOubt-first, as to whether jim
Keene Is southerner; and second, whether
his fortune is larger than Newcomb's.
Keene went TO San Francisco from Lynch.
burg, Ns., and l am positively informed
was born there (s) Of English parents. My
informant is very positive on this point, say
Ing that Keene told bin so when he met him
in London in 1872. when Kecnc did not
have $5Go on earth. At any rate, Keene is
smart enough to belong to the southern
colony Ia New York, and, though he
dropped over S3,000,000 in wheat In his
last deal in lhst useful cereal, IL still quoted
at S10.00ey9 900.
The first old veteran OF them ell, in years
and old.fashioned reputation, Is Charles NJ.
Fry, the president OF the Baak OF New
Y ork, the e$dest bank, believe, IN the city.
Mr. Fry is u ViGginian, and through long
life has been distinguished for probity and
high character. He is a milionaife easily,
md has large, though quiet, influence. IL
S noteworthy fact that The youngest bank
president in the city is southerner-Mr.
.ames Woodward. Of the Hanover Rational
Bank, young MaryiaDder, filling this bill.
Ie is also director in the Louisville and
Nashville road, and Bas universal respect
md confidence.
RAILROAD NAN.
'lMr. X. T. Wilson is perhaps the richest
Outtsrn railroad mau iD NeW York. He Is
Georgian who was born and raised In the
crackes" country. and has oil the shrews>
ess that is ascribed TO that people, TO which :
added eausual sagacity, broad, liberal
Jews, aud an iron will. He Is now In abe
,Iute coEfro OF about 1000 m lies OF rail.
BAD in the South, aud is Vat about !;
uilding two Eore connections. He rs !, =
~ssident aud leading owner 0f the
e.ppbis and Charleston line, which
IS capital record, and the stock OF
hioh il rapidly appreciatipg. Mr.. VII b