Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-07-28
Yflistellaneuns &eading,
THE CLYDE SYNDICATE.
III. w. G. In the Atlanta Constitution.

THE CLYDE SYNDICATE.
LII. w. C. In the Atlanta constitutional
There is probably no influence SO vaguel.
understood, and yet so important to US, a
that comprised in the terms, "the Clyde Syn
dicate.'
The name of Clyde suggests steamship
just as that of Pullman brings up sleeping
cars. And when company Of men operating
under this name, swarmed along the Allan
tic coast and linked the separate roads int
a comprehensive system, our people swor'
by the flavor of the a.breeze, and dreamed
of maritime power that had come to con
quer the land after it had wbitened the seas
AS to who the Clydes were-as to whether
they were singular or plural-whether they
really headed the company, or whether tht
syndicate worked in the shadow of a grea
name-very few people knew, and fewel
more seemed to care. When the people
dream of argosies what do they care for per
sonalities
And yet, the men who compose this syndi
cate have taken so firm a hold upon the
South, have become such important factor:
in her growth, and will have SC. much to dc
with her future, that am tempted to give
to our readers what | know of them and
their affairs Their interest in Georgia may
be epitomized in the statement that they OWL
the Air Line Road, control the Northeastern
are pledged to pierce the mountains through
Rabun Gap, and have joined with Gen. Cor
don's association to give Atlanta line to the
coal fields and to the'Mississippi.
The first member of the Syndicate that
merits attention is the man whose name ii
bears-W. P. Clyde. The elder Clyde is still
living, but has virtually retired from bust:
ness, and William P. CT yde is now the head
of the line. He is man of about 43 years
of age, though he hardly looks so much. A
Marylander by birth, his life has been spent
on the sea- His father was steamship man,
and educated William to succeed him in his
business. At the age of 13 he was sent to
sea and made an accomplished sailor. He
knows ship as a jockey knows horse, and
is skillful navigator He could take ship
to-day and carry her into any waters on the
globe For years he has carried the main
responsibilities of the great Clyde steamship
company. Some idea of what this means
may be had from the statement that at one
time eghty.two ships sailed under the Clyde
colors, touching nearly every shore on earth
At present over forty steamships are run by
the company, supplying some of the most i'm
portant commercial routes.
There are few handsomer men than Mr..
Clyde-erect, graceful, with whiskers just
tinged with gray, frank and winning face,
he is comely and convincing. Back Of these
ADVANTAGES he has that direct, forcible and
polished manner notable among the men of
affairs in New York. He may be found any
day between the hours of 10 and 4 at his
office on lower Broadway, affable and quick,
no more unapproachable than if he were the
humblest merchant in the city. During the
summer he lives upon his yacht, and this |
mean in its literal sense. His family, wife
and five pretty children, are at some seaside
resort, but he has his yacht anchored off the
Broadway wharf about fifty yards from shore:
This yacht cost, it is said, over $4,000, and
is model Of luxury and beauty. 1t is run
by steam and makes fifteen miles an hour.
Fitted up with every convenience that can be
desired-its larder stored with the best OF the
markets, and its closets with the rarest
wines-manned by an expert crew, it is Ger.
tainly a model summer home At every
afternoon he summons half dozen friends
though the yacht can easily accommodate
twelve-and going to the wharf signals his
crew. A yawl is at once sent to shore aud
the party is soon on board. The yacht is
then started for a sail in the picturesque
waters about New York, loa6ng towards Co.
ney Island or to Long Branch, while the
company adjust themselves to catch the
breezes and admire the scenery or leisurely
discuss dinner that cannot be surpassed at
Delmonico's A night on this yacht in mid.
summer is luxury beyond any power of
description. Mr.. Clyde has famous rifle
with which he can bring down seagulls on
the wing His yacht is perfectly seaworthy,
and he has made the trip with her to Cuba
and frequently to Norfolk. He is devoted to
her and maintains her at cost of more than
81 900 month.
The holder of the largest block in the
Clyde syndicate is comparatively young
man-George W. Perkins, president of the
Mercantile National Bank of New York.
Mr.. Perkins comes of family remarkable
for its steadiness and financial ability. I am
not sure about it, but think they are New
Englanders-Perkins certainly being ira
ditional New England name. The family is
now represented in the business life of New
York by three brothers, g. w., E. w. and
H. w. Perkins. The last named is bache-
lor and the head of an important brokerage
house. He was general in the Federal
army, and is the eldest of the three brothers.
The next one, E. W., is president of the I'm
porter's and Traders Bank, one of the larg-
est, if not the largest, banking institutions
in America. Its career has been one of
almost incredible success. The third brother
is, as l have stated, president of the Mercan-
tile National Bank, itself one of the big in
stitutions of New York. The three brothers
are very clannish, believe very strongly in
each other, and work hand in glove in most
of their enterprises. They live at the Wind.
sor Hotel, which is the headquarters in New
York of the heaviest financial men, and a
place second only to the Stock Exchange, if
even to that, in fixing prices and shaping the
financial and railroad policy of the country.
George w. Perkins is about thirty eight
years of age. He is thin man, with cheeks
bit sunken, bright blue eyes, sandy whis-
kers, and decisive though deliberate man.
ner. In connection with his brothers and
the friends who pin their faith to Perkins
judgment they have practically unlimited
capital for any enterprise in which they may
engage. Under these circumstances-be being
in perfect health, ambitious, successful and
far seeing, young and vigorous-he will be a
very important factor in the progress of this
country for the next ten years.
1t is fortunate thing that Mr.. Perkins
has become impressed with the idea that the
South is the best field for investment and en-