Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-04-06
John Jacob AstOr's Start.

A business acquaintance Of Mr.. Astor
once asked him what particular transac-
tion, or peculiar kind of business, first gave
him his great start. He said, in reply, that
at one period of his life he had accumula
ted large quantity of furs, such as beaver,
which were unsaleable In the American
market, and they were packed away In
whisky barrels down in the cellar, He
had no correspondent in London TO send
them TO, and no disposition to do so If he
had. After talking the matter over with
his wife, they concluded 1t would be ad-
visable that he should take the furs to Lon
don himself, and he did 80. The prospects
OF the venture were very uncertain, and
therefore, IN order 20 economize as much
as possible, he went out as a steerage pas
senger. On arriving in London he found
a ready market for his furs, and sold them
at a very high rate. He then made a list
of such goods as he thought would sell to
advantage in the New York market, and
purchased and shipped them. After he
had transacted ali his business he was de-
tanned in London for couple of weeks III
consequence of the ship not being ready to
sail. He employed the time in looking
about London and picking up all the in
formation possible, especially such as he
thought would benefit his business In New
York. Among the places he visited was
the great East India house, and the ware
houses and offices of the Company. On
one occasion he asked one of the porters
what the name of the governor was. The
man replied, giving a German name very
familiar TO MIR. Astor, who then asked il
the governor was an Englishman, and was
told that he had come from Germany when
boy. Mr. Astor thereupon determined to
see him, and watching for an opportunity,
sent his name and was admitted. On en-
tering he asked the governor, sis not your
name Wilhelm2' "Dld you not go to
school In such a tewn9" The Governor
replied, II did; and now / remember you
very we'll" A long conversation followed,
old school days were talked over, and the
Governor insisted that MIR. Astor should
dine with him. He declined for that day,
but on the next day they met again. He
asked MIR. Astor If there was nothing he
could do for him. MIR. Astor said no; he
had bought all he wanted, and needed
neither cash nor credit. They met several
times after that, and the Governor con-
tinued urging Mr.. Astor to name some
thing he could do for him. He asked what
present would be acceptable, and Mr..
Astor declined accepting any. Their last
meeting took place two days before the
sailing of the vessel on which Mr.. AstoI
was to return to New York, and for the
last time the Governor asked MIN if he
would accept any present he made HIM.
Mr.. Astor, seeing the anxiety of the Go
vernon replied, ives" The Governor,
who was much affected at parting with hli
old German schoolmate, handed Mr.. Astol
two papers, saying: "Take these, you may
find their value" One of the documents
was simply a Canton prices current. The
other was carefully engrossed permit ol
parhcment, authorizing the ship that bore
it to trade freely and without molestatlon
at any of the ports monopollzed by tht
East India Company. Mr. Astor returned
to New York, without giving the docu
ments q second thought. He had no ships
and never had any trade with the Eas
Indies, and at that time never expected tt
have. He then, of course, little imagined
that the parchment would be the founda
ton of vast shipping operations and
trade amounting to millions of dollars ant
embracing the Pacific Ocean.
The permit was No. 6S. On arrivln,
home Mr.. Astor showed the document t
his wife, and asked her advice, as he al
ways did in all matters relating to hi
business, as to what disposition he shoult
make of them. 81 have no ships; it is n