Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-08-08
BLAINE'S FORTUNE.
How He Got Rich During the
War
A Bit of Biography.
Blaine as a Lobbyist, Claim Agent.
and Fisherman for Fat Con-

The following letter was written tc
the Springfield Republican and in
1880 from the Maine correspondent.
1t explains why James G. Blaine did
not enter the military service bat
preferred to stay at home and make a
fortune out of the miseries of his
country:
| Mr.. Blaine was not merely a poll
tician. He was a man with the keen
est possible appreciation of the power
of wealth, and few men have posses
sed a shrewder perception of how
money is to be made. 1t has often
been said here that if Mr.. Blaine had
devoted bimself wholly to business,
instead of to politics, he would have
been one OF the richest men in the
country. As it is, he is millionaire
When the war period opened with
its revolution in prices and its vast
opportunities for speculation, there
was probably no man in Maine who
more clearly perceived the avenues
to wealth then opening than Blaine.
Possessing remarkable natural
power for organization and comb
nation, great business sagacity, and
love for adventure, NJ. Blaine no.
only seized upon the opportunities
that came, but he created Opportuni-
ties. Mr., Lincoln had put Simon
Cameron at the head of the war de
partment and Mr.. Cameron had made
Thomas A. Scott his trusty assistant.
Mr.. Blaine was Pennsylvania, and
from the very first found that he
could obtain favors at the war
departments department, nobody
needs to be told, where all things
went by favors. Mr.. Blaine was
speaker in the house of representa-
tives in Maine, and as captivating
then as now. He instantly turned to
valuable account the information and
the fayors which he was able to OBJ
tain in Washington. One of his first
operations was the collection from
the war department of large sum Of
money for the Maine Central railroad
company. 1t will be remembered
that at the oetbrek of the war and
the grand uprising of tie patriotic
north, it was felt to be almost wrong
to ask compensation from the govern
ment for the services that were so
freely proffered. Men felt like giving
all they had to save it. The states
railroad companies offered to trans
port them to the capital free of charge.
But this sort of thing didn't last after
the war actually opened. The rail
road companies were glad to be paid
for all the service rendered, even
though they had given it gratu'tous-
ia the first instance. Mr.. Blaine dis
covered a claim for $20.000 for the
Maine Central, and ne offered to col
lect it. He was told that he
could have % per cent. for
the job. and he was speedily
successful. He pocketed IS, 900 and
purchased the house and grounds,
now enlarged and adorned, where he
',as since resided. A similar claim
for the Boston and Maine railroad
company was collected by him about
the same time, and if the railroad
company did not shine ia the trass-
action Mr.. Blaine was at least made
10000 richerpby it. The equipping
u the state troops required large pur-
chase of material in Boston, and Mr..
Blaine speedily feuRd that an ac
quaintance with the adjutant-gener-
ais way of doing business, and the
men with whom he did business. was
valuable. He was member of the
legislature, but he was also private
citizen, and as such he had a right to
engage in business operations that
we're profitable There was no law
in the state of Maine against mem
Der of the legislature being interested
III government contracts, and when
the war was fairly begun Mr.. Blaine
found that he could make all the
money he wanted He had the en-
tree at the war Office, the favor of
Cameron and Scott, who thought
him one of The smartest young
men they had ever met
He speedily transferred his
base of operations to Washington.
He did not need much money, for it
was not so much capital as informa-
ton and political favor that were val
liable in those days. When there was
fat co:.tract to be had at the war de
partment, Mr.. Blame was one of the
first TO have the information, and he
boldly availed himself of all that he
obtained Still he was little green
at first, and early in his speculative
career he heedlessly put in bid Cor
certain army contract in his own
eyes of Thomas A. Scott. the latter
at once. Dent you know better,
ne said, Mr.. Blaine, than 10 put in a
bid here in your own name2 l advise
you to go and withdraw that at once,
and not let your name appear" Mr.
Blaine was not slow in taking the ad
vice, and he never forgot it afterward.
lie made money at a wonderful rate.
will not attempt to give any list of
lis operations. His profits on the
contracts for Spencer rifles and other
war material are already matter of
history. The downfall of Cameron
did not hurt him, for Mr.. Blaine did
not confne his operations to the war
department. He was equally well
liked at the navy department.
There had drifted down to Augusta
from one of the interior towns of the
state fellow of fine address and
| talent for success, whose name was
Alanson B. Farweli. He had stud
led law and become a partner with
Lot III. Morrill,, afterward our United
States senator. Mr.. Farweu was
taken to Washington, and by the help
of Maine political influence early in
1861 was made chief clerk Of the bu-
reau of construction and repair it
was a place which gave him knowl-
edge of all bids, and of contracts be-
| fore they were made. He was not
| slow to turn this knowledge to profit
able account, and Blaine was his most
intimate friend Did the navy depart
ment need large quantity of materi-
al for the construction of its war yes
selsl Mr. Farwell was the first to
know the fact, and Farwell's friends
were the first to have the opportunity
| to control the market. His knowl-
/ edge was not confined to the opera
tions of his own bureau, and in hemp
and IL variety of materials he was
enabled to speculate with absolute
certainly of large profits Farwell
made plenty of money although he
| always told his friends that Blaine
claimed the lions share of the profits.
When elected to congress in the