Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1885-09-17

sereniy-FTre Million.

\ Saratoga correspondent of the New
York World thus alludes to West Virginia,
and one of lis prominent men:
Ex-senator Henry G. Davis, of West Vir-
ginia, has been here for several days. lie,
ex-senator Stockton. ex Senator Stevenson
and Senator salisbury made up group
nearly every afternoon for the purpose of
talking over old times Mr.. Davis is the
richest man Of them ALL He retired from
the Senate for the sole purpose of giving
his Undivided attention to the enormous
properties under his control in the State Of
West Virginia. Mr.. Davis has the appear
ance of a man about fifty years of age. lie
is tall and not very stout He has the spare
look of the men of action who live long
lives. His face is very fresh colored. His
forehead is high and surmounted by iron
gray hair which is brushed straight back
from his forehead without parting. His
nose is very large and stands out in the cen
very suggestive of alertncss and suspicion.
His eyes are a cold blue; his upper lip is
shaven, leaving his large mouth unconceal-
ed; the lower part of his face terminates in
short, brownish gray beard. Mr.. Davis,
if he lives for twenty years, will probably
be the rival of Vanderbilt aud Gould in
point of wealth There is no capitalist to-
day who has the control OF property with
greater possibilities than has Mr.. Davis.
He has gone all through West Virginia and
has gained control of great tracts of land
there for merely nominal sum. West
Virginia for long time was undeveloped
by railroads of individual enterprise. 1t
contains within its area some of the most
valuable coal and iron in the country. Its
timber lands are also of great value. I'M
developed by railroad enterprise these val
liable lands have been regarded as so much
waste. Mr.. Davis obtained control of the
majority of these lands upon the payment
of very little cash down.
After obtaining control of these lands he
organized a Senatorial syndicate for the
purpose of advertising his property upon
the speculative market Mr.. Bayard, Mr.
Blaine and one or two other Senatorial
| friends of Mr.. Davis in the summer of 1880
met at the White Sulphur Springs and,
with Mr.. Davis took a horseback ride
through West Virginia. This ride Was
made ostensbly for the purpose of recrea-
ton. The result OF the journey was the or
ganzation and building of a railroad
through the State, which has since deyel-
oped the lands to a very great value. Ii IL
hardly probable that the Senators who went
into this enterprise were called upon To pay
out any more mOLey than the original pro-
ector. know of one Senator who il very
rich who was offered 100000 in the stock
of his company if he would simply permit
his name TO be used as a director in the en-
terprise II refused. He was already rich
enough, and had made il the rule Of his life
never to 20 into speculative stock enter
prises. The names of the distinguished
people who were incorporated as stockhold-
ers in this West Virginia enterprise were
not used for the purpose of foisting the
stock Of a worthless company upon the pub
lie. These names were used merely TO adj
yertise and call attention TO what has since
proved to be one of the most profitable Of
ventures. Mr.. Davis himself retains to-day
a controlling interest. Democrats and Re-
publcans, such as Bayard and Blaine, FL.
kins and Davis, are closely allied in this
affair and doubtless in the division Of their
very legitimate profits they forget for the
time political differences. II il estimated
that Mr. Davis's share in these West Vir-
ginia properties is to-day worth from sJO,-
600 600 to $4,000, 900, and that the next ten
years will see this property doubled in value.
Mr. Davis is very simple and regular in
his habits. His figure is quite spare. He
rose to his position in life from that Of n
mere brakeman on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad. He has plotted and planned for
success with great discreetness. People with
very large waist bands should take home
the fact that the longest lived and the most
successful men Of the day are the lean men
Of the earth. / think this fact is beginning
20 be understood. / have met number Of
stout men this summer, and ! find that
nearly all Of them are trying ieebly and 9TH
erwise to follow some plan Of diet which
will reduce them to leanness and something
like their old energy Of action.
The more you fill barrel, the more it