The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-12-19
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
vanderbilt's Fortune and Some Observa
tions Thereon-Auother Valuable Git.
izen Dead-The Holidays-Ditchs
New Cafe, ETC., ETC., Etc.

-, BALTIMORE, December 10Th, 1885.
Messrs. Editors The great wealth and other
characteristics of the late VIM. II. Vanderbilt, who
died suddenly last week of apoplexy, without
moments warning, have made him the subject of
numerous comments by the press, ministers OF the
gospel moraists, fnanciers and others, whilst
thousands of less note in his ine but possessed of
equal merit and virtue, have departed from earth
and gone down to the quiet grave almost alone
and unnoticed. This shows what money-such as
the deceased's fortune-will do. There are some
who are born to fortune and make fortunes come
what may. They are fixed upon making it and
don't think of much else than scraping together
the almighty dollar. Their entire minds and
bodies are absorbed in it, and thus they go on
until accumulation of years finishes their career
and they pass off poor-in worldly goods-as
Others So it has been, so it will be- long as
human nature remains as it is. There are some
rather cratic and harsh in their views who tell us
that if departed spirits could take their money
with them to the other world, if in greenbacks it
might burn up, or if in gold or specie it would
melt. So after all the arrangement is best as it
is, and those left behind as residents of terra rma
become heirs and reap the advantages or accumu-
lations of those who lived before them. The truth
is, it to me, money at the present age in all
parts of the world is unequally distributed. Some
have too much and others too little. What's the
use in men like Mr.. Vanderbilt, Mr.. Gould and
comparatively few others being enabled to hoard
up nearly all the money in our country when the
great mass is poor and can scarcely get comfort
able living, though honest, hard working and de-
serving. 1t is singular problem and hard to
diagnose, but so it is likely to be until time shall
DO no more. 1t, nevertheless, appears to me that
our money is too much concentrated to outwork
it's proper use. Such immense fortunes getting
into few hands keeps it from entering into bust
ness channels Thus one half the world cannot
A. MI mt haoa hav ne
outlet for their physical labor whilst miionaires
hoard up their means-put it on interest-and
simply make it moderately accumulate and pay
for its own keeping in some bank vault or the
government treasury. If, therefore, these vast
sums were put in trade or business, enabling peo-
pie to strike the earth in various forms-all over
it-and bring real wealth therefrom through phys
ical and mental exercise-allowing all to enjoy
fair share-we would have better time of it, fewer
paupers, less poverty and better time generally.
Real restitution and hard times, to great ex
tent, come from there being too much money in the
hands of few who cannot properly use 1t, and
the majority are always kept in the background.
Money simply making money by being on moder-
ate interest does not really produce wealth The
person who cannot economically live on hun
bred thousand dollars or less scarcely deserves
anything. There are millions who would be glad
to have less and be content One of the real
causes of general hard times, scarcity of labor and
check to industry is traceable to immense fortunes
or vast piles of money being concentrated in few
hands. Let me say, therefore, think OF the widows
mte which properly used was in its place OF more
value than millions otherwise spent.
Baltimore city and county have lost most
valuable citizen in the demise, last week, OF Mr..
VIM. E. Hooper, owner of the Mt. Washington and
several of the Woodberry cotton mills. L knew
him we'll and am prepared to speak most favorably
of his many virtues. He is now at rest and but
,taI mr.
uprightness were his leading characteristics.
There are some who predict we are to have
rather dull holiday times because money is scarce
and business dull and people not buying SO freely
as thcy did in past years. L may say, however,
that the young ones will yet have all they want.
Matters in this respect will all come rght-side up
in few days, and thence to the great day of days
there will be found, as hitherto, enough and to
spare. People cannot forget Christmas, come
what may.
am very glad to learn that those in manage
ment of the horse railway cars on the York road,
far out as Govanstown, have put on extra cars,
running at every half hour from the Belair market
from p. m. until late at night This is most
welcome news as before it was abominable in con-
sequence of the crowd of passengers with their
baskets, marketing, &c.
Messrs. J. S. Ditch & Bro. have now in full OPP
Grafton their elegant cafe, corner Charles street
and North avenue. They already dong
large business Baltimore county-or the Belt
can now boast of one of the finest establishments
of its kind in the country 1t is superbly elegant
in every respect and is really worth visit to see
Large supplies of fowl, oysters and all else In
the eating line are now coming into our markets
in preparation for the holidays. Railing, too,
goes on briskly.
The new police regulations are now in order
and work partially satisfactorily. There seems to
be no doubt that Mr. George Cotton, chairman of
the Board, will be again elected by our Legisla-
ture to the same office. He is favorite with
every one and thoroughly understands his bust
ness.
We have accounts of very rough weather the
past few days and nights on the Chesapeake bay.
Efforts are now being made towards putt ng
suitable stoves in all our city passenger cars.
The new gas company now carries gas in pipes
out as far as Waverly. They are supplying gas
to many places and persons. There is a decep-
,ion in the old Consolidated saying they deduct
ten per cent from their bills if paid promptly,
when in fact the deduction is only ten per cent.
on every one thousand feet of gas and not on the
dollar, which is only about FIVE per cent. Let us
hope electricity may take the place of all gas
concerns.
The number of drays, carriages and vehicles OF
every kind, also pedestrians, have greatly in
creased on Baltimore street, so that persons can
scarcely cross amid the multitude of city passen-
ger cars without endangering their lives or run
ming great risk. As the holidays come nearer it
will be worse. 1t is just to say that drivers OF
vehicles are inexcusaby careless and should be
fined. Sometimes persons on the sidewalks have
to wait almost quarter of an hour to get over
As soon as one vehicle gets out of the way an
other gets in it. Something should and must be
done to remedy this horrible evil and dangerous
nuisance Several have already been injured.
NEsToR.