Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-01-30
we and was handed two papers with the

quiet remark: These may be of use to
yon" One of the papers was Canton
price current, the other hansomely en-
crossed parchment authorizing the ship
that bore it to trade freely and without
molestation at any of the ports monopoliz-
ed by the East India company. There
was the origin of John Jacob Astor's
splendid transactions with China which he
continued with immense profit for seven
teen years His first ship sailed for the
sea in 1900, and hissshare of the profits
amounted to $4,000 On the outward
voyage the ship touches at the Sedgwick
Island to take in water, fire, wood and
fresh provisions When the vessel arriv-
ed at Canton mandarin came ON board,
and noticing the firewood, asked the
price of it. The captain laughed at the
question, but the mandarin said he want
ed to buy it, and offered $500 ton for
it. He bought all of the ''frewood" at
that price. 1t was sandalwood. For
nearly twenty years Aston enjoyed the
monopoly of the lucrative sandalwood
trade. At last the secret was discovered
by a shrewd Boston merchant, who sent
one of his vessels to follow Mr. Aston
on its voyage to the east. From that
time the Boston house shared with Aston
the profits of the valuable trade.
John Jacob Aston was Determined to
send ship to China in spite of the en-
barge of 1919 The establishment of
ship owners of New York, whose vessels
We're lying idle in the dock, may be i'm
agined when they read in the Commercial
Advertiser of August 13, 1903, this piece
Of shipping news:
Yesterday the ship Beaver, Capt.
Galloway, sailed for China
Everybody knew that the ship Beaver
was owned by John Jacob Aston The
other merchants of the city were natur-
ally indignant when they heard that Mr..
Astor had been so highly favored. At
last it was discovered that he had 'spec-
ial permission from the president of the
United States for his ship Beaver, navi-
gated by thirty seamen, ostensibly to
carry home to Canton great Chinese
mandarin" 1t is said that Aston had
picked up Chinaman in the park,
dressed him to fit the mandarin story, Sc
cured the presidential permit, and dis
patched his ship before the story got
abroad. NAVAL merchant wrote to Pres
ident Jefferson, informing him that the
Chinese mandarin was no mandarin at all
but only common Chinese dock loafer.
The writer further suggests that, if the
government had given permit under a
misunderstanding, the error should be
corrected, and the honor of the admins
tration indicated by furnishing the Of
fender. Mr.. Astor's friends called upon
him that night and congratulated him
upon the success of his enterprise, and
they had hearty laugh over the affair.
He could well afford to laugh at the re-
suit of this brilliant coup, for the Beaver
made SO successful voyage that she re-
turned to New York the following year
with 100000 more than she carried
away.
AS the Chinese trade developed his en-
terprise increased. His vessels were sent
to Oregon to purchase furs, which were
obtained there in great abundance and at
low prices; thence they were taken to
Canton and sold at great profit, and the
money invested in teas. which were
brought back to New York, where his
was again doubled. Astor made
by these speculations four times as much
as the regular tea merchant did in the
most prosperous days of the trade. His
Office was in Vessey street, on the site of
a portion of the Aston house, and his tea
warehouse was on the east of Vessey street,
back of Greenwich and between Liberty
and Cortlandt streets. The grandest
commercial enterprise ever undertaken
by an American was Astor's attempt to
the trading post of Astoria on
the Pacific coast. 1t failed, but not
from any want of foresight on the part of
its founder, but because the war of 1872
prevented the government from sending
an armed vessel to protect the infant set
Element. .s,,,iss.s.
But for that war; Mr.. Aston used to
say, Il would have been the richest man
that ever lived Is
In 1920 John Jacob Astor was worth
$40, 100000, made in the fur trade His
tastes were plain and simple, and contin-
ued to be so all his life. His Injuries
were pipe and mug of beer, ride on
horseback, and the theater; he seldom
missed the first night of theplay.
The following anecdote is very charac-
teristic. One of Astors best captains
had made six voyages to China without
chronometer, but just before sailing I on
the seventh voyage he suggested to Mr..
Astor that it would be safer to have
one.
Get one" said the millionaire.
The captain did so, and entered its
cost on the account of current. When
Astor's eye fell upon the item he drew
his pen through it. The captain expos
tulated. .sstks'ssB 49,, -
Damn it, man." said Astor, Il told
you to get one, butt did not say would
pay far it,
The old seaman left Mr.. Astor's en-
ployment at once and went downtown,
and before night was in command of as
fine a.ship as ever floated. In three
days he set sail. At the same time
Astor's ship, under new command, also
set sail. The voyage to Hong Kong
was very close, but the captain who, as
he used to say, had discharged John