Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-09-15
HOW MONEY GROWS,
What May BE Done with n Small Suxn
When Safely Invested.


When Safely Invested.
Among q lot of old rubbish has been
found a warrant or order upon the
United States treasury for the pay
ment to John Yesterday of ST., 745. 80,
dated February II, 1898, with interest
at six per cent" There is no doubt
about its genuiness, and none of the
authority of the drawer, who was at
that time Register. The Government
acknowledges the obligation. The
only question is as to the parties en-
titled to the payment The small
amount of the warrant is increased by
more than ninety-three years interest,
and is thereby swelled to the hand
some sum of 81, 4S802. If this inter
est were compounded it would reach
nearly one million. Every ten years
at that rate the principal would have
doubled, so that the comparatively in
significant sum of $1,745. 80 would
have been in February IA, 1883, the
magnificent fortune of 1898, 900. 80.
This exhibits what may be done with
small sum in ninety years of invest
ment and reinvestment at the legal
rate of interest. In another ninety
years Of compromising the 81, 1886
would be nearly $458, 100000 The
house of William Penn that stands in
the Park was built longer ago than
twice ninety years, and the money
that it cost to build in 1854, if SO
treated, would now be a thousand mill
ions of dollars.
These facts, brought home to us by
the neglect of Yesterday in not draw
ing his warrant on the morrow, teach
the moral of small savings and careful
investment. Commencing early in life,
putting away something every year,
and investing and reinvesting the in
come, will make almost any man
rich who lives the ordinary span
of existence. Five hundred dollars in
seventy years will compound into &c.,
900. This is the secret of large fort
unes left by humble men to the sur.
prise of their friends and relations.
Careful investments at ordinary rates
of interest roll up, at first slowly,
but in later years in immense proper
tons. The desire to grow rich fast
leads men to despise the safer methods,
and disaster sweeps away on the in
slant accumulations that the slower
but surer rules of arithmetical pro-
gression would have made fortunes.
There never was time when eau
tion was more important than the
present in such matters. Money is so
abundant. and the rates of interest
consequently SO low upon securities
beyond question that the temptation to
embark in perilous enterprises is very
great. There is now rage for new
corporations, and several are starting
every day. The Legislature has pro-
vided easy facilities for such undertake
ings, and the public have developed SO
much fondness for these investments
that the supply hardly keeps up with
the demand. These corporate bodies
are being formed to do every thing un-
der the sun, and their stock is eagerly
sought after on the belief that the divi-
idends will give handsome return.
We have had all sorts of financial
craZes, and desire to utter word of
warning about the corporation craze
which now prevails. Go slow is our
advice, scrutinize carefully and invest
surely. The way to get rich is to be
prudent and saving. All other ways
are full of pitfalls. Those who come
out in safety are the exceptions who
but prove the rule. There is no royal
road to riches any more than to learn
ing. Ver6una sap. PHILADELPHIA CalL