Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-08-30


than strike against starvation, could you ?
Suppose we pursue this matter of COM
parison further When did Grab, Get,
Hold & Co. go into business ? br
In 1870.
You were employed by them. in the be-
ginning, then?
/ was.
In what capacity.
As principal foreman.
Do you know how much the firm put
into the business in the beginning?
Each member advanced $4,000 in
cash and $4,000 in notes $4,000 cash
and the same in notes, secured by their
friends.
Then there was actually $4,000 in cash
put in at the beginning?
Yes.
But the plant has been greatly enlarg-
ed since then?
should say so. The firm has five i'm
mense mills, representing million in
vestment, each, beside the private fortunes
they have accumulated When the firm
started it had only five hundred employees
now it has twenty thousand.
Did they borrow money to invest in
additional plant
Oh, no; they put in their profits and,
maybe, little nerve.
And all this grew up from 100000,
half cash, in matter of less than twen.
ty years?
Yes.
And you were foreman
Certainly.
| take it that your services were worth
six per cent. on $4,000, or 81 200 a year
A little more than that sometimes. Al
other times didn't average quite SO much.
Then your skill and labor were really as
valuable as the $4,000 cash put in by either
of the partners?
think so, of course. A mans wages
should be a fair Interest on the real value Of
his services-his services should stand for
his capital.
What is Mr.. Grabs private fortune esti-
mated at to-day?
That is hard to tell. He is a great genius,
you know, and it is put at from $9O, 100000
to $5O,OOO,OO
He owns villa at Naples, does he not
So | understand
And has a splendid private yatch?
Yes.
And a castle in Scotland and another in
Wales
Yes.
And is building another castle on the crest
of the Alleghenies, which will rival any
Royal palace in the world?
He is. Quite number us went up one
day lately to look at the foundations.
What is the extent of Mr.. Gets private
fortune?
He doesn't amount to much. He ISM
worth over S5,OOOOOO.
And Mr.. Hold-what's he worth?
Well. should say about $40, 100000.
Mr.. Snatch, believe, is the Co. Of the
firm. What may he be worth?
should say from s., 900 to $1,000, 900
And they all made their fortunes out o.
their business inside oftwenty years?
OF course, for they doubled their plan
right along for years, and are the creates
firm of the kind in this or any other coun
try.
What did you have eighteen years ago
had wife and baby and a house and 10
on Southside worth a couple Of thoussnC
dollars, and a hundred or two in the Dime
Savings Bank.
And then YOU had your skill and you
muscle besides
Certainly.
And these you regarded as 800, 900 capita
on which you were entitled to a per cent
per annum in the shape Of wages?
Yes.
You have not been a spendthrift, have you
have not.
Excuse the question, but will you tell m'
how much you are possessed of now?
| have my wife, Of course, and five child
rem, and the house and lot, but there is
mortgage on the latter for nearly $500
l. that all How does that come about
Well, the firm cut our wages 10 per cent
last winter, and we went on strike, but ther
were 50 many Of US that it was hopeless
Some of Us tried to hold out, and that is tn
way came to mortgage the house for a lit
tie ready money.
But you gave up the fight at last and &C
cepted the reduction?
We had to. There was no chance for u:
Grab, Get, Hold & Co. were the employer
in your case, and you were the employees?
Certainly.
And all this time we had the highest kin
of high protection?
That is true.
Whom did this protection protect?
The workingmen. You may be sure.
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