Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-28
VALUE OF RICH MEN.
Many Ways Pointed Out in Which
They Are Beneficial to Society.
ONE MANS WORK In THE SOUTH.
How q PittSburg Merchant Was Lifted
From Poverty to Afiuence.
ABAD DAY FOR LOCAL STOCKS AND OIL

t'Poor people, as well as those in moder-
ate circumstances, frequently entertain
wrong views of the value to society of men
of great wealth." remarked Wood street
merchant yesterday. "They serve good
purpose, whether willingly or not, as 1
know from my own experience. When
quite young had to strike out for myself.
lived with my parents, who were quite
poor. The adjoining house, fine, large
building-was owned and occupied by
man supposed to be worth million. He
and his family seemed to have everything
that heart could desire-servants, horses
and carriages, fine clothes, the best eatables in
the market and everything else that money
could buy. We thought they must be very
happy. did not envy them, but their worldly
condition was so far above my own that re-
solved to aim high in all my business plans. so
as to be able to command some of the luxuries
and comforts with which the family was sur
rounded. became dissatisfied with my hum
BILE condition. Ny wits were sharpened and
my ambition aroused. 1t was spur that urged
me to attempt greater things than 1 had
thought possible for me to accomplish. at
tributed my success in business almost en-
by contact with a wealthy man.
ut is wrong" he continued, Ito denounce
men Of wealth as cormorants, blood-suckers
and enemies of society. People who hold to
this opinion are very short-sighted. 1t is i'm
possible, in the nature of things for all to be
rich, but it is far better that part should be
wealthy than that all should be poor. Where
ever the latter condition prevails, as in some
parts of the South and in several European
countries. business is at a standstill, stagna-
tion broods over everything; there are no great
public Improvements, no railroads, no big,
bustling cities-everybody is on the same dead
level, with nothing to excite to activity, no
motive to rise above the depressing environ
ment that makes 'one man as good as another
Society thus constituted is but slight remove
from barbarism. am glad there are very few
such spots in America.
ITO show what one rich man can do for
poor community, 1 will tell you circumstance
that occurred few years ago.. One of my
friends removed to Alabama and settled in a
community of poor people, who had neither
schools nor churches nor roads nor anything
else to make them comfortable and happy.
Their fields were overrun with weeds and their
houses dilapidated. Idleness was the rule,
work the exception He boughta farm, stocked
it, built good house for his family and one
for a store. He also engaged in coal mining
He employed about 100 men altogether, paying
them goou wages. He encouraged them by
word and example to improve their condi-
tior. This soon began to bear fruit Houses
were repaired and painted, the fields and gar
J lar,e llala &l,, lie
BILE condition. By donating money for school
house he induced the people to build it and
send their children to school, In short time
comfortable church building was erected and
pastor engaged. In short, the influence ex-
erted by my friend worked social revolution
in the community, which is now as noted for
thrift and enterprise as it formerly was for
slothfulness and decay. This is striking in
stance of the value of riches when properly
employed.
"Pittsburg is under lasting obligations to its
wealthy citizens They are liberal and public
spirited. They never refuse to aid a good
cause. know of one man who gives away
every cent of his income from large business.
Their helping hands are extended to all
classes of people in distress Very few
of them inherited their wealth. They
accumulated it by hard work, in
which their superior business capacity was an
assurance of success These men are examples
for all of us to initiate. They are also public
benefactors. 1t was largely through their in
strumentality that our hospitals reformatories
and other charitable institutions were built.
They have founded libraries and other public
institutions. They are at the head of all the
great enterprises of the day, contributing both
time and money-and all for the benefit of the
public, without desiring or expecting peeuniary
reward. Without them Pittsburg would soon
lose her pre-eminence as business center.
Their example has lifted many a man from
poverty to afiuence, as have shown you in my
own case. Rich men, as rule, are entitled to
honor rather than contumely. They serve a
good purpose in lifting society from lower to
higher levels Of civilization"