Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-07
DISPOSAL o. guRpLus wEALTH


Carnegie, the well-known capitalist, treats
of the best fields for the distribution Of
surplus wealth in philanthropic labors.
There really is, he declares, but one right
mode of using enormous fortunes; the dis
bursement of them by their possessors in
their lifetime, so as to promote the general
good of the communities from which they
are gathered. This is assuredly broad
and comprehensive mode and in this
Judgment of Mr.. Carnegie the thinking
world will accord.
1t seems to such of US as have not wealth
that if we were 50 possessed, the satisfac-
ton from its use would be greatest in that
direction. The poor man, as rule, can
not understand the pleasure of boarding
wealth; on the contrary the dream Of every
poor man, and in which they all indulge
from time to time, is the good he could do
with an unlimited purse. There are those
so grossly selfish as to first re7el in the
fancy of the qualification OF bodily desires
and the satisfaction of the appetites and
selfish aspirations; but we take it that
even with these there enters into the
dream of wealth something of tender re-
gard for others needing help.
But to return to Mr.. Carnegie. In
pulsive and careless giving, such as is
most indiscriminate charity, meets with
his unqualified disapproval. In fact he
looks upon indiscriminate alms-giving as
the chief obstacle in the way of the true
philanthropist. We must agree with him
also that the miser who boards his wealth
is less injurious to society than he who
squanders his surplus unwisely among his
fellow men, even if it IS done under the
cover of the mantle of charity. The found
ing of a university he holds to be legiti-
mate and first mode, and the example of
Governor Stanford is cited as one to be
envied, and that viii heap honors upon
his name for ages The example Of James
Lick in providing the great observatory is
also approved by the Pennsylvania mill
ionaire, as are the endowments made by
Peter Cooper, Hopkins, Cornell, Packer
and long list of Others who have given of
their wealth to forward the cause of edu-
cation.
Second upon the list of best modes for
aiding community with gifts he places
the establishment of free libraries, but he
would have all communities accepting these
gifts bound to maintain such institutions.
The Pratt Library of Baltimore he esteems
the best ordered and most wisely bestowed
of any founded by wealth. Mr. Pratt gave
the city 100000 for the purpose but
required it to pay per cent per annum
for the maintenance and development of
the work. From that library last year no
less than 1927 volumes were distributed
The readers of the library, says Mr.. Car
nerie, are Of more value to Baltimore,
and to the country, than all the inert, lazy
and hopelessly poor in the nation. Pratt
not only gave his money, but he devoted
himself to advising its use and counseling
concerning the administration and stocking
of the library, and it is officially recog-
nized that he has done as much good by
that devotion as by his giving.
The founding of hospitals, medical col
leges, laboratories, etc, he places as the
third best mode of disposing Of surplus
wealth. vanderbilt's laboratory for Column
bia College is instanced as an example.
Osborne's Training School for Female
Nurses is given as another instance Of this
order. In the fourth rank Of benefactions
he classes the giving of public parks, and
along with it the aid given to art collec-
tions, Conservatives, art schools, museums
and public gardens. Providing halls for
towns and cities for public use he places
sftb in the order of merit, and establishing
swimming baths comes next on the roll Of
honor he makes up for rich men when
thew begin to understand that the best
distribution of wealth is by him who is
executor of his own estate. Building
churches he puts seventh and last IN his
general classification of modes.
But besides these there are, as he well
remarks multitude of other avenues
onen to the millionaire for the lettering
If conditions in his own day by the wise
nse Of surplus wealth. But while the
world will agree with Mr.. Carnegie that
+ba hest administration of wealth is that
If is owner in his lifetime, it is fact not
10 be denied, but to be lamented, that