Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-22
THE MAN OF THE DAY.
Practical Business Methods of the
Father of His Country.
AN EXAMPLE WORTH INITIATING.
Fancy Prices Realized at an Auction Sale Of
European Ceramics.
MINERS IN TIE INSURANCE BUSINESS

This is the natal day of George Washing
ton, the most illustrious name in American
history. His career as soldier and states
man is we'll known. But he was also man
of business. In his boyhood he acquired
distinction as a wood-chopper. His ad-
venture with the cherry tree is familiar to
all. He then became surveyor, and de-
fined the boundaries of many plantations in
| Virginia, which exist to this day. He man
aged his Mt Vernon estate with such ad-
mirable skill and judgment as to make it
the source of large income. He invented
plow and a horseshoe, which were popular
in theirday. b was also an architect of no
mean ability, and drew up the plans for the
original Pohick church, where he worshiped.
As general of the army he kept an accurate
account of all his public and personal expendi-
lures, and caused Mrs. Washington to do the
same. These interesting documents may be
seen in the archives in Washington. He owned
many slaves, but treated them well. He was
methodical in everything. Small things re-
ceiVed as much attention from him as large
ones 1t is said by one historian that the cold
Of which he died was contracted by his going
out bareheaded one night to see if some pump
kins had been removed to the barn as he had
directed. By close attention to business and
careful investments he became the wealthiest
American of his day.
He set good example in all the relations Of
life, which cannot be too closely initiated His
optimism never faltered. In the darkest days
of the revolution, he was serene and hopeful
When he bought land on the Ohio river, he re-
marked: sit will be the center of an empire"
He looked ahead in the adaptation of means
to ends. Financiers and others would gain
much valuable information by carefully study
ing the business methods of this great man.
A suit of more than common interest to the
window glass trade has just been decided in
New York-that of the Government against
Philip Semler, an importer of window glass,
and was to recover duty on certain importa-
tlons. The charge against him was that he en-
tered polished plate glass as rough, and so
evaded the difference in the duty. His defense
was that the plate was rough, and not polished,
and in this line of defense he was successful.
1t transpired that the plate glass In question
was not polished in the sense of being finished,
and on this point he won his case. The glass
had received all the usual preparation, except
ing the final finish, and hence it was held by
the Court to be rough. The Government will
appeal the case.
The miners in the employ of the Bell, Lewis
Yates Coal Mining Company, at Reynolds
vile, Pa, have hit upon plan which they hope
will do away with collecting subscriptions for
their fellow-workmen who are sick or hurt. It
is proposed that the price paid for ton of coal
be taken from each miner every month and put
into a general fund, and when they need aid
that they be assisted by this money, making it
a sort of accident insurance Those who will
not consent to having a deduction made for
uAis purpose. of course, will receive no benefits.
At the auction sale of European ceramics
enamels, porcelains and glassware of the late s.
l. M. Barlow, New York, 2S4 lots brought
= total of S6,679. The highest price paid was
500 for a pair of superb Sevres vases in blue
and gold, with brass handles and top and myth
illogical paintings on the front panels. Twenty
Sevres plates. with blue and gold borders and la
design of birds in the center, with floral
wreaths, brought $3.50. A pair of beautiful
Russian vases in rose and heavy gold, with
double gilt handles and panels representing
scenes during the sixteenth century: sold for
$500. A dinner service of 24l pieces went for
Sl75. Some of the other more important pieces
were disposed of as follows: Castelli plate, an
ointing scene, 1890 $50 so; Dresden plates, pas
plates exquisitely decorated, SlS2; Capo di
Monti tankard, bacchanalian figures. Sl40;
Wedgwood covered vase, medallions in light
blue. SIS; pair of French vases, scenes from life
of Mary Queen of Scots, $40; pair of small
plaques 'Leda and the Swan" 500; old Imari
jar, with crest of the Mikado. S5Z.
A company with a capital Of S5OO,0OO has
been formed at Middletown, N. Y, for the
purpose of constructing a milk pipe line to
New York city. The proposed method of for
warding the milk is in cylindrical tin cans sur
rounded and propelled by water, and the pro-
moters of the scheme assert that the time of
transportation for distance of 100 miles will
not exceed an hour, while the profit will be
about cent gallon. A cynic thinks if this
sort of thing goes on we need not be surprised
ere long to find New York the converging
point not only of oil, natural gas and milk pipe
lines, but of whisky ducts from the blue grass
regions and beer ducts from Cincinnati st.
Louis and Milwaukee. The pipe manufactur-
ers may well be cheerful at the prospects be-
fore them.
Some additional facts about the big chem
ical plant at Butler were obtained yesterday.
1t was organized last fall and chartered more
recently. Charter members are: ]. P. Brit
baln, JI'f Iooepn Oi0ulu' IL " h0AhOmon' a.
P. Kirkland, James Britain, Joseph Pointer
and James w. Drape Among the present
stockholders are the gentlemen referred to, the
heaviest holders being Charles Lockhart, ]. P.
Britain, James w. Drape and an Eastern cap
italist. The board of directors is constituted
as follows: James w. Drape, President; ]. P.
Britain, Vice President and General Manager;
H. c. Heineman, Treasurer; James Britain,
Secretary; Joseph Painter and Joseph Bredin.
DR.. Williams is the chemist The capi tai
stock of the company is 100000, and the stock
is all taken-S,0OO shares of $50 each.