The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-30
BEGAN ON FIVE DOLLARS
How q Sawdust Merchant Started In
Business and Got Very
Rich.
He Was In Legitimate Trade, not
the Criminal Green Goods
Line.
p~ortunity III Made Him Very
Wealthy.

Readers of the daily press. ana some who
are not readers as well, are quite familiar
with the workings OF the ~'.sawdust'' bust
ness as it is carried on in many large cities,
Those who are engaged in this particular
avocation are not prone to setting theil
lights upon a hill, but rather prefer to
transact their business in the most unob-
trusivs fashion. says the San Francisco
Chronicle. They do not seek publicity,
they regard the officers of the law with feel
inRs of the greatest dislike, and a bright
newspaper man is their greatest enemy.
But it is not this branch of the sawdust
business, lucrative rs it ia, that We propose
to deal with just at present. There is an
other feature of the same industry which
affords some points of irZsrest, and in it's
local history shows how energy and pluck
may acquire a competence from the most
humble Of beginnings.
Ten or a dozen years ago two young men.
who may as we'll be called Frank and Jim
as by any other 3ames, left the Emerald
Isle to try their fortunes in San Francisco.
They had heard that gold could be shoveled
up, as it were, in the streets, and they were
determined to get a CARLOAD or two of the
yellow metal. But, like many other de-
luded mortals, when they reached their
destination they found that mud and cob
bles we're far more plentiful than gold, and
that it required the hardest kind Of hard
work to keep a shelter over their heads and
provide three square meals a day. They
had but a little money, and this was soon
exhausted. Then came the search for en-
-11r-oo~k - >~lAu - ~r~-;ln tI.A ho eoCf
nccessaries of food and shelter. Finally
Jim obtained a position as head clerk in a
corner grocery at the Mission-sixteen
hours work a day, a place to sleep behind
the counter and the enormous stipend OF
SIS a month land found" Frank, how
ever, was unable to sscure even 80 poor a
refuge as this from the storms of adversely.
and but for his chum, who put every dollar
of his princely salar y at his unlucky COM
rade's disposal, he would assuredly, have
starved. Frank, however, was loath to
trespass upon his friends generosity, and
contented himself with borrowing just
sufficient to keep him from actual suffering.
1t was midwinter, and a cold, dreary
rainstorm was prevailing. Frank stood be-
meath an awning on a corner shivering with
clothes were little better than rags, and
altogether he WAS about as ~disoonsolate a
specimen of humanity as could be found.
As he stood there waiting for nothing and
wondering whore his next meal was to come
from, a man with whom he had formed a
vited him to take a drink, as that
was apparently the quickest means of
relieving the gloom which over
shadowsd him. At first Frank refused the
protferad hospitality. HayinRnn maans for
returning the compliment, he felt unwilling
TO trespass upon a mere acquaintanoe's gem
crosby. He finally yielded to repeated en-
treaties, and while waiting for the refresh
ment that was ordered the acquaintance,
struck by the general air of dilapidation
ance. asked him what WAS the matter. After
a moments hesitation the answer vas
blurted out: well, to tell the truth, Pm
dead broke; I haven't got a cent, I can't get
any work and l don't know which way to
turn"
The friend looked at him. "Well, that's
too bad" he said. meditatively spat, began
poking the sawdust on the floor, once or
twice on it, n suddenly looking up said:
by George, do you know what I'd do if
] was i'll your fix?" a1+
mo. I don't; What would you dor"
sawdust for q living, and l believe I'd make
it stick, too"
what do you mean?'' asked Frank.
SWELL, it's just this way. You know /
keep a place out to the Mission, and in
rainy weather like this, and all the time
for that matter, I like to nave the floor
covered with sawdust. It keeps things
neut and clean, you know. Well, whenever
| want any l have to hitch up and drive
down to the mills near the water front, and
it's a regular nuisance. Then when my
neighbors see me coming up with a load of
sawdust they all want me to sell them
eome, and they are always willing to pay
40 or 80 cents a sack for it. Now, I lust
naturally believe that a man could do a
mighty good business getting that sawdust
ut the mills and peddling IL out for a regu-
lar thing"
Frank thanked his acquaintance for his
information, and the couple parted. He
revolved the matter for an hour or two, and.
not being a man to let an opportunity slip,
he walked out to the Mission and called on
his friend Jim.
So ne sa'u' wan you TO lend me
"What do you want it for?"
We'll, I'm going into business"
"Ha, ha! Going into business on SIS
capital, are you? Well, that's pretty good.
Five dollars to GO into business! 1t must
be a big scheme you've got on hand. What
is it, anyhow? Going to start a bank?"
tits the sawdust business"
"Ihe sawdust business! Well, that bates
bannagher! What under the sun are Won
talking about?"
al "a 6aWouSuS 1 J6ll YJu,
I'm going to sell sawdust.''
dim had another opportunity to laugh |
over it, but he handed out the desired coin,
and with this Frank FASTENED to a stable
where they made q speciality of renting out
decrepit horses and dilapidatcd wagons to
just such heavy capitalists as himself. Here
he engaged an outfit for six bits n day and
then drove to n junk shop and bought a
dozen old gunnysacks. Thus equipped, he
went down to one of the planning mills and
announced his desire to obtain n Iond of
This he got for a small sum. and
loading up his sacks no STATED out, But
here a new difficulty confronted him. TIL
horse was too weak to draw the man and
the load both, SO Frank, though his bare
feet were literally on the pavement, took
the animal by the bride add set off through
the mud and slush OF San Francisco streets
IN a winter rainstorm.
1t was n propitious season, however, for
sawdust selling. The weather created a
demand for that article and in a surpris-
lnely short time the load was disposed of
and Frank had moro money in his pocket
than for many n day. He kept at work for
about Z month and was able to equip him
self with suitable clothes TO withstand the
lnclemency of the weather and the exipen-
c'es or his new occupation, ana also TO
himself with comfortable Lode
lngs and food. He was economical. vithnl.
and at the end of a month had put by $50
after paying all expenses. He had studied
the situation in the meantime and made mn
his mind that a profitable and extensiye
business might be built uD. But IN conId