The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-03-15

the pain OF his wounds
At the end of the three years he found himself
again in Richmond, and Immediately cast
about for some means of employment, being
ambitious to give himself as thorough an educa-
tion as possible. Finding the effects of war to
have greatly demoralized the commercial inter
ests of that city for the time being but deter
mined to leave no stone unturned whereby he
might accomplish his praiseworthy purpose,
Mr.. Slater betook himself to the market, where
he became engaged In the business commonly
known as huckstering, afterward extending his
occupation 30 as to include truck farming in a
small way Working steadily by day, his time
was devoted by night to the pursuit of his stud
les, and, being naturally apt and studous, he
made rapid progress. At the completion Of a
year he had, by practicing rigid economy and
frugality saved enough to give himself the ad-
vantage of one years. tuition in the Richmond
College, thus securing a very fair education.
at the close of his college year he removed to
Charlestown where, after few months, he be-
came associated with the business enterprises
OF that city by establishing an installment furni-
ture store-this being the pioneer installment
house of the South. AS he was endowed with
rare commercial talents, his business speedily
assumed most prosperous condition, and he
continued In the enjoyment of his success until
the fall of 1871, in which year the yellow fever
spread death and devastation throughout that
portion of the country. The population ranidly
diminished day by day by plague and flight.
Mr.. Slater found 1t advisable to seek new
field for his business, and therefore repaired to
the city of Columbus, Ga where he was
shortly afterward settled in tne same enterprise
When the yellow fever had in some measure
ceased to rage and the inhabitants of the beau
N 1p tyy nnno orr
Mr.. Slater also returned to wind up his busi-
ness and start for Washington determined to
be equally as successful there as he had been in
Charlestown.
He still clung to his former business, and was
SO engaged when the financial crisis that broke
over the country in 1873 swept away so many
firms forced him to assign. From that time on
he was engaged in variety of enterprises and
speculations until the year 1888. Mr.. Slater
now embarked in the real estate business with
keen foresight, realizing the upward tendency
this market was then about to take. Nor did his
judgment prove deceptive, for great real estate
boom did arise and prices began to ascend rap
idly
During this period of his career he transacted
some of the largest real estate deals ever made
in this city. His business grew rapidly and
was of steady and healthful growth so that at
the end of 1888 he found himself wealthy
broker and reckoned as one of our most nfuen-
tial and respected citizens.
His energy, ever untiring and constantly on
the lookout for new enterprises, induced him
to again engage in the installment business, and
in that year Qsss) Mr.. Slater once more
opened an establishment of this description on
| Pennsylvania avenue east. But as his nu-
merous enterprises grew in strength and variety
Mr. Slater's capacity seemed to as readily in
crease, and In September of the year 1889 he
| brought together number of other capitalists,
! representing to them the needs in East Wash
ington of bank, and finally organized and es-
| tablished the National Capital Bank with an
authorized capital of 100000, of which we'll
known and fourishing institution he is di-
rector. This bank is one of the most successful
of the national bank system.
| To most men of even extraordinary business
ability and capacity these enterprises would
| have been deemed sufficient to satiate the ap-
petite of almost any ambitious fnancier. Not
30, however, with Mr.. Slater. 1.-The more the
merrier," is apparently his motto, and he cast
his keen and far-seeing eye about him for other
| enterprises which should develop profit for the
proprietors and improvement and good to the
| community Recognizing the feasibility OF and
| the benefits that would accrue from the estab-
fishing of good fire insurance company in that
section of the city, which has been the scene of
| the bulk OF Mr. Slater's enterprises eastern
| portion of the Capitalize set about completing
| his arrangements for this object, aud
| shortly afterward the Peoples Fire In
| surance Company was materialized and com
| fortably housed in easily accessible quar-
! ters on Pennsylvania avenue southeast. In
this as in the other enterprises his business
sense proved true and infalible, and this com
| pany, of which he is president, is now In a
| highly fourishing state, with capital of
| 100000, fully paid and worcestershire The
success Of this concern is equal to that of any
| other similar establishment ever organized in
| the District.
In August, 1890, Mr.. Slater decided
to retire permanently from the INSTALL
ment business, and accordingly disposed of it
to his employees, thus allowing him more time
and freedom to carry out the various enter
prises then actively engaged in or contemplated.
In September, 1890, an idea which he had long
I entertained formulated in project to establish
| the present Capital Trust Company. To do
this necessitated an enormous capital But not
deferred by this magnitude Of the undertaking,
| Mr.. Slater assembled body of our wealthest
and most enterprising citizens and submitted
the matter to them. They readily grasping the
practibility of the proposed Trust Company
heartily indorsed the proposition and pledged
1 m hafr OH n