St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-07
HOW TO GET RICH.

The stories of great wealth made at
easy it is to get rich. For the purpose
of developing its natural resources, the
state, by an act of the last legislature,
provided for the leasing of its mineral
lands for long term of years at nom
inal rentals. Quarter sections were al
lotted to applicants by the state auditor
in the order of the filing of their claims,
and anybody had right to share in the
booty. There was no favoritism, and
hardly any capital was required. The
news of the opportunity has been pub
lished over and over again in the news
papers, and has been from the beginning
matter Of public notoriety. A great
many people have taken advantage of
it, some blindly hitting in the dark, and
others after patient investigation as to
which were the most promising sites.
Recent explorations have shown that
this land abounds in ore of the most
extraordinary richness, easily mined
and eheaply prepared for the market. 1t
looks as though the northeastern
section of the state would become new
Pennsylvania, supporting a race of
GOLFERS and of CARNEGIEs, their en-
ployers. Already leases bought few
months ago for hundred dollars or so
have been sold for many thousands, and
the actual work of development has only
just begun. If it goes no further than
to pay interest On the prevailing prices,
the original pre-emptors, with the small
est risk, have made considerable fort
unes. If it shall progress, as is ex-
pected, those of them who have not
sold may in the not distant future be-
come millionaires, as this term is used
The GLOBE does not refer to these
things for the sake of encouraging
gambling, but only to suggest that the
path to wealth is not shut against the
masses. The vast majority of our eiti-
zenS have not earned cent by this
movement. and no doubt large num-
Der have lost by foolish speculation in
mining stocks. But those who are just
as poor as they were year ago have
only themselves to blame. 1t is not
the fault of society or the laws
or anything of that sort. Had they
plunged along with their more alert and
venturesome neighbors. they might have
had the prize themselves. But there
was risk that their time and dollars
would have gone for nothing, and if
they knew about the chance they pre-
ferred to keep their little rather than
put it in jeopardy for something much
greater. This course was probably a
wise one. The lives of most men prove
that a steady concentration On legitl-
mate, dividend-paying industry is, on
the whole, the most profitable thing to
be done. But large fortunes are not ac-
cumulated quickly by such tactics.
They come by bold dashes fraught with
danger, but also full OF potentialities.
ALI about US we hear people saying that
if they had had the opportunities of a
VANDERBILT or a ROCKEFELLER they
also would have great wealth. But this
is not true. There never has been
happier opening than this law has af-
forded to whoever cared to take adj
vantage of it. And yet how many have
profited by it? Their discontinue will
not be without value if it teaches the
grumbler to hold his tongue and cease
his berating of society. Today. as much
as ever, enormous fortunes are at hand
for those who have the qualities for
their accumulation. 1t is the fault Of
ones temperament and abilities il not
he but somebody else gets them.