The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-22
MADE $4,000 ON $50 IN 90 DAYS.

MADE $4,000 ON $50 IN 90 DAYS
A Story ofPeanuts, Popcorn and Pros
perlty In Gold Mining Camp.
From the New York Sun
CRIPPLE CREEK, Col, June l3-Thi, / s
story Of peanuts, popcorn and prosperity.
On April last M. W. Smith reached this
camp with S35. Mr.. Smith was not here for
his health. Some of the Binghamton read
ers OF the Sun will remember Mr.. Smith as
the lad who used 80 run on the Erie road as a
water boy and purveyor of such stuff as
newsboys commonly carry to infict on idle
passengers, and they will not be surprised
to learn that in a somewhat similar line he
has achieved success In the new gold camp of
COLORADO, for in his day on the Erie there
was not boy there with a smoother
tongue or more persuasive manner than he.
However, although be prospered as
newsboy and developed a talent as sales
man that promised great future prosperity,
his mother thought be ought to learn a
trade. Moreover, she was afraid the evil
communications Of the railroad life would
corrupt the good manners learned at home
so the lad went to the moldiug trade and
became proficient.
After while he drifted west and worked
in Denver and later in Pueblo. Meantime
he had married and got family Of four
youngsters. and what with the care of his
mother aud his family Mr.. Smith had TO
rustic in the sand 800 days In the year to
make both ends meet. After a little more
than twenty years OF this rustling, bis
thoughts began to go back to the old DAYS
when he ran on the Erie and Jim Fisk was
cock Of the walk-and they went back with
unwonted frequency. He was wearing out
under the hard labor and was just aching to
ask somebody to buy something.
One day last spring as ne was walking
along the street wondering what be could
do to get into some mercantile business
without much capital. his eye fell on a ped
dler OF magnitying glasses. This gave
him an idea. Pueblo is q good deal of a
mining town, and Smith had learned that
all sorts of mining people must have mag
nitying glasses for the examination of ores.
He concluded that with stock Of glasses
he could make tour Of the mining camps
or Colorado, pick up profitable trade, see
the camps, get new ideas, aud perhaps
strike 1t rich in some unexpected way.
so he went to various jewelers. in the
city to learn where he could buy magnify
ing glasses at reasonable Wholesale rates,
but, curiously enough, no one would help
him save one, and this one offered TO let
him have some at a small discount from
retail prices 1t was a hard chance, but
long he could not help making a venture,
and determined to accept the offer. But
before he took any stock he thought he
would 20 up to Cripple Creek and see how
business was done, and thus it was that he
reached the camp one evening with 1913
cash In his pocket.
First of all, he got a square meal at a
35-cent restaurant, and then walked up the
main business street to see the sights, He
had not gone far before he felt the hank
ering for something that comes to men
accustomed 20 work, but idle through force
Of circumstances. Thereat he concluded
that fresh roasted peanuts-say a nlckel's
worth-would about touch the spot, aud be-
gan looking about for the Italian fruit stand
to which he bad been accustomed in the
cities he had lived In.
when l couldn't find even an Italian, let
alone peanuts stand" he says, 81 took
tumble to myself. I rustled about and found
a grocer who had an old shack OF peanut
rooster that he hadn't had the courage to
try and got it of him. Then l got bag of
peanuts. Whew roasting peanuts do smell
good when a fellows loafng around with
his hands ia his pockets, don't theyl You
bet | was pertaining the air next morning
bright and early and next night late Made
wages the first day and the next and right
along. And then l remem bered how good
fresh popcorn with a little salt on it tasted,
aud that old peanut rooster wasn't too bad
as a corn pepper, though I've got new ma
chine since. OF course l added some candies
and fruit, and business has been good, rain
or snow or shine"
Smiths persuasive ways, gained as a train
boy on the Erie, had come back to hirn sure
enough. He had not only gained trade but
friends. Among his customers were many
brokers in AID owners Of mines. They liked
his peanuts and popcorn and learned to like
the man. They gave him pointers on pros
poet holes and mining stocks, and Smith
acted on the pointers. He bought and sold
with such luck that at this writing he holds
5000 shares in various mines that
at such a sacrifice as a forced sale
would demand are worth over $1,000.
But Smith is not selling at forced sale.
With every sale he makes he puts by part of
the profits in cash and has accumulated
bank account OF several hundred dollars.
More than that. he has opaned q small, we'll
stocked variety store which he runs as well
as the peanut stand. Then he put 800
worth Of grub against one mans labor for a
quarter interest in one prospect hole and
$3.50 against q fifth in another. Both are
looking well and Smith will have no diff
Guilty in getting aid to dev elop them. More-
over, he will know how to get out from I'M
der should there be any Danger of drop.
Recently still another source OF prosperity
has developed. Noticing that he was
good salesman several brokers have come
10 him for help In real estate and kindred
transactions A deal of this kind has Just
brought 5000 as a cold cash commission.
IF that business goes on improving. the
peanut stand'll be for SALE won't it," said l.
80, Pm not proud" he replied. Pea
nuts and popcorn are very comforting
very. They comfort the buyer, and the
profits comfort me-"
Lest some reader should think he could
clean up So coo on a capital of 1873 within
sixty days ny coming here, it should be
said that this ease is exceptional Smith
found a vacant spot and filled it, There is
one chance in 100 that a man with so small
a capital as his would succeed at something
would develop some specially and knack
for attending to it. There are ninety nine
chances that the one with but S33 capital
would go broke in less than thirty-three
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