Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-02-02
R,aine,. home at Augusta Ne.

decline request for a favor in sucn way as
to make friend by Al act which would have
made an enemy for most men. His converse
tional Powers were necessarily, from what has
been said, OF high order. His fund Of informa
ton, while not as thorough or accurate as
he no doubt would have liked. owing to his
lack Of early advantages was most extensive.
and there were few subjscts on which he could
not converse entertainingly. As man Of
business, he was remarkably successful and
his Judgment respecting Investments was al
most infallible. This capacity in this direction
gave great weight to many Of his ideas and
suggestions respecting the commercial policy
of the country.
Mr.. Bfaine's position was unique. By his
friends and admirers he was este I'D man
OF stern integrity. = statesman OF ar-seeing,
prophetic vision. an orator OF matchless elo-
Quence, q leader without fear and without re-
proach. His enemies, aud hs had many, both
political and personal, called him crafty, un-
scrupulous and corrupt In money matters,
schsming politician with no elements OF great
ness. an orator who dealt In words and phrases
only, o leader who was for himself first and
always. It is probable that he was by no means
without faults and certain that he had many
qualities of greatness; In other words that ths
truth lies somewhere between the lavish en-
coniums OF his friends and ths bitter charac-
terization of his enemies.
Mr.. Blaius died a rich man, even as wealth is
reckoned 10 these days He was worth Gloss on
to a million Of dollars. IL not more than that
amount. It is probable that il soma of his
speculative investments could be sold on.
under advantageous circumstances that his
wealth would include him in any list of mill
honaires. His holdings OF coal lands are largs,
and with thu development Of the country must
greatly increase in value if keptintact for sew
eral years. q
Mr.. Blaine BIZ reason o: his wide popularity.
was associated with number Of men of wealth
in various enterprises. and his sagacity and
business foresight kept him from wasting
much money on brilliant but illusionary
speculative projects. He was interested with
Secretary Elkins years ago in a silver mine.
out of which he made consid srable money.
At the time of his death he owned real estate
in the city OF Washington which would prob
ably sell under the hammer for more than q
quarter of a million of dollars
His holdings OF West Virginia and Pennsyl-
vania coal lands are considerable. Mr.. Blaine
was one Of the directors in the West Virginia
Central Railroad Co., in which Ex-senator Da-
Wis, Secretary Elkins. ex-Secretary Bayard and
others are interested. This road taps
coal and timber lands which Mr.. Blaine bought
years ago very cheaply and which
have become valuable through thu railroad
connections. His wealth includes bank stocks.
but the approximate value can not be stated.
A gentleman who was intimately acquainted
with Mr.. Blaine said that in his opinion Mr..
Blaine broke himself down by intemperate
work and Irregular habits OF eating. Mr.. Blaine
was high pressure worker. Whenever he be-
came deeply interested in . subject Mr.. Blaine's
ardent nature led him to work beyond his
strength. He would shut himself up in his
ROOM would not allow himself TO be disturbed.
and would not eat, sleep or rest until he had
finished his task. He seemed to have adopted
the motto which the great electrician Edison.
who works in much The Same way, gave to
youth: Don't look at the clock.