The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-28
MAN OF AFFAIRS.
G. ii. Phillips Talks on
Business Matters.
He Has Given Employment to Thou
sands of Men and Homes to
Many Families.

a reporter had long chat with c. ii.
| Phillips few days ago. He is the Ma
! pOleOn of real estate owners and agents of
this State and has carved his way through
the Alps of difficulty to the Italy of COM
plete success. He has made himself one
| of the most emarkable men of the North
west. He is now. in the public mind, as
ISOLATED with capitalists, still the masses
and the laboring element look upon him
| as their friend. The humblest citizen
never feels out of place when in his pres.
! ence.
Notwithstanding the tendencies of hui
man nature toward uniformity, enough
can be found in the career of every man
! to set him apart from all the rest of his
kind and show only superficial resem-
blance in characteristics. This difference
| is inherent, and its detection is valuable
whenever the person amounts to any,
thing. OF course circumstances may have
! developed qualities In one when the alb
sence Of the proper forces have caused
similar qualities to lie dormant In another
| The tombstone or character is action. AS
q rule, the lives OF men who have been
the most active command the widest atten-
! ton.
! The writer has had some chance to study
| Mr.. Phillids' habits ana methods. When
/ this call was made at his Office at San Jose
part of the day was spent watching him
work and noting the stream of callers
which flowed almost constantly in and out
| of the room. He is, in fact, one of the
most accessible of men. He receives all
who may have any business with him. He
never gets worried, and never loses his
head or grip.
Mr.. Phillips is a genius In business
| affairs. A comparatively poor man until
4,
| IN this State has been one substantial
determination to meet or make OppOr-
tunitv. When it had been OWNED he
! seized IL with mastering hand. This is
the way he became financial power. He
has the rare capacity to conceive and carry
out extensive opera tons and to conduct
many at once. de has given employment
to hundreds of men and homes to hundreds
! of families.
One may sheer at those who would esti-
mate the motives and character of men
by the standard of the usefulness of their
labors to their fellow-men. but this is the
! criterion, after all, by which mblton is
recognized as generous and laudabe or
marrow and mean. The individual cannot
| achieve great results in useful abOr with
out adding more, in the aggregate, TO the
general happiness and prosperity than to
| his own.
Mr.. Phillips, starting out with correct
ideas OF life inherited from sterling an
cestry and nourished into enduring form
| by early home teaching. developed also in
his friction among men those qualities
which fit men to be builders in whatever
sphere their lives may be cast. AS he
! cleared the way before him ii could be
seen that he was a man who took broad
view of his surroundings, and that he
| would channel out his course accordingly.
lie revealed comprehension that would
not be satisfied to deal with enterprises
requiring less than all his strength. while
| his discretion would not allow him TO
transcend this limit. General and quick
! in outlining his plans. he has been as close
! in weig thing all the material clrcums stances,
| while In execution his mastery of details
has been marvelously complete. His in
! dustry and application to business have
| never been eXcelled, while at the same
| time he has kept his work so well n hand
| az never to become a slave to it. Cautious
about taking the first step, he has never
been known to halt for lack OF faith in his
deliberate judgment. As enthusiastic as
| tenacious OF purpose, as marked in his
power Of endurance as in his resolute pa
thence, there Is no wonder that he has sue
| ceeded as lie has.
The daily life and views of a man like
| this ought 20 be Interesting. After wait
| ing some time the interview was secured,
and the following is the substance of the
| talk
With regard to the Midwinter Interna-
| tiOnal Exposition Mr.. Phillips said: 1T
| does not require the spirit of an enthusiast
! TO see tina. it Is destined to inspire our
people with new hopes and new courage
for greater undertakings to achieve greater
| results than ever before. Ii has already
| enlveDed San Francisco and the State
yes, the third of the territory of the United
! States-wIth its industries Frustrated in
| common with those OF the whole country.
1t IS an inspiration that will drive even
III nfs ~,
| Advancement Is vital TO the growth of a
city. There can be no standing still. A
city that does not go forward must 60
| backward. The effect of the Midwinte ter
Fair enforcps the fact that intelligent
individual effort, seconded by wisdom
and prudence on the part of the people,
far outweigh the much-vaunted natural
advantages. No Safe builds itself.
1t is created by the enterprise and
self sacrifice of the citizens. Though the
fair frees us of possibility of retrogres-
| sion, though we have made great advance
ments upon which we will be congratu-
| lated, though we have neat and progress
i've cities and enterprising fruit. vegetable
and stock raisers, contact with the visitors
to this international exposition will edu-
cate us TO some real needs and wants.
| predict that the growth of California for
the next few years will be a great surprise
| even to those who are part and parcel of
that progress. We cannot overlook that
which is going on all around US, the evil
drnces of growth and development are so
pronounced; we cannot fail to note what
is being accomplished. because it is pre-
| sented IN panoramic view. The history of
this State for the next few years is going
to be a valuable less n in evolution"
| When asked for brief resume of his
real-estate operations of late he said: "In
! 1886 l organized the West Coast Land
| Company of San Luis ObIspo. There are
| only five tockholders-United States
Senator Perkins and John f.. Howard, of
| San Francisco, and r. E. Jack, Nathan
Goldtree and myself. of San Luis Obispo.
| Our operations have covered the purchase.
subdivision and sale of 10000 acres of
land. OF course / consummated many big
| deals before all this took place About a
| year ago bought $4,000 acres of Santa
| Clara County land. For fifty years prior
| it had been in the possession of Daniel
| Murphy. pioneer known all over
this coast. This land lies in the
| heart of the prune-producing district,
though it is alike adapted to the
| production of peaches. apricots and other
| fruits. | have sold off S400. 900 worth of
this property. but still have 1000 acres of
valley land and about 5000 acres of rolling
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