New-York tribune., 1899-07-30
CHARLES r. FLINTS WORK.
A GREAT ORGANIZER OF VAST INDUS
TRIAL, COMBINATIONS

created is the predominathg ledture ! 'he
business world at this time, and the system owes
its existence in great measure TO Few men
who believed that they saw great advantages
in industrial organizations. Among the pio-
neers I'm the movement was Charles Il. Flint
A look at Mr.. Flint in his office, on the
lecture platform where he has explained the
rrincinles that form the basis Of industrial
conbinations at the council table, where great
husiness schemes are being discussed, or on his
Yacht where he spends much of his time in
the summer will convince any person that he Is
man Of force and accustomed to affairs OF
magnitude and importance
lie has an open. frank face which shows en-
thusiasm when he talks on his favorite topic
and when he smiles and he smiles often-he
shows a set of teeth for which any man might
envy him. and by which it may be safely IN
ferred that he is well qualified to appreciate the
good things of the table, and that good "diges-
ton waits on appetite
He is a hard working man, and his business
day is a long one. His clerks find him at his
desk when they come to the Office, and When
most Of them have gone home he is still at work
Even on his yacht before and after business
hours he mixes work with pleasure, and die
tatcs to his secretary reads business communi-
cations, attends to unfinished business, or en-
vice in matters of organization.
HIS BUSINESS ALWAYS WITH HIM.
Most men take a pride in saying that they
leave their business behind when they lock up
their office desks" he said to a Tribune repre-
sentative recently but do not belong to that
class, because l carry. my business home with
me and carry it back with me the next day.
and am perfectly willing to 10 it,
In proof of his assertion, he pointed to an
English banker and a prominent New-York
fnancier who were his guests his yacht at
the time and said that they had come "on busi-
ness"
With business interests in all parts Of the
world, Mr.. Flint still finds time to do some
shooting or fishing every week in the year. "Of
course" he said, 81 don't fish and shoot in the
same part of the country at all times of the
year but as the seasons change ] shift my
grounds and in that way get some sport every
week." and he shows the photographs of the
various places where he has hshed and speaks
of the catches he has made with the same en-
thusiasm that characterizes his conversation
when great Industrial organzaticils are the
theme
Mr. Flint was born at Thomaston, Me. Janu-
AIRY n, 1850, and does not look his age. He
was graduated from the Polytechnic Institute. |
ner in the firm of Gilchrist, Flint q Co A
year later he entered into business with William
r. Grace in the firm Of w. r. Grace & Co., In
which he continued until 1880
HIS SOUTH AMERICAN INTEREGTS.
Through extensive connections in South
America Mr. Flint became interested in that
country, and in 1876 he organized 'he firm of
Grace Brothers & Co. at Callao. Peru ana re-
mained on the west coast OF South America for
a year. In 1877 he was appointed Consul of
Chill at the Port Of New-York and during the !
absence Of the Chan Charge d'Afaires was in
charge of the archives and correspondence of
the legation. After that experience in the Con
sular Service he was appointed Consul General
to the United States of the republics Of Mica
ragua and Costa Rica
The first organization in which Mr.. Flint took
an active part the consolidation of several |
lumber companies under the name Export I-um-
Der Company, Limited, with yards at Ottawa,
Montreal, Boston, Portland Me, and New-York. |
That was in 1878 Shortly after that hc endeav-
ored to bring about the consolidation of the
various electric light companies aud would
have succeeded if he had not been an interested
party He was the president Of one of the com
panies, and tha. fact probably blocked the
scheme. Since that experience Mr.. Flint has
never attempted to bring about a consolidation
when he had an interest III any one OF the sub |
companies. lie has always occupied the posi- |
tOn of q neutral party, and in that way he
gained the confidence of the manufacturers VIII
felt free to give full information in regard to
their business.
ORGANIZING THE RUBBER INTEREST
In 1881 he brought about the organization OF
the crude rubber business and IN 1892 per