The Washington times., 1901-11-21
MADE A FORTUNE
IN TIMBER LANDS.
CiTY'S ONLY COLORED MILLIONAIRE.
One Hundred and Forty Thousand
Acres Bought for "a Trif;e Now
Invaluable Through Dis
coveries of Coal.

In a neat little frame dwelling at COS
Tenth Street northeast. within which he
and his wife alone reside, lives Robert d.
, RufIin a well-known eolored lawyer of
this city, who may now boast of the proud
distinction of being the only colored mill
lionaire residing within the confines of
the National Capital.
Mr.. Ruffins career has been an interest
ing one. begun in poverty, and now to be
continued in luxu-v by reason of his in
vestment in a company formed in this
city last February by number of proml-
nent local fnancieTs for the purpose of
purchasing and developing valuable coal
and timber lands in West Virginia. Since
that time number of persons having in
terests in the organization have been
bought out by the shrewd colored man.
Once Worth Ten Cents nm Acre.
Mr.. Buffln is now the principal owner
which years ago could have been bought
for 10 cents an acre. and now much of it
is offered for sale at the maximum price
of Sl60 per acre. The colored man is the
bulk holder of the land. Two other per-
sons are interested in the scheme, both
residents of this city, whose interests are
said to be exceedingly small.
Mr.. RufIin returned from New York
City Saturday night, where he went to
hold conference with a number of cap
italists who will shortly form company
with an enormous capital for the purpose
OF developing the valuable real estate.
Among those whom Mr. Rufiin called upon
by invitation were the agents of one of
the Vanderbilt heirs, and OF J. Pierpont
Morgan, all of whom had lengthy con-
yersations with the colored man regard
ing his lands.
Coal Discoveries in Randolph County
Before going to New York. Mr.. Ruffin
paid visit TO Elkins, w. Va, where all
doubts to his titles were removed He
also made trips TO Harrison and Lewis
counties in behalf of his interests. OF the
man, II 600 acres are located in Randolph
County, where great quantities of coal
have been found.
a reporter OF The Times called at Mr..
Rufin's home last night. Upon knocking
for admittance. he was met at the door
by Mrs. Rufin, a portly and neatly
dressed colored woman. who conducted
him into a nicely furnished little parIor.
The new West Virginia land king soon
made his appearance.
Ruft1n is a man about iifty-fiYe years of
age, with an inky black countenance. He
is almost bald, with the exception of a
little clump OF hair on the back of his
head, which is of a decided grey In the
dialect of a Southern negro he welcomed
the reporter. Being informed of the na-
ture of the visit. the negro capitalist ex-
pressed some surprise, and listened in
tently to dispatch from Elkins, w Va.
giving an account Of his wealth.
That's true, sir. =. he said after hearing |
1t read. Il have obtained titles to all the |
land mentioned in the despatch. and also |
have paid visit to West Virginia in order |
to adjust matters. l arrived in Washing |
ton Saturday from New York, where 1 !
went to confer with a number of cap |
italists."
Bought Out other Stockholders.
When asked as to how he managed to
get into the local corporation, he replied |
that he was the only colored man inter- |
ested in the deal, and had only been let |
in because of his experience in handling
titles. He stated he had a small interest |
in the company upon entering it. He in
creased this when opportunity afforded
by buying out other dissatisfied stockhoId- |
ars until he at last found himself hold
ing the majority.
But Mr. RufIln," asked the reporter,
how did you manage to secure sufficient
funds to buy out these various other
by selling considerable real estate
which l fortunately possessed in this
city" quietly replied the lawyer.
When asked to give a history of the
land controlled by him he said that it
had been given by the State OF West Vir-
ginia to Standish Ford a mail contractor,
In the year 1898, as a reward for his hav-
ing carried the mail Of that State for
long period. With ease Mr.. Ruffin traced
the history of the land down to the year
1863, when Ford's heirs conveyed the
to an attorney with power to
sell.
What do you estimate the entire value
IF the land?" was asked.
We'll; I don't know, but according to
he papers in West Virginia, our land is
worth nearly $4,000, co., he replied.
CoRNERED BY a PLUCKY GIRL.