New-York tribune., 1902-12-22

, drawn from life and from observation Of ma,
that we know.
The question of the selection Of busrs,,
career is practical but perplexing by reaso,
of the wide range and immense variety OF oc-
cupations open to the votaries of comn1erce
In answer to the question. What shall I 10
to get on in lfe?" Individual characteristics
must be carefully considered
In merchandising the inevitable and irresis,
ible tendency to corporate combination must
be reckoned with. as the day Of small capital
and moderate business is passing away sx-
cepting for dealers in unique specfaltfes Enor
nous department stores. like Macy's and Wana-
makers, beginning with drygoods as their
principal business, now undertake to supplv
under one roof. nearly all the necessities and
luxuries needed by an ordinary family. with
great saving Of time and expense to the pur-
chaser Reduced expenses and enormous tran
sactions with moderate percentage Of profits
have made these establishments financially
successful. Macy & CO. employ about 45OO
persons. not including their European con-
nections or those in their service at different
points in this country. John wanamaker en-
pIoys 5000 people, and his business Is divided
into 12S separate departments. The young
man who enters the department store must
be content at first with salary sufficient to-
make DOth ends meet with economy, Until
he has demonstrated his fitness to be manager
of department, when he may hope to become
a saIaried man at five thousand dollars a
year upward.
Representative drygoods jobbing establish
ments which have also large retail connections
Ike H B. CIaf1in & Co., OF this city and Mar
shall Field & Co, of Chicago. are In the VOL
urne Of their sales. the largest Of their class In
the world. The coveted places in these con-
Germs are those of the buyers and managers Of
departments, who receive large salaries and
often have a percentage in the profits of their
own departments The salaries Of general clerks
and statesmen average about the same as those
quoted in the banks in this article. Marshall
Field & Co. Of Chicago. employ, approximately,
ten thousand persons and their business this
year will aggregate sixty million dollars in vol
ume. This enormous business has been created
during the lifetime OF one man, who is still in
active life and the senior partner in this CO.
IossaI establishment. These facts are strIk-
ing demonstration OF commercial progress in
the United States during the last halt century.
In a bank or trust company, a clerkship "a
often said with truth to be treadmil with
small chance of advancing beyond salary
of from two to three thousand dollars. unless
ones energy and ability mark him cand-
date for cashiership in his own or another
institution
The salaries range in banks Of this city as
follows:
n....u,., c,. ,,,.., ,o.,,ou, - Per annETs s5s
General clerks. etc $500 70 LetO
bookkeepers 5'2eo 70 SeU
Cashiers 500 I6S
The large private banking houses offer more
chances for advancement A career with them
las IN, foEf and 0F hiz
army is always open to talent" Exceptional
young men always come to the front.
Wall Streets history abounds IN success
and failure. Conservative firms and individu-
ais who are not tempted 70 overspeculation
generally succeed there elsewhere. Mere
spectators must take the chances which pancs
periodically offer OF illustrating the ups and
downs Of Wall Street life
In manufacturing there is little hope Of Sue
cess without specially trained experience. The
most successful managers Of large mills have
learned by actual labor all the various processes
of scientific and economic handling, from the
raw material to the finished product. and such
men command large salaries and are always in
demand
More large fortunes in this country have
been made during the last forty to fifty years
In railroad connections and in reorganiza-
ton of the same than in any other avenue or
commerce Carnegie in early life was freighr
superintendent on the Pennsylvania Railroad
and many Of the executive officers In tnar
great company have come up from the RANKS
The advantage. OF knowing by personal SER
vice the duties and qualities Of suoordinates
Is one reason for the eminent success OF tne
Pennsylvania Railroad The brightest men In
the country are bid for by the great railroads.
which consider no price too high to pay for ths
man they want.
The fact that the possessors or raouiouS
fortunes created in commercial careers nave
shown themselves conscientious trustees 0I
wealth has created an epoch In human prog
ress and will give o unique historic interest
to the closing years of the nineteenth anu 0Pe"
ing of the twentieth centuries
Tba next stem in this moral development
will be an equally conscientious regard for tne
rights of others by the application OF Inc
Golden Rule in the requirement as well as III
the distribution OF their vast accuInui@tioH0
ms