Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-02-15
HOW KRUPP GOT HIS MILLIONS.

LOulS SlOUe DcIllOCIdl.
HOW KRUPP GOT HIS MILLIONS.
The Fortune of the German Family
Made With Push and Brains.
The dynasty that created the king
dom of Krupp out of push and brains
and without a single farthing Of out
side capital, is now in its third genera
ton, the present ruler Of the vast in
dustries being the grandson Of the
founder, Friedrich Krupp.
His name is Friedrich Alfred, COM
bining the Christian names Of his
grandfather and father, the first an
utter failure, the second one Of the
most remarkable successes in a COM
mercial way of all times.
Today Friedrich Alfred Krupp has
an annual income of 2O,0OO,0OO marks
4, 100000 more than his suzerain, the
German emperor, and there isn't king
in all the world having so many peo-
pie directly depending upon him for
their livelihood. And since the great
Frederick and Napoleon no king has
been known to double the number OF
his subjects as Friedrich Alfred did.
His grandfather left 10, his father TO-
900. Friedrich Alfred employs $4,000
people and together with their families
feeds over 100000, more than half a
dozen German kinglets do.
And, unlike his crowned colleagues
he feeds their minds as we'll as their
bodies.
Nearly every man has set Of busi-
ness rules, which If rigidly adhered to
would lead him on to fame and for
tune. The following principles were
laid down by Alfred Krupp and he
stuck to them through adversely and
prosperity. Therein lay his marvellous
success. Speaking Of his own career
Herr Krupp says:
Luck? I foresaw the coming Of the
railway era and gauged my endeavors
in the line Of invention and manufac-
turing accordingly. AS to gun making
1 based it on original lines. I origina-
ted 1t all.
II never asked for a protective tar
iff. The excellence Of my products
placed them above protection.
II was a born fighter, and always
willing to risk my last penny, my last
suit of clothes for an idea after Its
feasibility and practicability was once
firmly established in my mind.
Everything I earned in the business
I put back into the business, after
deducting my personal expenses, kept
at the lowest, as long as such was es-
sential to success.
II always made the factory pay for
the growth and enlargement Of the
business. Never had a partner or
stockholder after 1S4S. When I needed
money I borrowed it on mortgage.
Business was always before me,
and when I couldn't sleep at night I
didn't hesitate to employ the otherwise
wasted hours in work.
II never left anything to accident,
and gave as much heed to scientific as
to practical consideration. The mil
lions I paid to chemists and artillery
experts were we'll invested. At the
same time I must confess that 1 had
neither scientific nor technical train
ing.
Yes. 1 always believed in advertis-
ing. My exhibits at the different
worlds fairs were among the most
costly ever placed.
II never was of opinion that my OBJ
legations toward my employees ceased
when I paid them the wages agreed
upon. 1 always endeavored to make
them take pride and joy in their work
by treating them as literally as my
means permitted. While still in the
throes Of commercial despair founded
the first sick benefit society for my
people. In 1861 I began to build suita-
BILE homes for them. When I retired /
had built 1000 woman's dwelling
places according to hygienic principles,
the rent Of which amounts to less than
$40 per living room annually. The
pensions my firm pays to disabled
workmen-disabled by old age, acci-
dent or illness-amount to from so to
10 per cent. of the highest wages earn
ed in their class. Widows receive one
half of the pension that their husbands
might be drawing. l invested 100000
marks in these schemes, and I think 1t
a good investment"
I'm nv personal relations with work.
men I never forgot my own humble
origin. Titles of nobility have always
steadfastly refused, but at the same
time wouldn't tolerate interference
from outsiders, whether they call
Socialists or otherwise. l
am fully aware that many Of my work.
men are Socialists politically, but few
would care to practice the teachings of
that party. l experienced but one
strike, in 1872, and the factory workers
did neither join it nor sympathize
with it." CA second strike occurred In
1889, also among the coal miners)
Let us assume that, in accordance
with Socialistic theories, resign from
the conduct Of my business and turn it
over to the tender cares Of the COM