The Savannah morning news., 1903-04-19

in it's infancy. The steel business had
hardly been born. There were few
railroads. There were no trusts. Oil
had not been discovered. The man
with $4,000 was capitalist, and could
with comparative safety embark in any
business he fancied. Name to me an
industry in which our young friend
Tom Jones can Independently invest his
million dollars with a fair chance of
success. Which of our standard indus
tries would you suggest, Judge Saw
yer? Pick out one, either in the man
ufacturing or mercantile line, in which
Tom can go into business for himself
with a million dollars for his capital"
IT should not care to answer that
question offhand," cautiously returned
Judge Sawyer ct should not advise
a million. If Tom were my boy 1
should advise him to invest his money
in low interest bonds"
VERY sage advice, but not to the
point" returned the colonel. Cutting
coupons from bonds is not an industry,
though it is a safe employment. With
his million thus invested Tom would
have an income of from $4,000 to $4,000
a year. He will never acquire a billion
at that rate. What shall our I'M
fortunate young millionaire do with his
money? Let us look over the field.
Here is an almanac with a list and the
capitalization of nearly 200 of our lead
ing corporations and trusts. They are
rated all the way from 0,000 900 to ST.
500, 100000. Which one of them shall
Tom attack? He is young, active and
brainy, and the million is in ready
cash. Shall he enter into the whole
sale dry goods business? Marshall
Field has $50, 10000 or more thus in
vested, and Tom lacks his knowledge
of the details. Say the grocery bust
ness. There are four firms capitalized
at more than $10,0OO,00O. Sugar? How
long would Toms puny million last in
competition against the sugar trust?
Whisky or brewing? His pebble would
not create a ripple. Agricultural ma
chinery? A modern plant cannot be
equipped for less than $15,O00,000 and
Tom has no patents. Tobacco? Ride
ulous. Matches? Matches are small
things, but Toms million would have
to grow many, many times before he
could face the Match Giant How about
electrical machinery? Here is a new
industry not yet a score of years old,
yet Tom would have one competitor
with actual assets worth thirty mill
lions, another of twenty-five millions,
and a third with about ten millions.
He might tackle paper against forty
millions, salt against thirty millions,
ice against fifteen millions, asphalt
against twenty millions, biscuits
against fifty millions, collins against
six millions. lead against thirty mill
lions, baking powder against twenty
millions, oil against a hundred millions
and meat against thirty million, leath-
er against a hundred and thirty mil
lions, rubber against forty-seven mill
lions, tin plate against forty-six mil
lions, or steel against a billion and a
half. Would you advise him to fight
any one of these corporations?
81 cannot say that would" replied
Judge Sawyer, but the inventive
genius of the country is constantly
installing new industries"
Very true, and Tom may get in
on the ground floor" said Col Monroe,
but his million is small, very small.
You must admit that, Judge Sawyer.
and If he finds himself in a dilemma,
as he will, what shall we say of the
young man who starts withholding?
Years ago every one of the HUNDRED
or more standard industries was open
to the competition of any man who
by luck or industry had acquired a
few thousand dollars. 1t is mockery
to assert that the same is true to-day
The gates Of opportunity are not closed,
but they are strongly guarded"
Perhaps Tom is going to New York
to start newspaper" suggested Post
master jenkins. Hes a splendid
writer and tried once to get a Job on
tie Lane9lpYille CLARION. Just as like
p -