The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1903-12-12

erty is in general satisfactory. Loans
upon business property are most desir-
able of all, but are not within the
reach of most of US as they generally
run into large figures.
In the selection of real estate loans
be very deliberate. Make systematic
enquiry into details. Be specially care
full not to loan too much on one prop
erty. Values may change in year or
two. Fifty per cent of a fair cash
value is enough to loan on the best.
Always remember that you can afford
to wait till you get what you want.
Investment contracts such as are Of
fered by building and loan societies,
real estate concerns, and life insur-
ance companies are often of great VAL
ue in stimulating if not compelling the
saving of money. The greatest care,
however, should be exercised to enter
upon no contract that does not pro-
vide an equitable settlement in case
the investor is unable to carry it
! through to maturity
Life insurance by reason of the alb
solute safety of it's rigidly inspected
investments, the liberality of it's con-
tracts, and the remarkable adaptat ton
of it's fundamental principles to the re-
quirements of the man of small means,
should have a place in every mans
scheme of investment and home pro-
lection. 1t affords an emergency fund,
secure, Independent of the fluctuations
of our local market, and increasing
with a sure progression that though
not burdensome still yields relief in
disaster, comfort in advanced years.
But recently this community has had
some striking illustrations of the
benefits it affords. 1t would. therefore,
neither be just to you, nor fair to my
self, did I not most earnestly advise
you to place some of your savings in
one of these great and beneficent in
stitutions.
briefly the ownership of shares in stock
companies. The record made by small
stock companies, stores, stables, soda
works, ETC., here and elsewhere is not
reassuring. The vital element to con-
slider is the control of the company. If
the majority stockholder is man of
energy, business acumen, and integrity,
and is unlikely to sell his holdings,
such shares may prove a good asset
If not, the minority stockholder is in
a very helpless and undesirable posi-
ton, even though the enterprise be
naturally a profitable one.
The sugar plantations are the main
stay of the country and deserve the
support of ALL Whether it is wise for
the small investor to put a portion of
his savings in sugar stock is question
to be answered by each investor for
himself. Certainly to put all he has in
sugar stocks would justly be regarded
as imprudent.
Before investing study well the his
tory and condition of the property un-
der consideration. This will at first
seem an easy matter, as the annual
reports of each plantation show in elab-
crate detail a vast number of inter-
esting facts relative to it's expenses and
income. But when the would-be in
vestor undertakes to compare planta-
tion with plantation as to relative
to forecast their probable earnings and
dividends, the extreme difficulty of
such calculations becomes Immediately
apparent especially IN view OF the WIQe
discrepancy in the past between such
estimates and actual realizations. That
the sugar industry will remain on a
sound basis few will doubt. There are
too many elements of uncertainty in
the general situation however to make
it possible to predict the degree of
prosperity it will enjoy.
In like manner real estate is an in
vestment attended with great uncer-
tainty. The utter decentralization of
the market resulting from the pressure
of financial stringency together with
the readjustment of values required
by the construction of the Rapid Tran
sit lines, renders it extremely difficult
10 make satisfactory appraisals or
forecast the future. The owning of a
home is often source of much pleas
ure. Before purchasing, however, it
will be wise to make a very careful
enquiry among experienced house
owners as to what it costs to care for
one, and be thoroughly satisfied you
can afford it.
Tho u-iJo x-o,,rc