New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-02
cHIcAGo's ESTIMATE OF A PROMINENT
NEW-YORHER.

Almost any weekday morning in New-YOrk City
there may be seen turning from Broadway into
Pine-st.. which is near the centre of the financial
district a rather small but very uncommon looking
man. who. after walking down Pine-st. a short
distance. into small but very uncommon
looking building
The man is James Speyer and the building is
that Of Speyer & Co. which is of the most
important banking houses in the world. ally of
the Rothschilds the Oppenheims. the Deutsche
Bank and all the great world of finance in Europe
as well in this country.
Although below the usual height Mr. Speyer is
in appearance a small Apollo, his figure being
manly, yet graceful, his hands and feet small and
well shaped, features classical and with this ne
tClIgeuce and vlyacity He is always dressed with
great care and elegance, and in the latest fashion
4 few years ago speyer & co; built the most most
in he4sh bur of the most refined and tasteful ar
chitCcture. the whole building being finished in a
costly and perfect manner. Spever Co. occupy
the whole buneingi they have no tenants TINS
is unusual in New York; where the greater part
of banking or other office building is almost al
Mr.. speyer the head of the firm born in
New-York City something over forty years ago.
where at twenty-t two years OF age he entered the
parent banking house Later ne was transferred
cate him thoroughly in banking business before
here. Frankfort may be called The original home Of
bankers and Of the banking anu exchange business
1850 there existed in Frankfort an organized IN
SututiOn among merchants Tor the purpose c hiking
the parity Of the various kind Of specie, well as
rates of exchange on other commercial centres.
Mr. Sp6yer is most as well known for his
philanthropy for his ability as a banker. He
takes active interest as a director in the affairs
of the Mount Sinai Hospital, Isabella Heimath, the
Hospital Saturday and Sunday AS oc!ation, Charity
Society of which he is treasurer He is also a con-
tributor 70 a number of other charitable and educa-
tional institutions He is trustee of the Teachers
College. TO which. in Mrs. Speyer's name ana his
own he presented the SpCyer -hool in 1902
Mr.. SpeyCr takes grt at pride in his and
family: the latter can be traced back 10 the four
teonth century, and IL is record that a Speyer
was Imperial Court Banker of the Roman Empire
al the time of the French Revolution.
Mr. Speyer'S business associations almost
numberless. but aside from his banking business
he dCvOtes more time 20 his position trustee OF
the Mutual Life Insurance Company Of New-York
than 10 any other one business object. The Mutual
Life Insurance Company whose building is in the
next street to that OF Speyer & Co., frequently
seeks tire advice Of the head OF that firm upon
questions Of high finance
This particular neighborhood is rapidly becoming
stitutons Of New-York City. In Cedar-st. near
Clearing House, beautiful construction in Renais-
merce OF the handsomest buildings OF its size
in the country. and directly opposite the Mutual
Life building. on the corner Of Cedar and Nassau
SITS. Is the Bank Of Commerce of the two
ar"rst hanks iu VI" rcu~+rv -raki~~ a Quarter
hardly to be equalled in any city of the world as a
cst inltreSIs.-(l HI
cago Daily Tribune. Nov. IS