The Washington times., 1904-12-23
RICHEST WOMAN
QUITS BUSINESS
Mrs. Walker Back With
Laces and Relies.
RIVAL ABS0RBS CONCERN
RIVAL ABSORBS
Daughter of William WGghtman Unites
Fathers Great House With Rosen-
garten & Co. and Retires.

D6tt- Z0.-IhES. AIlId
Weishtman Walker, daughter of the
late millionaire che mist, William
Weightman, who was Entrusted by him
at his death with the conduct of the
great business he created, has found the
burden too great On January l she viii
retire from business and so back to her
old time seclusion.
Mrs. Walker relieves herself of her
burden by consolidating: her fathers
firm, Powers & WeighO ian, with that
of Rosengarten & Sons, Incorporated.
Rosengarten & Sons we've her fathers
oldest and bitterest rival,'; in fact, the
only competitors William Wsightman
ever acknowledged as such.
- Leaves Money in Concern.
Many of Mrs Walkers millions-Wil-
liam Weightman left her from s75000-
600 to slGC, COO 0C0-will remain in the con-
solidation. Mrs. Walker, however, will
have no part IN the conduct of the new
firm. to be known as Powers. Weight
man & Rosengarten. beyond that of
owner or trustee of the Weightman
money invested in it. and of much of
this work her lawyers VIII relieve her.
She Will go back to the rare old laces
and the great collection of Napoleonic
relics which are her two absorbing in
terests.
By the consolidation a practical mo-
nopoIy In the production Of quinIne and
sulphate of morphine is created. OF the
total yearly output of qulnine, 2,0G0 00a
ounces, Powers & Weightman and the
Rosengartens have manufactured a lit
tie more thanN two-Ciirds.- The New
York Quinine Chemical Works put out
the balance. The only competition in
the making of sulphate of morphine was
between the two Philadelphia firms
now consolidated
Few Changes Contemplated.
Two of the Powers & Weightman
plants will be kept running and two
of the Rosengarte rs. 1t is announced
that there would b few changes made
in either the official or the working staff
of the first.
When William Wefghtman died, Mrs.
Walker jumped out into the limeIight as
the richest woman in America, If not in
the world 1t was declared that her
father had left practically his entire for
tune to her, as well a the business of
the Powers & Weight-nan firm. There
has always been question as to
whether she is the owner or only trus-
tee of the millions There has always
been a suspicion of a secret deed of
trust, but nothing definite could ever be
gained on this point, Mrs. Walker be-
Eng as difficult 10 approach as her father
WAS.
At any rate. Mrs. Walker, at her
f8thSr DEATH took mold OF the buSi-
ness and ran il with energy She was
il the offices daily ard had d suite in
Eer own mansion Oh. Walnut Street
fitted up SO that she could carry on
the business there. Then came dissen-
sions with the employees and others.
She found the path stormy and her
health began TO give way. There was
little time for the laces that fill bureaus
and cabinets at her home and for tins
collection of NapOeonic relics.
Decided to Give It Up.
Then she decided TO give il up First
she sold much OF the real estate to
which she had become cir Then she
opened negotiations with the Rosen-
gartcns. These she carried out in per-
son.
The Rosengartens and Weightmans
each guarded jeaIously their secret of
making quinine and morphine, and each
had different methods. Until adequate
tests OF both methods shall be made it
will be impossible TO tell which is
superior
There developed a peculiar situation.
Before adopting the terms proposed by
Mrs. Walker the Rosenga rtenS decided
to inquire into the plants of their friend
" rivals Unless the consolidation was
assured, such an inquiry, amounting