The sun., 1904-12-23
mrs. WALKER QUITS BUSINESS
AMERICAS RICHEST WOMAN IS
BACK WITH HER LACES.
Daughter OF Vim. WeIghtman Unites Her
Fathers Great Business with That
Of His Chief Rival, Rosengarten &
Sons, and RetIres From Worry.

Fathers Great Business With That
Of His Chief Rival, Rosengarten a.
Sons, and RetIres From worry.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 22.-Mrs. Anna
Weightman Walker, daughter Of the late
millionaire chemist william Weightman,
who was intrusted by him at his death
with the conduct Of the great business he
created, has found the burden too great.
On Jan. she will retire from business and
go back to her old time seclusion.
Mrs. Walker relieves herself OF her bur-
den by consolidating her fathers firm,
Powers d Weightman, with that Of Rosen-
garten q Sons, Incorporated. Rosen-
garten Il Sons were her fathers Oldest
and bitterest rivals; in fact the only COM
petitors william Weightman ever aoknowl-
edged as such.
Many Of Mrs. Walkers milions-William
Weightman left her from $75, 100000 to
$iOO, 600, O0O-will remain in the consolida-
ton. Mrs. Walker, however will have no
part in the conduct Of the new firm, to be
known as Powers. Weightman q Rosen-
garten, beyond that Of owner or trustee
Of the Weightman moneyivested In 1t, and OF
much Of this work her lawyers will relieve
her. She will 20 back to the rare old laces
and the great collection Of Napoleonio
relics which are her two absorbing interests.
BY the consolidation practical mo-
nopoly in the production Of quinine and
sulphate OF morphine Is created. OF the
total yearly output OF quinine, 100000
ounces, Powers Il Weightman and the
Rosengartens have manufactured little
more than two-thirds. The New York
Quinine Chemical Works put out the bal
ance. The only competition in the making
of sulphate Of morphine was between the
two Philadelphia firms, now consolidated.
Two OF the Powers & Weightman plants
will be kept running and two of the Rosen-
gartens. 1t was announced to-day that
there would be few changes made in either
the official or the working staff Of the first.
When William Weightman d'ed, Mrs.
Walker jumped out into the limelight as
the richest woman in America, il not in the
world. 1t was declared that her father
had left practically his entire fortune to
her, as well as the business Of the Powers
6 Weightman firm. There has always been
a question as to whether she is the owner
or only trustee 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 being
as difficult to approach as ever her father
was.
At any rate Mrs. Walker at her fathers
death took hold OF the business and ran il
with energy. She was in the offices daily
and had suite in her own mansion on
Walnut street fitted up so that she could
carry on the business there. Then came
dissensions 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 the collection Of Napo-
leonio relics.
Then she decided to give it up. First
she sold much OF the real estate to which
she had become heir. Then she opened
negotiations with the Rosengartens. These
she carried out in person. The Rosengartens
and Weightmans each guarded jealously
their secret of making quinine and NOR
phne, and each had different methods. Until
adequate tests OF both methods shall be
made it will be impossible to tell which
IL superior.
There developed peculiar situation
Before adopting the terms proposed by
Mrs. Walker the Rosengnrtens decided to
inc pidnts vi tnclT
rival. Unless the consolidation was az
sured. such an inquiry, amounting vir-
tually TO a disclosure of manufacturing
secrets. might have been j. i'urious to the
Pow ers 4 Weightman interests. The
Rcsengnrtens appreciated the situation.
Finally they yielded and the entire deal
was consummated virtually without an
inspection Of anyof the plants and entirely
upon representations made by Mrs. Walker. !
as sole proprietor of the Powers d Weight
man business and H. B. Rosengarten, !
as president Of Rosengarten 4 Sons, In |
The consolidation it is predicted will
have sweeping effect upon manufacture
and price Of chemicals. 1t is unknown
just how much money passed on the deal,
but 1t must have been many millions. Mrs.
Walker, 1t was said authoritively tonight,
will never again pose before the public
as the richest business woman"