New-York tribune., 1907-09-16
SOME NEW PROFESSIONo.
Work of Destroying Old Books ana
Ledgers Profitable Business.

AN American can make money where another
man would die from starvation" once said an Eng
lish tourist after visiting this country. Recently
several new professions" have been added TO the
already long list. From examination they seem
10 be as profitable they unique The latest
of these Is the business of destroying books MES
accounts iedgers and ether papers Of various DUST
ness firms Engaged in this business are t"o
companies in New York City. and they are pc
ieved to be the only firms that make specially
of it.
Circulars are sent to the various large business
houses in the city offering to buy private papers
at 'remunerative rates. and also offering 70 give
q guarantee that the papers and so forth Will DE
DESTROYED without being subjected to prying eyes
The business though Il one, has proved pro-
ftable and fairly large fortunes have already peeh
made from it. One man has been enabled TO ony
steam Yacht from his share of the prohts IN coiI-
Quoting such work
The most notable sale Of books TO one OF these
6,~r,s was sworn to by u. {. Moorehead. secretary
Of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company MI
AIoorehead testified at one of the hearings ol '''o
T,,bIic Service Commission inquiry into the inter
boroupb- ATetropolitan Company that he had so'o
tho mid hooks Of the Metropolitan Street RallWay
,,r,ro,, to the ..iunkman'' for three-Quarters OF
n cent pound. the sale yielding about Sil'- MI,
Noorehead also read circular he had recel'eu
from one Of the firms buying oid DOCKS anu AZ
counts This circular referred 10 a number ol wen
known banking and mercantile houses III Ne"
1-or, with which the firm alleged 20 have done
business. -. =.
Another new and profitable profession is that ol
crirpjrg bureaus 4 clipping bureau suhscrIoeS "
ALI of the papers and magazines in the country an"
often 10 those of other nations. 1t agrees 10 'U'
pish any person firm corporation or business nouSe
all the articles that have been published or III WHICH
his or their names in any way appear lo' "
moderate annual charge. The largest OF the chp'
ming bureaus supplies thousands with its service
and employs more than two hundred persons 20
road the papers and magazines and clip. Poll
ticians and men in the public eye have grown 20
depend on this service The former particularly are
generally willing to subscribe for the service OF
clipping bureau" They feel that they can tell the
trend Of pnblic sentiment bv what the papers have
Ia say and the bureau furnishes just such lnforma-
ton So dependent indeed have they become upon
such bureaus that lately the latter have been dubbed
politicians First Aid
Clipping bureaus arc also pstronzed In large
cities by a certain class of lawyers. who. however
receive different service. They demand and pa
well for clippings the matter Of which may contain
basis for actions for libel This species Of lawyer
reads the STORY" decides whether it has lbellous
I'm it. and then hunts up the person who can
perhaps bring suit for libel. and oftentimes max"
large profits by pcrsuading him % institute pro
ceedings and have him. the lawyer. prosecute.
one clipping bureau is said 10 have had gross
ccipts amounting to S165@.500 for the fiscal year
ended August 81
Another new profession Is that of press agent
Public men and corporations often employ press
agents" These mon paid large salaries get
stories in tho and papers mat Will show
their employer I'm a favorable light to the public
''ro keep the public with us is the press agents
motto. and he knows no better way to accomplish
that than by 'colored" stories in the press.