The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1907-09-13
What S29,24O,-
900 MEANS
Ordinaryer Labor Could Not
Earn il in 5000 Years.
Standard Oil Fine Must be Meas
ured With a Gigantic
Rule.

on the Standard OIL Company, the
greatest private industrial combination
on earth.
Even in days like these, when MIL
lions are airly discussed and when
millionaires are too common for use in
smile, this order by Federal Judge
that the vastest money making bus,-
ness in the world should be mulct CT
$29 100000, may be said, like unto the
shot at Lexington, 20 nave been heard
around the world.
But aside from it's present day news
significance, there is a mighty meaa-
ing in this record-breaking figure. II
is a figure we may all well be inter-
ested in, so let us see if we cannot
analyze It biz, the better TO under
stand and grasp its width, length
depth and weight. Let's "heft" it.
The effort of a single man in ordi-
nary history up TO the present day
would not begin TO approach in the
aggregate earning capacity this IN
mense sum.
To appreciate what $29,24O, 900 mean
one must measure it with q giglnc;c
rule and reduce It's proportions 70 con-
crete form, in concrete terms w.-a.n
the every day comprehension Of man
kind.
The money losses attendant upon
some of the great catascrophes wien
nave staggered the civilized world N
recent years may serve as comparativ
basis for a measurement Of the now
historic Standard Oil fine.
When the great city Of Baltimore
was visited by q widespread and de-
vastating fire three years ago, the
flame raging fiercely for several days,
consuming block after block Of grea.
business buildings and residences, X
was estimated that tue fire insurance
companies would pay $3O,500,000 dam
ages.
Now the sum that the Standard Oh
is commanded TO pay into the United
States Treasury On account Of Illegal
Relating would just about have paid
for the rebuilding Of che great per-
ton of Marylands Queen City which
was destroyed by the flames.
Again, an earthquake at Kingston,
Jamaica, whose resulting foss of life
and properly made an appalling rec
ord that the world shivered at, cost
ing in money $3O,OOO,OOO. would be off
set, financially speaking, by the San
dard Oil fine.
The world stood aghast at the lev
cling by earthquake and fire of the
city of the Golden Gate-San Francis
Ca little more than year ago. The
wholesale destruction Of property was
terrific. Vast areas of structures which
had been the pride of the leading city
on the Pacific Coast were reduced TO
smoking debris. The property loss was
estimated at the astounding figures
of $3.50, 100000.
The Federal Judges levy upon the
Golfers of the Standard OIL Company
would have satisfied one tenth, APP
proximately, Of San Franoisco's enor-
nous loss.
Now, leaving aside the considera-
ton of what this $29,240,0G0 lump sum
would do if distributed in any Of the
channels mentioned, perhaps oven more
striking illustrations of what such a
sum of money means may be CLEANED
from a study of wrat is invested inr
come would do every year.
In other words, or figures, from
$29 ,240, 900 a sum of s1,754 900 would
accrue annually If invested at per
cent. What would the distribution of
this accomplish when directed along
certain lines?
It would support in fairly comfort
able circumstances the average town
of 5000 population. Indeed, there is
many a place of that size whose an
nual expenditures for all the necessi-
ties and luxurics of life would not
amount to so much.
Take the man of family who spends
annually $4,000. The income from the
Standard Oil fines amount would each
year take care of S77 such households,
and ST. the size of many a prosper
Gus village in this land.
Recently an old Harvard man, re-
nowned for his studies in sociology,
gave the world something new to talk
about and figure on when rtcmwfyp
about and figure on when he announc-
ed that the cost of rearing to man
hood of the average body in a family
comparatively well-to-do was 5000
Now, Mr.. John ID. Rockefeller's COM
pany will, if the decision of Judge
Lands is not nullified, pay the Gov
eminent a sum of money which would
educate, feed, clothe, and permit lux
uries to 1,470 persons of this class
of society, estimating an average Of
81 years support.
1t would give 1896 men vacations
on basis of $3.50 each.
Consider the receipts of the average