The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-11-18

berg. Apart from all private enter
prises no less than $21, S75, 900 is the
capital engaged in stock companies
founded and controlled by the two
princes. OF this six and one-quarter
million dollars Is accounted for by
the Commercial union, formerly the
Madeira Exploitation company; nine
and one-half million dollars in the Ber-
lin Land and Building company; $4,-
$4,000 in the Neue Passage depart
ment stores; one million dollars in
the Berlin Omnibus company, and the
same amount in the German Levant
Steamship line. Besides these there
are the endless private speculations
of Prince Furstenberg, which run into
millions. There is his brewing busi-
ness for instance; then his coal
mines in Silesia, and his great hold
ing in the Hamburg American line.
Prince Furstenberg arrived at his
present powerful position in trade
through what may be described as a
search for an outlet for his strong
natural energies. After his success
sion to the vast estates he visited
them all in turn. It was while STAY
ing at his beautiful castle in Donau-
eschingen, in Baden, that he took his
first lesson in commerce He discov-
cred the excellent quality of the beer
brewed in the private brewery at
tached to the domain, and the idea
came to him to push its sale all over
the empire. AS the brew virtually
was unknown outside the district, he
found many difficulties in placing it
on the market. These, however, did
not discourage him. He decided to
make use of some of his immense cap
1tal In order to have his way.
The First Venture.
His first step was to seek out his
old playmate. school fellow and COL
lege chum Herr Kunzig, councillor in
the imperial treasury, and appoint
him his general manager. He gave
him carte blanche to buy up property
In Berlin and to erect spacious halls
and beer gardens where the Fursten-
berg brew should be on tap. An i'm
mense sum was expended in this way
and In fitting out and furnishing the
newly erected or acquired places.
Soon the brew became famous. and
the business rapidly grew and return
ed splendid profits.
The success of the first venture in
buying land in Berlin gave the prince
taste for speculation in the real
estate market, and he soon possessed
large tracts of building land in the
most promising quarters of the cap
ltal, which have increased in value.
While engaged in these transactions
he became interested in street tran
SIT In Berlin. His banker drew his
attention to its possibilities. At the
time an amalgamation was proceed
ing between the old omnibus company
and a new one which threatened riv-
airy. The prince acquired stock in
the Joint concern and secured a con-
trolling voice. Since then develop
ments have been made in the street
traffic in Berlin through the intro
duction OF motor omnibuses that Sc
riously threaten the street car SER
vice and bring large profits to the
stockholders.
Just at that period the princes
friend, Prince Kraft zu Hohenlohe-
oehringen, better known as the Duke
OF Ujest, was interested in the devel-.
opment OF the Silesjan mines, and he
suggested to Prince Furstenberg that
ne should come into the enterprise,
which he did with aror. The mines
developed to such an extent that they
became unmanageable as a private
concern, and it was decided to form
company. The Duke of Ujest, who
was the principal owner, on its forma-
ton received an enormous sum as
his share of the purchase price, and
he and his family were assured a per-
petuaf yearly income of three-quarter
million dollars.
Worked Sub Rosa at First.
Up to that time Prince Furstenberg
and his partner prince had been
working quietly and behind the
scenes. But. secretly as they worked
they nevertheless had been thorough
in their preparation for what was to
be their masterpiece. Suddenly Ger
many, and especially the money primo
es who had hitherto ruled the coun-
try's business world, woke up to the
announcement that the Commercial
Union had bought, with the help of
Prince Furstenberg's enormous for
tune and influence, the German Le-
want Steamship line, and that in do
Ing so it had defeated the hitherto
all-powerful Albert Balm, managing
director of the Hamburg-American
line. With this steamship line in
hand the prince is said to contemplate
third gigantic German steamship
company to actively compete with the
Hamburg-American and the North
German Lloyd. For the present, how
ever. he will conf1ne his efforts to the
development of the Near Orient.
Furstenberg, with dash of theatre
calism, reserved his biggest bomb un-
til last and exploded 1t with very
evident enjoyment in the discontinue
OF his rivals. While Balm and his
friends were fighting the new power
In finance over the Levant line Furs-
tenberg quietly carried the battle into
the enemy's camp. Through his many
agents he bought up all the stray
stock of the Hamburg-American line
that was on the market and when
Balm and his friends woke up they
found their enemy firmly intrenched
IN their camp and that henceforth
they will have to consult the opinions
or Prince EnrSfanhoro To- Sho