Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-09-03
JOHN H. STARIN.
An Optimistic OctoKenarinn--Iow He
became a Millionaire.
(From the New York Press.


At one Of the recent big oanquets l
found John H. Starln. one Of New York s
grand old men. wandering up and down
the corridor with his hands clasped be-
hind his back. Hello. Uncle John what :
the matter? Why aren't you inside with
the revelers7'' "Oh. I'm tired. too long
winded; got 10 stretch my legs" but
they are telling bear stories now"
They are? Then I'll hurry In" Uncle
John is a famous bear hunter. few
years age he killed a tremendous fellow
IN the Adironda cks. the second largest,
7 believe, In the history of the North
woods
Uncle John Starin Is the youngest man
OF his years in New York. Tomorrow
he will be eighty-three. Instead OF re-
firing to enjoy the fruits OF a vast for
tune amassed in the harbor transporta-
ton business. no keeps his nose to the
grindstone with the zest Of an ambitious
youngster Of twenty-five. attending not
merely to the general operation Of his
many enterprises but to their details
He looks after his shipyaris. his Long
Island sound resorts, and his great fleet
Of steamboats,. tugs lighters. barges.
etc, with as keen supervision as he did
thirty years ago. and his captains and
other employees look 10 him for instruc-
tons Just ms they have always done
since 1880 when ne went into tho freight
handling business; for his views are Just
ms clear, az sound and az advanced as
those of his younger l!e,tenants
Uncle John was born in sammonsville
~ V. August 81 1875. Nicholas Star.n
Of Holland founded the American fam
lily Ten Of his lineal descendants fought
under Washington. Uncle Johns father.
Myndert Starin, founded the factories
that built up Sammonsville and Fulton
Vile. When he first entered New York
Uncle John went into the medicine bust
ness and was addressed as Doctor
Starin" At the age Of Fl he worked out
his novel and effective plan for handling
freishts Of the railroads entering New
York. and became a millionaire by II. for
he has solved the problem that perplexed
the Vanderblts and others The conges-
ton Of freight In those days was appal-
ling. and the expense OF handling was
serious drain on railroad finances
Uncle John is ms optimistic as II he
had still century before him. Last
year he Travelled alone through Europe
and had gay old time. rollicking and
frolicking like n boy. He enters into big
projects the same ever is instanc-
ed hy the Newark railroad scheme which
the papers told about some time ago He
is keen on public affairs For the recent
financial stringency he was more than
ready. and the anxietes that crushed
many younger and strong men In New
York did not even fuster him.
70 n, In
subways In our city would have been
souelched long ego. He stood ont for
them when everybody else called him an
ohetructionist nm old foEy. a crank. Even
his friends turned against him. urging
him 70 vote for temporary relief. but he
used to pound his desk with his fist and
say; '.They can all talk az they please.
but can Il you there Is no way to give
rapid transit except under ground. and
the very people who curse me now will
see Y in time. They can't move he. It's
suhwavs or nothing. 7 won't let them
have n quorum. I'll block every scheme
they bring UP. I'll let tho commission
SIT and sit without doing anything TIL
they all get ready to vote for subways
and nothing but suhways ANY temporary
relief will block the real remedy"
Even in the very early days Uncle
John used to get furiousy angry at the
idea that the people not only faltercd In
their plan for the suhwnys hut were SO
shOrtsightcd ms TO be content with n
plan for only four tracks. He said NJ
teen years ago that when the first four
track roads was opened tho city would
kick itself because the people would re-
allze then that eight tracks would he
n