The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-15

as those gained by MT. Hartman or by MT. Ream it is impracticable at any moment to set down accurately the ag- gregate wealth estimated in dollars.
 Last simmer, at a time when Mr. Ream was speaking of the effects of the Eu- ropear war and looking into the future with that singular accuracy of vision which was one of the qualifications that made great success possible for him, he spcke or the opportunities that might arise for great increase in the national wealth of the United States. He hoped that no American citizen would take un- due advantage of these opportunities so as unreasonably to increase his own wealth. and he then said, If I had been working for wealth I would be ashamed to be caught with the money which I could have made" This statement was in perfect sympathy with Mir. Ream's ca- reer. He was not an avaricious man, possessing a miserly instinct for the steady accumulation of money so that he could count his gains and gloat over them, and yet he did have good understanding of the fact that great successes, especial 1y in constructive work, are, in part, at least, to be measured by the money re- turns.
 On the day after MT. Ream's death many accounts were published, consisting chiefly of brief and bare outlines of his
 career, followed by long lists of the corporations with which he was identified. The enumerating of thees corpora ne ,ncf tl,n
 great body of the public, although finan- cier, of course, see the meaning which is behind statistical list of that kind.
 The men of finance were not the only
 ones who had full appreciation of the
 meaning which is in the career of MT.
 Ream. By men of finance and by those
 who are engaged in managing the large
 industries there has been for years full
 recognition of his constructive ability and
 of the swiftness with which he recog- nized. about 20 years ago, that the United States vas entering upon new economic
 era due to the marvellous triumphs of in
 vention, of utilization of the secrets of
 nature for material purposes and the an
 nihilation of time and space so that in accommodation had become the work of an instant. Some of the great edu- ca tors of the United States recently have spoken of MT. Ream as one of the most extraordinary and in his example anc influences one of the most valuable o1 American citizens of his time
 A Constructive Mind
 No one of the great men of affairs wht have contributed 50 materially to tn, prosperity and growth of tine United | States since 1880 is to be compared witi any other one. Each in his own way was original, each had temperamenta and mental characteristics which identi fled him. Some were eccentric and som, were associated with very dramatic ano spectacular achievements which were per fectly honorable, and these men were of course, brought conspicuously to ths view of the public Others were mer of quiet life, even modest, sometimes shy not seeking publicity, being satisfied il their constructive work justified them in undertaking 1t. Each, however. worked in his own distinguishing way. MT Ream was one of those who meyer sought the eye of the public. Even in his philan- thropies he was secretve, rarely letting his right hand know what his left hand had done. But he stood forth in 1899 as one of the leading constructive forces of the United States. For it is not toe much to report that it was in no smal
 mea sure due to MT. Ream that the great end difficult problem wf1ose solution
 would furnish the principles upon which great business could be established was