The Detroit times., 1915-10-13

the old neighborhood had been. IL
goes without saying that there are
"a lot OF people roaming up and down
GTisveld-st today, or sitting at nice
mahogany desks behind gold-lac-
qaersd ratings, who wish they
hacnt been quite so skeptical
! Take. for instance, the case of
Fro,ainent officer OF one OF the Girls
ser officer in the same institution.
When the company was very new
hr. Couzens explained kindly and
patiently the whole merits of the
horssless carriage business TO this
bank official and offered to let him
have some OF the stock.
Right here let II be said that. a
number OF the current stories TO
the contrary. there was no begging
for stock subscriptions around town
or anything like that. There was
just a wide-open chance for any
body who wanted TO and had the
money 70 buy stock. but II is doubt
fuI whether. With al The dIgnfied
struggle the members OF the new
company had 10 get money enough
10 really start doing business. any
body was ever asked twice 70 buy
f, Ford stock. THE active men in the
new company had an abiding faith
/ in their proposition. and while those
who called 10 see IL were welcome
/ 10 come in. those who could not
were Just a. welcome 10 stay out
Anyhow. this bank officer was Of
fered chance to buy $1,000 worth
81 the stock at par The fun OF il
was. he had $4,000 In idle cash at
the time. He hesitated a little and
then decided to ask advice higher
IN SO he went TO one OF the power.
frl men in the bank organization
and asked him what 10 do.
We'll. Henry" (we'll call him that
because IL isn't his nameJ said the
older man. "rll tell you That sort
OF an investment Is hardly the thing
for man in your position. You
have $4,000 TO invest. and that ~ att
you have. II you put IL in there and
the thing doesn't go. YOU have lost
all you have. IL might 90 and make
some money. but IL Nigh, not go az
all. IL you put what money you
have into real estate yeH know you
are safe, and that is what I would
do IL | were In your place.
So Henry" did He has gotten
-=r+r
/ position in his bank, draws a nice
salary and drives big automobile,
but there were number Of years
that II used TO take bin most OF his
time figuring out how, with the
doubling and doubling and doubling
again OF Ford stock by means of
enormous stock as well as cash divi-
dends. that $4,000 which he safely
invested in real estate, would have
multiplied IL be hadn't been quite so
careful. When the figure that he
might have had began to get UP near
the million mark he quit figuring.
And 10 show that he meant just
what he told Frank (Which again
isn't his name), the older and more
prominent banker put some money
into the Ford company, on the writ
ten agreement with the powers that
were that he was 70 have stock for IL
II the stock was any good. and that
members OF the company were to as
sumo the investment az a personal
Indebtedness IL the stock was not de-
sirsble.
How the So 600 which the older
bank officer put up in this way grew
ana grew and grew until IL was val.
J ued several years ago at between
) three and four million dollars and
sui going II another story alto
/. gprher. ---------' -
, When. after the nrst year or two
Mr. Malconson decided 70 get out OF
the company and sold out. Mr..
Couzens was made treasurer. II
wasn't long before the car had
p caught on with the public. and since
Z then the company has been like a
big snow ball. pushed steadily along
BY Mr.. Ford and Mr.. Couzens. some
times NJ little hills. mostly alons
2 level, smooth ground, gathering mo
+ mentum and bulk all the time until
+ despite the huge Jumps that haw
dropped of from time 10 time, IN IN,
, shape OF dividends for the stocl
holders, shares Of profits for the EN-
= ployes and shares OF profits for TN,
= purchasers OF cars. II has grown n
y the IL years and little over which
{ have elapsed since the formation o.
q The Ford Motor Co. In the summel
n OF 1909. from a doubtful bushes,
7 venture 10 the biggest single bust
I ness organization the world has ye
. known.
That II what Mr.. Couzens severed
u active connection with yesterday
But his holdings In the company ar.
y supposed 10 be about SIS. 000, 900 ant
p he retains them, and he has IN.
street railway commission 10 occup,
!. his attention, so he probably win no
y have TO worry either over hts gro
. GERS bill or what 70 - with hts time