Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-12
LIFE SKETCHOF
iron MASTER,

Andrew Carnegie began q race
against time when, in 1901, at the
age Of sixty-five. he resolved to give
away his enormous fortune. In the
comparatively few years which the
actuary could allow him. he would
disembarrass himself of practically
all he had. No man had ever
launched a philanthropic campaign
Of such dimensions.
His was then a fortune Of just q
quarter of billion dollars. the larg-
est ever acquired by a foreign.born
American, second only to the John
D. Rockefeller wealth as the largest
Individual accumulation in the Unit
ed States, and. built, as 1t was, 81
without SO much as turning over
ones hand, have approached half a
billion by the time Carnegie could
cali himself an octogenarian on Mo-
venber rs. 1915.
To give this stupendous sum away, k
in about half the time he had taken
to gather it, was a purpose Carnegie
had fairly well fulfilled when death
overlook him today. He had distri-
buted about $500, 100000. 1t was Civ t
ing money away at the rate Of over
100000 900 a year. or more than $780, |
900 day.
He declared. when he gave up
gathering wealth and announced an
20 L4k n ~
to find 1t more difficult to give his
millions away than it had been to GO
quire them. How would you give
$500, 000, 900 away" became such al
popular query that an English ad-
vertiser who employed 1t received
no less than $4,000 suggestions as to
how Carnegie could rid himself Of
his wealth. Twelve thousand per-
sons solved the problem In part by
asking for some of the money for,
themselves.
The answers which Carnegie him.
self gave and backed up with his NIL
lions have made him the most origi-
nal il not the greatest Of philanthro-
pists.
Before he sailed for Scotland in 1901 he
left letters announcing gifts Of ss,ooo.0oo.
His first big gift was the setting aside
Of 100000 to supply pensions and relief
for the injured and aged employees Of
his steel plants-"an acknowledgment
of the deep debt which owe to the
workmen who have contributed so
greatly to my success He added an
extra million for the support of libra
ries for his workmen, and took up his
library In wholesome way by giving
s. $4,000 to New York City for the erec-
ton Of IS branch libraries In the metrop-
oils. Another million he gave for Ii
brary in Ste Louis.
81 have just begun to give money
away he said in announcement Of
these gifts. He kept It up as fast as he
could with discrimination. On libraries
alone he spent upwards of s53,ooc.ooc
He gave them to some 1000 English
speaking communities throughout the
world. One Of his libraries is in the
FIJI Islands
He remembered Pittsburg. the scene
Of his steel-making triumphs. by estao-
fishing there a great institute, including
the largest of his libraries. museum.
a magnificent concert hail. and the Car
neeie Neurological schools. with to-
tai endowment of sis.Ooo.0oo
He built a great national institution
in washington. which should be the
FOUNTAIN head Of advanced work in
"nvestigation. research and discovery.
and placed In the hands Of it's trustees
q total endowment Of some s9oooo.oco
To his native Scotland his largest sin
gle gift was q fund Of 100000 to aid
educat In Scottish universities.
He carried out his pet idea of Hero
Commission endowed in 1905 with s5.-
Ooe. 900 by which hundreds Of men. wom-,
en- and children have been rewarded
with Carnegie medals or pensions for
acts OF heroism in the rescue Of i'm
perilled persons. He later extended
similar benefactions to several foreign
countries.
He established the Carnegie Founda-
lion for the Advancement Of Teaching.
with c total fund Of, S5.oco. 600. which
1as taken up efficiency surveys OF "a.