The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-16
FLAGLER'S WORK
 DOWN IN FLORIDA
By HOLLAND.

By HOLLAND.
 New York, May 15.-(Special. )-When Jchn H. Flagler some 90 years ago per suaded his cousin. Henry M. Flagler to make an excursion to Florida chiefly for the purpose of rest, of which Henry Flagler was in need, and for recreation, the cousin first visited St. Augustine, Henry M. Flagler went to Florida rather reluctantly. Had he not been in need of a few weeks rest so that he might re- cuperate, his cousin could not have per- suaded him to make the journey.
 Out of that chance sojourn for short time in Florida grew an investment which, according to the Kentucky au- thorities, is now of the money value of S1e7. 100000, Henry M. Flagler had not been long in St Augustine before his mind, which was always more or less occupied in the attempt to discover op- portunities, said to his cousin that he believed that very great opportunities could be found in Florida and that he would undertake to take advantage of them.
 Almost all of MT. Flagler's friends at tempted to dissuade his purpose to build railroad running along the east coast or flOrlQd ana over the coral keys lO Key West was regarded as chmerical. Some of Mir Flagler's business friends wondered whether there was not some impairment of his brilliant intellectual quality which caused him to lose his good judgment and to become visionary.
 MT. Flagler did not rely upon the rail- road for profitable investment excepting as the railroad might be accessory in the great development of the heretofore
  certain that Florida could be so well de- veloped as to become a highly attractive winter resort, and he invested millions in full faith that that view was correct.
 Were he alive now, he would discover that whatever may be the estimate of the administrator of the estate as to it's money value, nevertheless the state of Kentucky, after carefu- investigation of the value of the land, the railroad and the hotels in which MT Flaglers money was invested, find that it has the money value of $107,0oo,000 The greater part of MT. Flagler's estate passed by bequest to his widow. She died nearly two years ago and bequeathed property of the es- timated value of s60,00O0O0 to a niece, who was the nearest of kin. MT. Flag Ter is understood to have invested in the aggregate between $40,000, 900 and 0000, - 900 in his Florida properties.
 A TRUE FORECAST
 He lived long enough to be able to say to his once doubting friends that his properties in Florida had appre- ciated in value because of the develop ment and investment which he made in them so that it was reasonable estimate taht they were of the money value of s60,000,000.
 Of course, the state of Kentucky may have been anxious to place as high an ncft ty,sn ay h1A value of the estate which Mir. Flag ler's widow, who sometime after his death married again. died possessed of. Nevertheless the investigation was very careful and the disposition of kentucky's representatives who were sent to Florida was evidently perfect ly fair.
 A TRIUMPHANT MEDICATION
 If the finding of the Kentucky com mission should be sustained then it can be said that the report is triumphant vindication of the foresight of Mir. Flagler, and of his instant appreciation of the bountiful opportunities which were offered to investors through the development of resources of Florida. Inquiries which were put to men who should know say that no record so far as they know of the value of the es- tates, whose properties were chiefly | cessories to railroad development. ex- l ceeded $100, ,000, 900 with the possible ex- ception of that of Commodore Wander l bilt. One of the commodore's executors, | the late Samuel Barton, sometimes said | to his friends that the aggregate money value of the commodore's estate was about $90, ,0O0,0 ,000
 | to have accumulated a fortune lit l tie under $100,000,000, chiefly through railroad investments and promotions l James J. Hill accumu ulated a fortune estimated at about $75,000,000. E.. H | Harrimans estate was inventoried a little in excess of $75,000,0 900, much of the estate being represented by railroad property.
 In each of these cases the estate rep resented large increase in the market | value of railroad stocks increases which were due to the initiative and energy of the commodore, of MT. Hill, Mir. Hartman and MT Blair.
 | Collis P. Huntington's estate was | inventoried shortly after his death al l little under $30,000,0 ,00e, but later there came an appreciation of several millions in the market value of the railroad se- curities held by MT. Huntington. This however, was due to MT. Huntington's | foresight, his initiative his perser- verance and his energy. The incre- ment justly reflects the ability of these | railroad men.
 l The increment in the value of MT Flagler's Florida properties now as a whole estimated at $107000. 900, is due 1 entirely to him, even though no small l part of it was obtained after his death MT. Flagler was always confident that l Florida would in time become through
 the development of all the natural re. | sources of the state one of the richest l in the United States and perhaps thl