Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-10-11
duke, TOBACCO
KING, dies AT.
new YORK HOME.
His Interests Will Not
Suffer, Philanthropist
Says in One of Final
Statements
(By the Associated Press.)

NEW YORK, N. Y. Oct. 1O.-James
B. Duke, tobacco manufacturer died to-
night at 6 O'Clock at his home after an
illness of several weeks that followed
nervous and physical breakdown.
In one of his last statements before
his death, Mr.. Duke said his passing
would have no effect on the future of
his varied interests as all were in good
hands.
For several years Mr.. Duke had not
taken an active part in the conduct Of
the many enterprises in which he was
interested Actual management was
entrusted to men he had trained, al
though he frequently went to his New
York office and kept in close touch
with business matters. Mr.. Duke al
ways maintained close relations with
the farmers whose products. he pur-
chased. Insshis early years as tobacco
manufacturer he instructed his buyers
to pay the farmers enough for their
crops to assure them living, notwith-
standing market conditions. He be-
came extensively interested in the de-
velopment of hydro electric power and
established large plants in sections of
his native state of North Carolina. Re-
Gently he spent large sums in an effort
to discover a method of producing cheap
fertilizer for the benefit Of the farmer.
Endows University
Last year he established the Duke
Foundation, setting aside $40,000,000.
Under its terms, Trinity college at
Durham, N. c., changed its name to
Duke university and active program Of
expansion was begun.
James Buchanan Duke was born in
1856 near Durham. N. c. and received
his education in the country schools.
His first connection with the tobacco
industry began few years after the
civil war, when his father, Washington
Duke, established the plant which prov
ed to be the nucleus of what later be-
came an institution known around the
world. The father took his two sons,
Benjamin and James B. Duke into the
business with him. When James the
younger son, was Is years of age his
father turned the active management of
the business over to him. The business
grew rapidly and in 1890 Mr.. Duke
formed the American Tobacco company
taking in numerous other concerns.
Some years later the company was
attacked as monopoly and in 1911,
following suit by the government un-
der the Sherman antitrust law, was
dissolved. Mr.. Duke, who had been
president Of the American Tobacco
company, became chairman of the
board of the British American Tobacco
company, one of the subsidiaries, con-
tinuing in this office for number Of
years.
Had Many Homes
For many years. Mr.. Duke made his
home at Somerville, N. j., where he
maintained an estate of some 5000
acres which until recently was open t.
the public. The estate was adorned
with massive bridges, more than 4t
fountains and numerous statues. Trees
and shrubs were brought from all parts
of the world and placed about the
grounds He also had a residence in
New York City, one at Newport, r /.
known as Rough Point" and still an
other at Charlotte, N. c., where he oft.
en- spent the winters.
Always an ardent republican and be-
lever in high tariff Mr.. Duke~was a
great admirer of President Mckinley
mammoth bronze statue of Mckinley
Continued on Page Two)