People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1893 — BUSINESS INSTINCT. [ARTICLE]

BUSINESS INSTINCT.

Aa Aaecdot* Giving a Good lUwetrwtlow of the Term. When the “street” says of a man: “He has t, long head for business,” it credits him with an instinct for discovering a profitable investment or scenting a bargain. An illustration of this “long head” was given by the late Judge Pratt, of Oregon, at the beginning of his business career. Mr. Bancroft relates the anecdote in his “Chronicles of the Builders." During a trip from Portland to San Francisco Mr. Pratt and Capt Crosby, the commander of the vessel, conversed about the probable price of lumber In San Francisco. Pratt thought the vessel’s cargo would bring at least twentyfive dollars a thousand feet “I wish you would guarantee me that figure,” said the captain. “Well," rejoined Pratt, “there is no reason why I should guarantee you any sum, but it seems to me that lumber ought to bring that price there,” and he gave his reasons. “Will you buy my cargo, laid down at San Francisco, at twenty dollars a thousand?” asked the captain. “I will;” and the contract was at once drawn up and signed by both parties. As the vessel entered the harbor of San Francisco she was boarded by a purchasing agent of the United States government, who offered two hundred and fifty dollars a thousand for the cargo. The offer was declined; the vessel went up to the city, where the lumber was sold for four hundred dollars a thousand. Mr. Pratt cleared ten thousand dollars by his venture.— Youth’s Companion.