Carnegie’s New York
How Carnegie influenced New York
No wonder New York City is nicknamed “The City That Never Sleeps.”
There are many great cities in America, New York being one of them. It took hours and hard work from people to found and structure such an extravagant city. The men and women who that helped New York in any way had a drive and an idea of how to leave the city better than they found it. The city is built on the dreams of millions of citizens, trying to make it somewhere in life willing to work for hours to achieve their aspirations. No wonder New York City is nicknamed “The City That Never Sleeps.” The journey early explorers had to take was a miraculous journey, little did they know that where they landed would become one of the biggest trading centers in the Western World. There are only a few places where you can find such a phenomenon taking place. Take the desire to work and improve out of the equation, and New York City would be just like any other city, not looking to progress and happy at the state that it is currently at. New York is filled with immigrants trying to succeed, whether it be their company, workplace, or lifestyle, hence another byname New York was given,“The Great American Melting Pot.” The city is overflowing with opportunity and an excellent future to be the people of New York. Andrew Carnegie was one of those special people. New York created a window of opportunity for him, at the expense of diligence and determination. From Carnegie’s early life, he learned the importance of knowledge and a tenacious work ethic that led him to comfort, causing him to vastly contribute to the business and education of New York City.
Carnegie climbed the ladder of success throughout his lifetime, eventually reaching the top and helping others that were lower than him. Andrew Carnegie and his family came to America looking for a better life with a more reliable job. He was working as an immigrant making less than minimum wage for $1.20 a week in a cotton mill as a bobbin boy in Allegheny, Pennsylvania at the age of thirteen (in qtd biography.com) Although he had to work as a child, he learned important subjects by reading and writing. Carnegie was influenced by his parents, who taught him the importance of books and learning, which created the foundation for Andrew’s successful life. He was expected to work as a weaver, his father’s profession, until he realized he did not want to follow in his father’s footsteps. Instead, he worked as a telegraph messenger and was promoted to a telegraph operator. Carnegie was hired as the assistant and telegrapher to Thomas Scott, a railroad official at the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1853. He then worked as a conductor at Pennsylvania Railroad and quickly got promoted through the ranks. As Andrew Carnegie Biography editors wrote, while working at Pennsylvania Railroad,“He learned about the railroad industry and about business in general” (qtd Andrew Carnegie Biography). Carnegie led an average life at the Pennsylvania Railroad, but was looking for more in his future. Andrew Carnegie strived to continue working until he reached his dream.
Shortly after Carnegie resigned from Pennsylvania Railroad, “He turned his attention to the Keystone Bridge Company, which worked to replace wooden bridges with stronger iron ones” (qtd Carnegie.org). Andrew saw a chance and took it without hesitation, his money and belongings on the line for him. Andrew was alerted by his railroad attendant that there were unclaimed shares in the Adams Express Company, and he bought them without hesitation. Over the three years of working on his company he made an annual income of $50,000. Today that would amount to about $1,400,000 (in qtd Carnegie.org). Shortly after Carnegie’s third year, he was offered a share in a new concept of sleeping cars on the railways. He liked the idea and bought Woodruff’s Sleeping Car Company, taking yet another shot in the dark with such a risky business. While mainly focusing on his Sleeping Car Company, he started investing in oil and steel as a side-job making him $5,000 yearly (in qtd Carnegie.org). Carnegie looked and planned far into the future, and eventually, his business took off like a rocket and he was able to sell his company at the staggering age of 35 years (in qtd Carnegie.org). Andrew became well known throughout the city of New York for his wealth. His tenacious work ethic caused Carnegie to “become the dominant force in the industry and an exceedingly wealthy man.” (qtd Biography.com) He attempted to manage both companies. Eventually, the stress became too much for him to handle.
Carnegie was a man who respected the society and contributed much of his life to improving the world surrounding him. Andrew knew what it was like to start from the bottom, with little or no experience. He was convinced that in order to help America progress, the people should have easy access to books, educating themselves from the words on the pages. Wanting others to benefit from his passion for reading, he put effort, time, and money into founding libraries. Andrew Carnegie “donated approximately $5 million to the New York Public Library,”(qtd Biography.com) allowing them to expand. In 1904 he established the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh. With his support, Carnegie and opened more than 2,800 libraries making numerous donations. “In bestowing charity, the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves.” (qtd Andrew Carnegie) Rather than bringing all his money to his grave, like most wealthy people do, Andrew decided to “sign a prenuptial marriage agreement stating Carnegie’s intention of giving away virtually his entire fortune during his lifetime.” As he stated, “The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.” (qtd Andrew Carnegie) Carnegie was a modest man. He was a humble man, who did not like to show off his earnings/wealth. Andrew didn’t believe in living a life of extravagance; rather he and his wife would “use their riches to promote the welfare and happiness of others.” (qtd Carnegie.org) 90 percent of his fortune had been given away and been recycled into the society, by the year 1911. (in qtd americaslibrary) Carnegie put his heart, mind, and eventually his money for the advancement of the society and its people always wanting to “make the world in some way better than you found it” (qtd The Empire of Business).
Carnegie’s philanthropic ideas would allow many following generations to relish the opportunities he had. He created a pathway by founding many libraries and donating to several organizations, in order to help the youth of America succeed. Andrew Carnegie established the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace located in the Netherlands in the search for world peace. (in qtd americaslibrary) He believed in the ‘Gospel of Wealth,’ which meant that wealthy people were morally obligated to give their money back to others in society. Andrew would donate money while he was working, although after he retired “giving away money became his new occupation” (qtd americaslibrary.gov). He allegedly contributed more than $125 million to a foundation named the Carnegie Corporation to aid colleges and other schools wanting to develop education. Andrew wanted to see change in the community and their people, hoping for advancement and success. Carnegie was so determined he even made a pledge that he would, ”Build a library to any town in the United States that would supply the land and upkeep for the building” (qtd Biography.com). Along with all the great contributions, he gifted the land and materials needed to build a New York City performance venue, Carnegie Hall.
Carnegie climbed the ladder of success throughout his lifetime, eventually reaching the top and helping others that were lower than him. Andrew Carnegie and his family came to America looking for a better life with a more reliable job. He was working as an immigrant making less than minimum wage for $1.20 a week in a cotton mill as a bobbin boy in Allegheny, Pennsylvania at the age of thirteen (in qtd biography.com) Although he had to work as a child, he learned important subjects by reading and writing. Carnegie was influenced by his parents, who taught him the importance of books and learning, which created the foundation for Andrew’s successful life. He was expected to work as a weaver, his father’s profession, until he realized he did not want to follow in his father’s footsteps. Instead, he worked as a telegraph messenger and was promoted to a telegraph operator. Carnegie was hired as the assistant and telegrapher to Thomas Scott, a railroad official at the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1853. He then worked as a conductor at Pennsylvania Railroad and quickly got promoted through the ranks. As Andrew Carnegie Biography editors wrote, while working at Pennsylvania Railroad,“He learned about the railroad industry and about business in general” (qtd Andrew Carnegie Biography). Carnegie led an average life at the Pennsylvania Railroad, but was looking for more in his future. Andrew Carnegie strived to continue working until he reached his dream.
Shortly after Carnegie resigned from Pennsylvania Railroad, “He turned his attention to the Keystone Bridge Company, which worked to replace wooden bridges with stronger iron ones” (qtd Carnegie.org). Andrew saw a chance and took it without hesitation, his money and belongings on the line for him. Andrew was alerted by his railroad attendant that there were unclaimed shares in the Adams Express Company, and he bought them without hesitation. Over the three years of working on his company he made an annual income of $50,000. Today that would amount to about $1,400,000 (in qtd Carnegie.org). Shortly after Carnegie’s third year, he was offered a share in a new concept of sleeping cars on the railways. He liked the idea and bought Woodruff’s Sleeping Car Company, taking yet another shot in the dark with such a risky business. While mainly focusing on his Sleeping Car Company, he started investing in oil and steel as a side-job making him $5,000 yearly (in qtd Carnegie.org). Carnegie looked and planned far into the future, and eventually, his business took off like a rocket and he was able to sell his company at the staggering age of 35 years (in qtd Carnegie.org). Andrew became well known throughout the city of New York for his wealth. His tenacious work ethic caused Carnegie to “become the dominant force in the industry and an exceedingly wealthy man.” (qtd Biography.com) He attempted to manage both companies. Eventually, the stress became too much for him to handle.
Carnegie was a man who respected the society and contributed much of his life to improving the world surrounding him. Andrew knew what it was like to start from the bottom, with little or no experience. He was convinced that in order to help America progress, the people should have easy access to books, educating themselves from the words on the pages. Wanting others to benefit from his passion for reading, he put effort, time, and money into founding libraries. Andrew Carnegie “donated approximately $5 million to the New York Public Library,”(qtd Biography.com) allowing them to expand. In 1904 he established the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh. With his support, Carnegie and opened more than 2,800 libraries making numerous donations. “In bestowing charity, the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves.” (qtd Andrew Carnegie) Rather than bringing all his money to his grave, like most wealthy people do, Andrew decided to “sign a prenuptial marriage agreement stating Carnegie’s intention of giving away virtually his entire fortune during his lifetime.” As he stated, “The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.” (qtd Andrew Carnegie) Carnegie was a modest man. He was a humble man, who did not like to show off his earnings/wealth. Andrew didn’t believe in living a life of extravagance; rather he and his wife would “use their riches to promote the welfare and happiness of others.” (qtd Carnegie.org) 90 percent of his fortune had been given away and been recycled into the society, by the year 1911. (in qtd americaslibrary) Carnegie put his heart, mind, and eventually his money for the advancement of the society and its people always wanting to “make the world in some way better than you found it” (qtd The Empire of Business).
Carnegie’s philanthropic ideas would allow many following generations to relish the opportunities he had. He created a pathway by founding many libraries and donating to several organizations, in order to help the youth of America succeed. Andrew Carnegie established the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace located in the Netherlands in the search for world peace. (in qtd americaslibrary) He believed in the ‘Gospel of Wealth,’ which meant that wealthy people were morally obligated to give their money back to others in society. Andrew would donate money while he was working, although after he retired “giving away money became his new occupation” (qtd americaslibrary.gov). He allegedly contributed more than $125 million to a foundation named the Carnegie Corporation to aid colleges and other schools wanting to develop education. Andrew wanted to see change in the community and their people, hoping for advancement and success. Carnegie was so determined he even made a pledge that he would, ”Build a library to any town in the United States that would supply the land and upkeep for the building” (qtd Biography.com). Along with all the great contributions, he gifted the land and materials needed to build a New York City performance venue, Carnegie Hall.
Work Cited
“Andrew Carnegie: Pioneer. Visionary. Innovator.” Andrew Carnegie’s Story. www.carnegie.org. Carnegie Corporation of New York, n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2017.
"Andrew Carnegie." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 22 Nov. 2016. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.
"Andrew Carnegie Centenary, 1835-1935: The Memorial Address by Sir James Colquhoun Irvine, and Other Tributes to the Memory of Andrew Carnegie." , 1935 | Online Research Library: Questia. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.
"Andrew Carnegie's Story." Carnegie Corporation of New York. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.
PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2017
"Andrew Carnegie, Philanthropist." Andrew Carnegie, Philanthropist. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2017.
“Andrew Carnegie: Pioneer. Visionary. Innovator.” Andrew Carnegie’s Story. www.carnegie.org. Carnegie Corporation of New York, n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2017.
"Andrew Carnegie." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 22 Nov. 2016. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.
"Andrew Carnegie Centenary, 1835-1935: The Memorial Address by Sir James Colquhoun Irvine, and Other Tributes to the Memory of Andrew Carnegie." , 1935 | Online Research Library: Questia. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.
"Andrew Carnegie's Story." Carnegie Corporation of New York. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.
PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2017
"Andrew Carnegie, Philanthropist." Andrew Carnegie, Philanthropist. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2017.