silver investment: The Lowest Risk, Highest Return Potential, page-265

aaaahhhh yes, 1884, Charles Dow composed his first stock average, but records exist since 1897.

If you'd bought the DJIA Index Total return in 1897 you'd be sitting on a 12,030,082% increase in your investment.

If you'd bought silver in 1897 you'd be sitting on a 19% loss.