The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1860-09-22
stewart the Merchant Prince.

The prince Of the dry goods merchants of New
iork,A. i. Stewart, is said TO be worth about
fourteen millions Of dollars, all the product of his
own management and tact He is an Irishman
by birth, having been born in Tyrone county.
Ireland IN l7o6 He came TO this country in 1916
and made his debut upon the American Theatre of
life as school teacher in Rose street near the
famous Quaker Church. He commenced the dry
goods business in 1922, in an old wooden tene-
ment in broadway, Immediately opposite his pres
cnt store. His establishment, instead of being
the largest in the city, only about twenty feet
square. From this small commencement he
worked his way stop by step until he is the lad
ing merchant, and is in fair way to be the veal,
ihicst man in America. Whilst other merchants
were lettering and failing during the several
comm 'rcal crises Of this country, he stood firm,
and was coming money whilst others around him
were failing In lsis he moved to his present
marble store. He has made half dozen partners
rich allowing them onc-eighth Of the profits Of his
business His store and the ground is worth one
million Of dollars.
lie owns the Metropolitan Hotel aud Niblo's
Saloon, which pay him interest often per cent |
upon one million of dollars. He owns nearly two |
blocks on Blocker street, and other entire blocks |
upon Broadway, from Ninth to Tenth streets,
extending through to Fourth avenue--a portion |
of which h. purchased last fall, rrmor having it |
that he intended to put up magnificent store,
covering the whole block He owns more real |
estate than any man in the city, unless it may be-
VIM. H. Astor. His Income, however, is much |
greater than Asor's. His sales annually reach
SlO,O0O,'00 with net profits Of over 100000.
Many compute his present wealth at from eighteen
to twenty millions.
lie isyct ayoung man, to MI appearance, being
only about sxty-four, and looking as young az
most men at forty, with fair prospect ofretaining
his faculties until he is one hundred and is in
much better health than either Astor or Girard
(who lived to the age of ninety) enjoyed at sixty
four. lie resides in Blocker street, in a dwelling
that cost 800 He has never had any chill
dren, and has therefore no one to leave his prince
ly property to. What he will do with il has al
ready become topic with the gossipers, most Of
whom will be outlved by Stewart himself
-
FIRST FIRING OF THE GREAT FLOYD Gun
A litter dated Old Point Comfort, Va, August 10Th
says: The curiosity Of the artillery officers and Of
the guests at Old Point was Tatifed yesterday by
the first firing Of the great Floyd gun. The first
shell, weighing 360 pounds, was thrown fifteen
hundred and forty yards, at an angle of five de-
grees, and striking the sand, bounced seven hun
bred and fifty yards further. The charge ofpow-
der wastwcnty pounds. The second shell weigh
ing ;2S pounds was thrown something upwards Of |
four miles on the water, at an angle Of forty de-
grecs, and with charge of twenty five pounds of
powder. The powder with which this gun is fred |
is in grains Of about one inch cube. The report is |
not 50 loud as that made by the ten-inch guns on |
the rampars, but the whisting Of the shell through
the air is terrific. The shell thrown upon the water
was forty two seconds in the air before striking |
The "Floyd' gun is pronounced a success, and |
there 10 be no doubt it viii reach six or eight
miles. Itweghs 1909 pounds, and cost in its
casting $4,000 Both the protector, Capt Rod
man, and the proprietor OF the Ptisburg fondry,
Mr. Knapp where the cannon was east are here
experimenting the firing of this monster gun
The experiments are conducted by Capt. Dyer, Of
the Ordinance D,partm n;--onc Of the most cx-
perienccd and scientific officers longing TO the ar.
my, and quite accomplished gentleman rs he
is able officer
Nor LosT.-The following beautiful sentiment
in regard to the future condition of our children
is from the pen of Henry Ward Beecher:
When God gives me babe, | say, " l thank
God for this lamp lit in my family" And when,
after il has been a light in my household for one
or two years, it pleases God to take it away, |
can take the cup, bitter or sweet. can say,
my light has gone out my heart is sacked; my
hopes are desolated my child is lost--my child
is lost = or can say in the spirit of job The
Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed
be the name Of the Lord" It has pleased God to
take FIVE children from m" hu. never lot on.
and neycr shall