The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-06-24
How the Richest Man In New York
spends his Tim

A correspondent of the Rochester DEM
ocrat sketches the richest man in New
York in this manner;
OWN. b. Astor's Office is in Prince
street, near Broadway, where he may be
found daily between the hours of mine
and three He is a large, stout built
man, with coarse features, stiff, rough,
sandy colored hair, and a cast of coun-
tenance Of a very ordinary type. He
dresses plainly but neatly, has a some
what careWorn look, and appears to be
fifty or sixty years Of age. His private
office is of moderate size and of plain
furniture, On table are few books,
and on opening that one which appears
most thumbed, you perceive that it is a
volume of maps Of city property, care
fully and elegantly executed, and, as a
whole, embracing the sundries of an en-
Ormous estate, estimated at over S2j,-
100000 Mr.. Astor resides in Lafayette
Place, in one Of a row Of dwellings which
twenty five years ago were the grandest
in the city, though now they are distance
ed by the PALACES Of the Fifth avenue.
Near by is the magnificent library found
cd by his father, 10 which he has added
a fund nearly equal to the original en-
dowment. Here he spends a small part
Of his time, the remainder being occu-
pied by his dutiea in the Prince street
Office, whore, Sundays excepted, he does
a full days work every day in the week,
Thus the whole routine Of the life Of the
richest man in America is walk to and
from home of a half mile and close at
tentiOp 80 business. The care Of Mr.
Astor's estate is a vast burden. lie has
several hundred tenants of all grades,
from the $500 cottage 10 the $4,000
store To relieve himself Of this veXa-
tious duty, he has committed il for years
to an agent, who does the work well He
collects rents and makes quarterly re-
turns, and thus pays over a sum which
would be almost incredible, and which
we may roughly estimate at 100000
per annum. This man employs a small
army Of paint2rg, carpenters and other
mechanics, in order to keep up repairs
and superintends the whole of this de-
partment As a large part Of Mr. As
tors property consists Of vacant lots
which are in continual demand, and
which he vii. not sell, he is much em-
ployed with architects and master build
ers, and generally has one or two large
blocks in course Of erection at q time.
This is very serious burden. His son
John Jacob Is quite a business man, and
hears his share Of the load Besides
this, some fifteen years ago a talented
aud elegant young merchant (Fraaklin
Delano) married one Of the daughters,
and also affords assistance. In addition
10 these labors, the attention 10 the coll
lection of interest in bonds, dividends,
etc, is heavy item, since, in the little
brick Office (Which is, Of course, fire.
proof) there are several millions of gov
eminent and State securities. His daily
income is computed at $4,000. II is said
that a certain person felicitated Mr.. As
tor on his wealth. Pointing 70 his piles
OF bonds, maps, etc, the capitalist re-
| piled How would you like 10 manage
all these matters for your board and
clothes The man demurrcd 10 the idea
/ Sir, said the other, IT is all / get. Mr.
Aston It is said, gives but little away.