Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-16
How the Richest Wen i'm New York
Spend their Time.

A correspondent of the Rochester Democrat
sketches two of the richest men of New York
in this manner:
WM b. AsTOR.-Mr. Astor's Office is in
Prince street, near Broadway, where he may
be found daily between the hours of mine
and three" He is large, stout-built man,
with coarse features, stiff, rough, sandy-colored
hair, and a cast of countenance OF a very or
binary type. lie dresses plainly, but neatly,
has a somewhat careworn look, and appears to
be fifty 10 sixty years of age. His private
Office is of moderate size and of plain furni-
ture. On a table are a few books, and on
opening that one which appears most thumbed,
YOU perceive that it is volume of maps of
city property, carefully and elegantly execu-
ted, and, as a whole embracing the sundres
of an enormous estate, estimated at over S25,-
100000 Mr.. Astor resides in Lafayette
Place, in one of row of dwellings which
twenty-five years ago were the grandest in the
city, though now they are distanced by the
palaces of the fifth avenue. Near by is the
magnificent library founded by his father, to
which he has added fund nearly equal to the
original endowment. Here he spends small
part of his time, the remainder being occupied
by his duties in the Prince street office, where,
Sundays excepted, he does full days work
every week. Thus the whole routine of life
of the richest man in America is a walk to
and from home of half mile and close at
tention to business. The care of Mr.. Astor's
estate is a vast burden. He has several hun
dred tenants of all grades, from the $500 cot
tage to the $4,000 store. To relieve himself
of this vexatious duty, he has committed it for
years to an agent, who does the work well.
10 taf1x
and thus pays over a sum which would be al
most incredible, and which we may roughly
estimate at 100000 per annum. This man
employs a small army of painters, carpenters,
and other mechanics, in order to keep up re-
pairs, and superintends the whole of this de-
partment. As large part of Mr.. Astor's
property consists Of vacant lots which are in
continual demand, and which he will not sell,
he is much employed with architects and mas
ter builders, and generally has one or two
large blocks in course of erection at time.
This is a very serious burden. His son John
Jacob is quite a business man, and bears his
share of the load. Besides this, some fifteen
years ago, a talented and elegant young mer-
chant (Franklin Delano) married one of the
daughters, and also affords assistance. In adj
dition to these labors, the attention to the col
lection of interest in bonds, dividends, etc, is
heavy item, since in the little brick office
(Which is, of course, fre-prooD there are sew
eral millions of Government and State securi-
ties. His daily income is computed at $4,000.
1t is said that certain person felicitated Mr..
Asor on his wealth. Pointing to his piles of
bonds maps, &C., the capitalist replied: "IIow
would you like in manage all these matters
for your board and clothes?'~ The man de-
INJURED to the idea. "Sir," said the other, lit
is all l get" Mr.. Astor, it is said, gives but
little awav.