Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-05-28
How thc Richest Man in New YOrI
Spends HIS Tkme, 80

How th o ERichest Man In New York
spends His Time. ~
A correspondent Of the Rochester Democrat
sketches the richest man In New York in this
manner; :
WIN b. AsToR.--Mr. Aator's Office Ia in
rfince street, near Broadway, where be may be
found daily between the hours of anine ana
three" DE is large, stout-built man. with
coarse features' stiff, rough, and sandy.colored
nair, and cast OF countenance Of very ordi.
nary type. be dresses plain but neatly. has a
somewhat careworn look, and appears TO be Hf
~ TO aixty years OF age His private afice Ia of
moderate siZe and of plain furniture. On A
table are few books, and on opening that one
which appears most thumbed, YOU perceive
that 1t Is volume of maps Of city property
carefully and elegantly executed, and, az a
whole, embracing the sundries of aplenormops
estate, estimated at over 5000, 600. Mr..
Aslor resides In Lafayette Place, in one of a
roW OF dwellings which TWENTY-FIVE Years ago
we're the grandess in the city, though now they
are distanced by the palaces Of che Fifth.ayenue.
Near BY is the magnificent library founded by
his father, to which he has added a fund nearly
equal to the original endowment. Here he
spends small part of his time, the remainder
being occupied by his duties In the Prnce.stree
office, where, Sundays excepted, he does full
days work every day In the week. Thus the
whoie routine OF lie OF the richest man In
America Is IN walk to and from home Of
nslt mile ana close attention to business. The
care OF Mr.. Astor's estate Is vast burden. He
has several hundred tenants of all grades. from
the $500 cottage to the $4,000 store, To re.
lleve himself of this vexatious dutv he hs.
committed 1t for years to an agent. who aoas
the work well. He collects rents and makss
quarterly returns, and thus pays over : sum
which would be alnost incredible, aud which
We may roughly estimate at S30O,000 per an
num- Ibis man employs small army OF paint.
ers' Carpenters and other mechanics, In order to
keep up repairs, and superiDtends the whols Of
this department. As a large parto Mr.. Astor's
property consists Of vacant lots which are in
continual demand, and which he will not seil.
he 10 much employed With architects and m asta,
builders, and generally has one or two lnrge
blocks In course of erection at time, This Ia
very serious burden. His con John Jacob IA
quite business man, and bears his share of the
load. Besides this, some fifteen years AGO a
tslented and elegant young merchant fFranklin
Delano) married one Of the dang hte ers. end aleo
Affords assistance, la addition 70 thess labors.
the attention to the collection, of interest IN
bonds, dividends, etc., is q heavy item, since In
the little brick office (which Is, ,of confse. Ar
proof there are several millions Of Government
and STATE securities. His daily income il con-.
puted at $b.U00. IL is said that a certain per.
son feliciteted Mr.. AstoP on his wealth. Point.
Ing to his piles OF bonds, maps, etc., the cepi.
talist replied: "How would you Ike to manage
al these matters for your board and olothes7'
The man demurred to the idea .s;ir,V said
me other, "it.i get" Mr.. Attor, Il ia
ssid, gives but little away.