The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-05-29
How the Richest Men i'm New
York Spend Their Time.

AVrA spend Mear IlRlc.
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 Ill Prince street, near Broadway,
where he may be found daily between
the hours Of "nine and three" He is
a large, stout-built man, with coarse
features, stiff, rough, sandy. .colored
hair, and cast Of countenance of
very ordinary tyre. He dresses plain
ly but neatly, has a somewhat care.
worn look, md appears to be fifty or
sixty years of age. His private office
is of moderate size and of plain furni-
ture. On a table are few books, and
on opening that one which appears
must thumbcd, you perceive that it is
a volume of maps ofthe city property,
carefully and elegantly executed, and,
as whole, embracing the sundries OF
an Immense estate, estimated at ove,.
s25,o0O,oOO. Mr.. Astor resides in La
fayette Place, in one of a row of dwel>
iings WHICH twenty-five years ago were
the grandest in the city though now
they are distapced by the palaces Of
the Fifth avenue. Near by is the mag
nifcent 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 dg-
ties in the Prince street office, where,
Sundays excepted, he does full days
work every day in tie week. Thus
the whole routine Of life of the richest
man in America is walk to and from
home Of half mile and close attention
to business. The care of Mr.. Astor's
estate is vast burden. He hasseve-
raj hundred tenants of all grades, from
the $500 cottage to the $4,000 store.
To relieve himself lfo: this vexatious du-
ty, he has committed it to the care of
an agent, who does the work we'll
tie collects rents and makes quarterly
returns, and thus pays over sum
which would be almost Incredible, and
which we may roughly estimate at
100000 per year. This man en-
piioys small army of painters, carpen-
tiers and other mechanics, in order to
keep up repairs, and superintends the
whole of this department. As large
part of Mr.. Astor's property consists Of
vacant lots which are in continual de-
mand and which he will not sell, he
is much employed with archetects and
master builders, and generally has one
or two large blocks in course of erec
tion 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 talented and elegant young
merchant (Franklin Dclano) married
one of the daughters, and also affords
assistance. In addition to these labors
the attention to the collection of inter
est in bonds, dividends, ETC., is heavy
item, since in the little brick office
(which is, of course, fire proof there
are several millions Of Government
and State securities. His daily in
come is computed at $4,000. 1t is
said that certain person felicitated
Mr.. Astor on his wealth. Pointing to
his piles of bonds, maps, &C., the cap
italist replied GLOW would you like
to manage all of these matters for your
board and clothes ?" The man de-.
murred to the idea. "Sir." said the
other SIT is all l get" Mr.. Astor, it
is said, gives but little away.