Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-12-20
Three Wealthy New Workers..

A correspondent Of the Charleston Journal
sends the following:
Ig Alexander T. Stewart is a native of the
North of Ireland-not of Scotland, as many
persons suppose He is nearly seventy years
old, and has been forty years dry goods
:. merchant in New York His wealth is es-
timated at thirty millions, all acquired by
untiring application to business. The foun-
dation Of his fortune was laid in small store
down town, where he began bis mercantile
career as dealer III Irish linens. Most of
his success is owing to rule he established
at the start, and which he has faithfully ad
hered to ever since-to never nisrepresent
4 his goous, and never ask more for them than
he intended to take. By those who know
him only through reputation, he is esteemed
as great and liberal man. He has given
,nuch of his wealth to charities S. but each
contribution advertised his house and brought
him large returns 1t is said that some of
his clerks who enlisted at the beginning Of
the war on the understanding that theirp places
would be kept open for them, found those
places 6lled when they returned. The num-
Der of his employees is not less than two
thonsana and many Of these are girls.
| The rules with which eac', person employ
ed by him has TO comply re as rigorous and
unyiel,iing as the McdcaD laws Of old One
is to gct.the largest amount Of labor for the
smallest amount Of money. He pays the
smallest salaries of any large dry goods deal
err in New York, and the girls employed by
him complain that the place is the hardest
they ever bad. He Keeps to the strict letter
Of his word with every man. and neither
asks nor gives favors. Creditors looking to
him for grace speedily find its opposite. He
has about a scoresof partners. and all must
take the law FROM him. And, in conclusion,
he is married but childless, AMI the lnagni6-
cent mansion he is building On Fifth avenue
is to be bequeathed to the city Of New York
together with the costly collection of art it
will contain. This is the real A. I. Stew
art, as he is known by those who have met
him daily for many months. lie is one OF
the architects Of New York's commerc;a
greatness. and his disappearance from this
world will be public loss cannot say
that he will be greatly mourneti in private.
Anoth r renowned millionaire is
CORNELIUS VANDERBILT,
long famous in railroad aud steam ship en-.
terprises, and now a very Emperor in Wal
Street. Vamley bt, like Stewart, is vel
II up to the pasriarchal s'tllree score and ten ,
:, He is tall and thin, and as plain looking q
s man as you wonld find IN ALI the hauns O
7 the bulls and bears Of all the self made
' men In New York he is the most prominent
About forty years ago he commenced life
: ON his own account by sailing small boa
between New York city and Staten Island
aud carr, lug freight and passengers to anf
fro but it was not until the California feve'
broke out that the road to great wealth wal
= opened to him. Vanderbilt always ha! an
eve to good openings, and he was quick t.
avail himself Of the chances to literally col,
It money, that were offered by the rush t
= California. Before that time he had &c
quired experience and considerable capita
in the ste mboat trade on the Hudson, anc
both were Immediately turned into the new
: channel. a steamship line was started
passengers and freight rushed upon him, hi
capital doubled and trebled and quadrupled
other lines were started, and when the late
war broke out Vanderhilt's steamships wer,
ploughing every sea.
: About three years ago he retired from
r commerce to devote himself wholly to the
= Hudson River Railroad with which he had
been for several years connected. FL
= brought the same spirit to this that hac
mace him successful in the other To breal
down and utterly crush all opposition wa
always his purpose and by executing it t
;, the letter he has made Il name that is worlt
e renowned, and fortune supposed to be a
o leas, ten millions. Commodore Vanderbilt
e is a man of hard common sense, little edu
- cation and great fancy for fast horses.
His charities are unrecorded, and might
probably, be disposed OF in the same WA,
tthat a historian is said to have disposed 0
! the subject of snakes in Ireland Their
IF are no snakes in Ireland l. have beer
told that when committee called on hin
it last year and solicited subscription for tn
South, saying the people were starving, h
s;nn|y answered, ID N" them, let thea
t. starye they deserve it," He has par
s tiality for strong words, and always speak
? very plainly.
- DANIEL DREW.
IL is another New Yorker, well known in til
United States, though not Of such world
: wide reputation as either Stewart or Van
>. aerbilt Like the latter, lie made the princl
< pal part Of his fortune in the steamship bus
htr iness.Is He is native of Putnam county
i where he now owns one Of the largest farn
i lin New York. He began hts money-ms
Is king career as cattle dealer, and he 'sti
lg sticks to that business, though others mar
ry aoe it. for him. Before railroads were bui
IL ,,nnJ ~ b-;nY ,1rovca cf ca4fla from III