The comet., 1880-01-10

N. Y. independent

N. Y. Independent.
Fifty years ago almost, as we can
well remember, there were probably
not more than two millionaires in the
city Of New York, viz, John Jacob
Astor and Stephen Whitney. The
former was then estimated to be worth
81, 900, 900, and the latter $1,5O0,00
Mr.. Astor was then undoubtedly the
most wealthy man in America, and
there were but few, probably not 100,
in the world who were really worth
more than he. Astor had accumulate
ed his great propety in the fur busi-
ness. Whitney had made largo
propotion of his money In the purchase
and sale of cotton. He also inherited
II considerable property ,
| These two men at this time stood
alone, rs we have said, as "million-
aires" in this city Ten. years later, or
| say in 1910. there were several others
who could count their millions. We
refer to Peter G.. Stuyvesaut, Stephen
van Rensselar, Jonathan Hunt. Peter
Loriliard, Jacob Loriliard, William B.
Crosby, (grand nepew of the rich
Henry Rutgers), James LenoX. Pos
sibly there were few other persons
who should be included in this list
although we think not-viz., James
Debrosses, Peter Harmony, Thomas
Leggitt, General Mogan Lewis, (ac-
quired mostly throuth his wife, who
was a Livingston), John Mason, John
Snydam, Herman Thorne and Will
lam Il. Wetmore. We believe the
first named persons in the foregoing
list were all in the city of New York
who could then truthfully be called
worth a million.
| We could give very long list of
men who We're conspicuous i'll business
circles in New York between the
years 1910 and 1850, besides those
above named, who We're then classed
among the rich men of the city, worth
probably half million each. Alex.
| II. Stewart and Cornelius Vanderbilt
were not at that time rated rs worth
$500 900 each: but they undoubtedly
were, and possibly should be classed
among the few millionaires of those
days. ....
Our readers will see by the forego-
ing that we had comparatively but
few rich men in New York at the
time named-semingly not very far in
the past. 1t would be almost impossi-
bic TO give correct list of the million
aires of New York at the present time.
They doubtless number more than one
| thousand, while some might estimate
| the number at two thousand. There
are now also regiment of men in
| New York who are worth two million
or more, up to twenty millions. There
is but one Individual, probably, in this
city whose total property would in-
ventory above $75,000,000. We refer
to Mr.. William HI. Vanderbilt, whose
interest in the stock of the New York
Central and Hudson River railroad
company alone is said to amount to
over $50, 100000.
He is the holder of a large amount
of other securities, including those Of
Lake Shore, Canada Southern and
Michigan Central railroads, besides
several millions of governments and
considerable amount of real estate.
The total value of Mr.. Vanderbilts
property, we think, is at least 1000,
900, and it may possibly (as some
think amount to the round sum of
500, 600, 600. The estate of Mr.. Will
liam B Astor, at the time of his death,
was generally estimated at over 500
OO0 600. Very few person believe in
much higher figures. Since the divi-
sion of the William B. Astor property,
real estate, inwhich most of his money
was invested. has fallen greatly, and
the total property left by him would
not now probably, bring his heirs over
SAC, 600, 900.
Those who are supposed to have
reliable sources of information estimat-
ed the total value Of the property of
Mr.. Alexander 7 Stewart, at the time
of his decease, at S60,00O000. The de-
preston since in real estate would
probably bring the figures down to
$50 900, 900, or less although there are
those who affirm that the Stewart
property, held by Mrs. Stewart and
Judge Hilton, would inventory now
at $50, ,000, 900 or more. There are not
now living in the world, probably.
more than five or six persons who are
worth as much money as Mr.. William
H. Vanderbilt, and it is possible there
is not one. The firm of Rothschilds,
in Europe, has larger aggregate
property than Mr.. Vanderbilt, but it
is doubtful wheather either single
member of this eminent banking firm
is worth $100,000,000.
There are three or four persons
among the nobility of England who
hold vast amount of personal prop
erty handed down to them through
many generations, and among these
may be found, perhaps one or more
persons who have the control of prop
erty which they cannot sell worth
slO0O,OOO,OO. When fifty years more
shall roll round, there will doubtless
be found hundreds of men who will
be able to show far greater wealth
than any Of those now on the stage;
but we will not attempt to make
figures for that distant period.