Daily globe., 1882-01-29
WEBSTER WAGNER.

zette.
Webster Wagner was the richest man
that ever became the victim of railroad
disaster He was also the most influenti-
al and important, at least in the manipu-
lati0n of capital and patronage. Like
most of our great men, he sprung from
an humble condition, for his family,
though highly respectable, was poor. He
learned wagon making, to which was
added chairs and common furniture, and
this business he carried on for many
years at Palatine, in partnership with his
brother James. The latter was a poor
manager, and though "Web" (as he was
called) worked hard, the shop proved
failure. Then he got a job at SIS per
mouth, with privilege of living up stairs,
and TO eke out a living he opened up a
eating room, where oysters were served
at 10 cents a plate. He was so active
that his wages were raised and his duties
increased until he was made station
ageht-an enviable office worth $50 per
month He was highly esteemed and
popular as a railroad man, but while at
tending to his duties he had his mind
bent on improvement. He noticed that
some of the railroad employees when re-
turning home would often lay boards on
the seats and go to sleep This led to the
idea of arranging births, and the result
was the sleeping car The first sheets
were made by his wife, who was a re-
markable helpmeet.
The old fashioned flat roof cars were
then in use, and as the ventilation was
not sufficient for the upper tier Of sleep
erS, he invented the raised panel with
side ventilators, d method which is now
in universal use. He patented this
panel and sold the patent preserving his
own right for $4,000 IaS he told me),
which was the first stroke of good luck.
The patronage which the sleeping car
enioyed was divided with the railway
magnates, first Corning and afterward
Vanderbilt. and eventually a company
was formed, in which Vanderbilt had the
lion share, but as Wagner had the re-
maihder it was enough to make him
millionaire
Webster Wagner not only proved him.
self an original and successful inventor,
but also a man of great executive power.
His abilities were developed as the eXi-
genGies of business required until he be-
came the center of an immense system.
Vanderbilt found him iudiciouS coun-
selor, and hence he not only loses friend
but feels serious blow to his position as
a rai!way king. Wagner was very quiet
man, but beneath his reticence concealed
great decision as well as deep judgment
He never was led by success into Specu-
latio n, but limited his attention to that
speciality which gave him fame and
wealth. He never was inflated by sue
cess, but remained until the end plain
bust ness man, just as he was when he
tended station at $40 per month. He
made money rapidly and invested it ju-
dici0usly, and among his latest purchases
was some valuable property in Madison
avenue. He also purchased o few weeks
ago b house with fine grounds at Pala
tine, no doubt intending It for country
seat for his last married s0n-in law.
The rapidity of transit enabled 'Wag-
ner TO call Palatine his residence,
while his business center was New
York Though the distance is
200 miles, it is but six hours ride, and
after he had taken berth in one of his
own cars at 10 p. M, he could sleep till
wakened by the porter at the home sta
tion He had an elegant house and farm
at 2 Palatine, and was upon the whole as
we'll situated as any man in central New
York, but alas death has suddenly left
him only name-at the same time Civ
ing q new and terrible lesson of the un-
certainty of all earthly affairs. Many
changes will no doubt follow, and hence
his death throws all his subOrdlnates into
a state of uncertainty.
At the time Of his death Wagner's op-
erattons had reached an extent which is
really surprising. The sleeping and pal
ace cars already number 1900, and were
gradually crowding off the Pullman in
terest. When this terrific blow occurred
Vanderbilt had made special effort to
have them introduced on every line that
he controlled. Wagner had also been
successful in his negotiations with Jay
Gould. The latter had given the Wagner
cars preference on the Wabash line, and
Iron Mountain would have been the next
extension. Enjoying in this manner
the patranage eff both of these railway
kings, Wagner's prospects were of the
grandest character. Had he lived three
years longer his income would have been
a million a year, His system was one OF
adm irable perfection Each conductor is
obliged to send in daily report, and also
one at the close of the month, and those
are carefully compared. Every detail is
brought to a high degree to perfection.
The mere item of washing amounts of
100000 year. and an extensive steam
laundry is in operation here, and also an
other in Boston. Each laundryman finds
this profitable job, and had Wagner
lived he would have probably established
another in St. Louis. He was close man,
and went in for making ali he could, but
at the same time was ready to respond to
the claims of charity. His deeds of bene-
ficence, however, though not often men
toned, were by no means proportionate
to his great wealth When man has an
income of $1,000 a day handsome de-
gree of generosity may reasonably be ex-
pected. Wagner's daughters, who are
now married and live in splendid style,
were born in the ''up-stairs" of Palatlne
Sta ion House, and perhaps it is this
memory of long life of mutual strug-
gle which renders the death of her hus-
band SO severe blow to the unfortunate
widow