Omaha daily bee., 1883-03-22
IF JAY COULD SHOULD DIE
Or if Vanderbilt Seri to Sud-
denly Pass Away,
Replies to Important Quee-
tione, as Given by Lead
ing Brokers and
Spectators


New York Star.
One of the questions growing out OF
the recent bogus report Of the serious
illness of Mr.. Jay Gould Is, What
would be the effect upon speculative,
financial and commercial interests Of
the country In the event of Mr. Gould's
dea,h2" Mr.. Whitley, OF the broker
age firm of Prince g. Whitley, was
ssked for his opinion. -.
II think the demise OF MIR. Gould
would have a far greater influence upon
the stock market than would result II
Mr.. william II. Vanderbilt should
happen to die. You see, Mr.. Gould
is an active Spectator. 1t Ia his
policy TO keep things on the move.
IL he makes an Investment 1T is for
q speculative purpose. On the other
hand, Mr.. Vanderbilt buys for the
sake Of investment, and wants to have
his money placed where it will yield
him a steady and certain income. MIR.
Vanderbilt is well supplied with
wealthy sons, sons.in-law and other
relatives and friends. II, after his
death, q raid were to be made upon
his stocks by the bears there would be
q combined pooling of interests by the
heirs and friends that would no doubt
effectually protect the properties from
rapid depreciation In the market. 1t
ia well known that Mr.. Gould has
la, 90 Investments In what are known
as fl actuating securities. He has the
brain to keep them we'll In control,
aud few men know as well as he what
to predict regarding the stock move
ments of the future. At the same
time l wish 1t understood that 1 am
not among those who are looking for
the immediate dissolution OF MIR.
Gould"
"Then you think he is not near the
end of his life's journey
II believe he is good for q great
many pears yet. In fact, his physical
condition is better than that Of Mr..
Vanderbilt or many Others who are
apparently more robust. Mr.. Gould
10 wiry and ervou His great
activity of mind wearies him, but does
not wear him out beyond recuperation.
A few weeks of rest and he Is all
right again. l would not be alarmed
or suspect anything radically wrong
with him, unless he remained away
from the city for q very long time.
Should he be absent two months /
would mistrust that he was suffering
from some serious ailment, because /
know that he would not voluntarily
remain inactive for more than two
months. The fact 10 brokers and spec.
u'ators must be prepared for almost
any emergency, and we all know that
sooner OF later we must be placed I'M.
der the sod"
Mr.. O. A. Johnes, q w%ell-known
broker who has followed the bull fac.
tlon In speculation and has smassed a
fortune of about 81, 000, 000 within
about two years, was asked for his
opinion as to the effect which would
be produced by the deaths Of Mr..
Gould and Mi. Vanderbilt. "The
death of Mr.. Vanderbilt" he said,
"would have little effect upon the
market. His stocks are so situated
and confined to a few roads that his
sons, who have been educated
by him, could be safely trusted
to carry on his business transac.
tions. rully one.halt of his wealth Is
invested In government bonds and
real estate. Mr. Gould, on the oon.
trary, Is constantly carrying an enor.
nous volume of stocks. It is for his
interest to maintain prices, and 1t 10
a constant fight on his part to success
fully meet the devices and subter-
fuges Of tho bear faction. Should Mr..
Gould die suddenly the effect might
be very serious on the stock market.
The uncertainty as to where his stocks
would fall and to whom would devolve
the task Of supporting them, world
create q feeling of uneasiness. / dc
not %apprehend, however, that such an
event as Mr.. Gould's unforeseen and
unlocked for death, might create a
panicky feeling; but after the first
shock the market would tend to regu
late itself. If Mr.. Gould should bt
taken sick and his death anticipated
or the idea become firmly fixed In the
public mind that he was going to die
the event would be 80 thoroughly dis
counted on Wall street that the su
preme moment could cause nc seriou
results"
What effect would his death have
II any, on the control of the market2
"That is the slightest consideratio'
of all. The operations Of the stoc
market are not permanently depend
ent In any great degree upon the lii
or death Of any single individual. M
Gould possesses wonderful e~xecutiy
ability. He Is q Napoleon Of 6nanc,
and yet should he die some man
Wall street would spring up to tai
his place."
"Unole" Rufus Hatch said that l
had not taken the time to think OF O
that might happen In the event
.Gould or Vanderbilt being sudden
y removed from active business LII
/, Mr.. Russell Sage did not wish to |
quoted ON the subject. Anoth'
y prominent operator expressed himse
Y In substance as follows:
II do not think that any man II
, Ing on the face Of the earth is
great or of so much Importance tn
z his place cannot be filed. Suppo
y Mr.. Gould should die tomorrow ]
you think the event would cause
panic In Wall street or upset the bul
ness and financial welfare Of Il
/ world2 Well, / will admit that a tel
porary flutter In a few stocks mig
be the result of his demise, but
lasting effect need be anticipated.
I you stick your finger into the Atlant