The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-03-30

Jay G0uld, the Second Richest
American.

American.
Mr.. Jay Gould, the second richest
man Of the United States, ia credited
with being the poasessor Of wealth
estimated all the way from $50. 0OO,-
00O to $4,000. 900. The former sum
is very nearly correct. Were his
railroad stocks worth their par
value he would be an hundred.
millionaire. Just before starting
on his yachting trip to the Spanish
Main he carefully inventoried his
property, placed his affairs in good
shape and added cojlcil to his
| will.
In round numbers the permanent
Investment stocks appealing on Mr..
Gould's schedule were $4,000 shsres
of Western Union Telegraph, no.
600 shares of Missouri Pacific, 49,
coo shares of Wabash common, and
$4,000 shares of the preferred, so, 900
shares OF Kansas & Texas, 10000
shares OF Texas Pacific, and 10000
shares of Erie, besides many other
securities. The World building,
nominally owned by the Western
| Union company, was built with his
| money. In real estate, loans and
mortgages he has 100000, and
IS .000. 900 more in floating invest
ments. His two residences repre-.
cent another 100000, and his
yacht $500, 900. His wealth, as
nearly as he can figure it, is $5S, 1885,
413, and his income 81, 640,O11. Thus
his fortune earns him $12 SSS So
every day and So 95 each minute.
To this he expects to add great
many millions year by speculation.
The king of Wall street resides
when in the city, at $40 Fifth
Avenue plain brown stone man>
sion on the opposite side of Forty.
seventh street from Windsor Hotel.
He pad 100000 for the property,
and spent as much more in furnish>
ing and oinamenting its interior.
The visitor on entering finds him.
self in q large hall adorned with
valuable paintings and a few articles
Of bric,a brac. To the left are spa
cious parlors richly furnished,
the prevailing color being a warm
brown. Throughout the house
modest good taste prevails. There
is no sign of extravaganza or display
OF great wealth. Here Mr.. Gould
resides during the winter.
On the approach of summer he
flies to his country seat near Irving
ton. This is his fAvorite home.
An old Knickerbocker mansion, sur
mounted by tower, he has taxed
his ingenuity to make it beautiful,
Improving and draining the grounds
have been his hOboy. The whole
eighty acres bloom like a garden. A
wide drive lead through them to the
house. The doors open into q large
reception room with mosaic flor.
This is hung with rare paintings
and fragrant with flowers. The
parlors are models of graceful ele>
gance, having cost over 100000 to |
furnish.
But the owners chief pride are
the conseryatories. When they were
burned some years ago they were
rebuilt in grander style, and are
now the largest in the country and
among the largest private conserva-
tories In the world. Tropical |
flowers and fruits bloom and
bear throughout the year. Peaches.
oranges, pears, grapes and straw
berries can be plucked while all
without is snow clad. There are
10000 varieties of plants and more
varieties Of orchids than at any
other place in the world. The sup
erintendent Of the conservatory is
an Italian enthusiast. Mr.. Gould
spends hours walking among this
vegetation and knows the
names and peculiarities of nearly all
bis treasures. Here he receives
many visitors. Ex-Governor Tilden
/. a fire quent caller at the summer
residence or the wizard.
The great financier is domestic in
his habits and simple ia bis tastes,
He neither drinks nor smokes. al,
though his cellars contain q rood
store of choice wines. He does not
care for hOrses. His COX at the opera
sees him occasionally, but generally
be spends his evenings at home with
his family. Every day at about 10
o'clock q carriage drives I'D to the
Western Union building, at 1875
roadway. From it alights the little
black bearded men. There he leaves
his negro valet and enters his Office,
The heads OF his principal enter
prices, the Western Union, Wabash
Add Missouri Pacific companies, re-
port to him. He examines care.
July every new detail of import
ance. Wien this is done he leaves
the building and walks quickly /:
Down the right hand Of the street to ,
Ms Wall street Office, where ut II
Broadway the plain sign "W. E.!
Common s. Co." appears. It is
loon when be teaches it. His
private Office. but the formidable e
barriers of walnut and ground glass, +
8 within, on the Broadway side. It '
9 a small comp rtment, and on the 8
ioor in small letters is the name !,
Jay Gould." Two desks few plain .
,ha,rs ord blSck boar6 on ,,h;oh |