The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-08
OUR AMERICAN CRESUS.
Vanderbilt's Wealth Estimated at More than
Two Hundred Million Dollars.

Two hundred Million Dollars.
New York Morning Journal.
AT the beginning of every year Mr.. W. H..
Vanderbilt makes it an invariable custom to
take a careful inventory of his immense prop
erty, His strong boxes are then opened, their
contents counted, and from the total the profit
for the year is reckoned. In January. 1883, ne
told an intimate friend, who had dined with
him that day, that he was worth 1914. 600, 600.
Il believe [ am" said Mr.. Vanderbilt, 1.-The
richest man in the world. In England the Duke
of Westminster is said to be worth 5000, 600, 900.
but it is mostly in lands and houses, 1t does not
yield him 2 per cent. A year from now | shall
be worth more than 5000, 900, 900, and will have
an income equal to 6 per cent. on that amount.
When his talking fit had left him the modern
Midas repented his hasty speech and asked that
it be not repeated, claiming his words were but
boastful and his wealth exaggerated.
A few days ago Mr.. Vanderbilt sent some pa
pers to a gentleman with whom he had business
relations. On looking over the recipient was
astonished to find the rough draft of a memoran-
dun in the Cars peculiar handwriting. It was
dated January 10. 1884. and was evidently his
last balance sheet, which by oversight had been
folded inside another paper. OF course the Sc
cret could not be kept. and the figures reached
the journal. An error or two may have crept
in on their travels, but in substance they tell the
following:
MI. Vanderbilt has registered in his name, and
in coupon bonds, $54. 900, 900 in 4-per-cents., ma
turing in 1907. He has lately added to these
81, 900, coo in 3 1-2-per-eents., and yet retains a
trifie over 81. 900, 900 in 6-percents. The 4per-
cents are worth 124. and the market value of his
governments to-day is $40, $50, 900.
But the bulk of the wealth of the king of mill
ionaires is invested in railroad securities. He
holds 24O,0 0 shares of Michigan Central stock,
300, 600 shares of Northwestern, including so, 900
of the preferred stock, and Il block of Omaha,
200. 900 shares of Lake Shore and l20, 900 shares
of New York Central. Besides this are smaller
amounts in a score of other stocks, among which
are Rock Island. of which he held 30, 600 shares,
and / nal-arranpn xnhA, fhA An%al xraD IN 0nA
OF the other he had in all 81, $40; a grand total
of $50, $40 shares Of stocks.
OF various railroad bonds there was an aggre-
gate of 500, 120. 900. and of State and city bonds
So. 200, 600. In miscellaneous securities, manu-
featuring stocks and mortgages the sum of about
s., 00O. 600 was shown to be invested.
Reckoning at yesterdays prices the value of
Mr.. Vanderbilts railroad stocks is sos. $50, 600, of
his governments $40. $50, 600, of his railroad bonds
$2G, S57, 400, of his other securities a tritle over
s., 900. 600. The aggregate is 1901. 332, Alb.
The Gar puts down an item of real estate,
etc, 80, O00.0 00.' In this is included his SPLEEN
did Fifth-avenue mansion, which, with its fur
niture and contents, cost nearly or quite So. 000,-
600. His magnificent art gallery, with its gems
from the best modern masters, represents almost
81, 900, 900, the estimate being that of a local
connoisseur who is familiar with the gallery.
His. stables on Fifty-irst street. occupying one
of the most desirable building sites in the city,
represents 5000, 900, while the equine beauties
there, luxuriously lodged, would not be disposed
VI VI do uuC lDIt. MAUI -. hOulu bTllS
$4,000 at a forced sale, and her owner would not
dispose of her for any price. Early Rose and
Aldine are also held above price.
The Car can take life comparatively easy on
an income of $l2. 600. 900 a year. and watch his
wealth pile up without any effort of his. From
his governments he draws s.. 372.0 600 a year;
from his railroads and bonds, 81 1874, 320; from
his miscellaneous securities, 1915, 695, or $l0,-
342, 015 from his Investments alone. Thus every
day they earn for him $2S. 334 %. Every hour
sees him 81, $50. 50 richer, and every minute
means $10.67 added to his hoard. Besides this
he calculates to make 81, 900, 900 every year by
fortunate sales. His reinvestments last year,
he calculates, did tins,
This rich man lives well but not lavishly. Last
year his ordinary expenses, he stated recently,
were but a trife over 5000, 600. In this is not in
Guided such luXuries as his great ball, on which
he expended so, coo. His attire is modest, and
does not indicate a Crpsus by any means. Mrs.
Vanderbilt. too, although dressing richly, is by
no means extravaganza, although her diamonds
cost her lord $3.50, 900.
Since Mr.. Vanderbilt made out his balance
sheet some unimportant changes have been
made in his Investments. He has disposed of
some of his Lake Shore stock. Last week a firm
of his brokers', Messrs. Barton, Davis & Miner,
were large buyers of Rock Island, taking in
one day $3.50 shares. Since then it has not
been possible to dispose of any quantity of
this except at considerable concessions. In his
Michigan Central corner he altered also the
figures of this stock. The change is merely
an increase of his holdings of railroad secur-
tiles at the expense of his loans and surplus in
come, for the Gar does not keep a large bank
account. Everything must bear interest, he be-
lieves.