Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-03-21
YANpRRBILrS WEALTH.
An Estimate Based Upon His Own
Memorandum-S20l, 1882, AIS. -
New York Journal

NANUEkBiL1S EALIh.
An Estimate Based Upon His own
Memorandum-s2OI 1885,, 4I3. -
New York Journal.
At the beginning of every year mr..
w. 81. Vanderbilt makes it an invaria-
bic custom to take a careful inventory
of his immense property. His strong
boxes are then opened, their contents
counted, and from the total the profits
for the year is reckoned. In January,
1888, he told an intimate friend, who
had dined with him that day, that he
was worth 1874. 600, 000
81 believe I am" said Mr.. Wander
bilt, ''the richest man in the world.
In England the Duke of Westminster
is said to be worth $500, 000, 900, but
it is mostly lands and houses. Itdoes
not yield him per cent. A year
from now | shall be worth more than
5000, 600, 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 re-
peated, claiming that his words were
but boastful and his wealth exagerat-
ed.
A few days ago Mr.. Vanderbilt sent
some papers TO a gentleman with
whom he had business relations. On
looking over the recipient was aston
ished to find the rough draft of a
memorandum in the Cars peculiar
hand writing. II was dated January
Is, 1884, and was evidently his last
balance sheet, which by oversight had
been folded inside another paper. Of
course the secret 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:
Mr.. Vanderbilt has registered IN his
name, and in coupon bonds, S54, OOO,-
600 in per cents, maturing IN 1907,
He has lately added to these 81, 000,-
900 in 81 per CENTS, and yet retains a
trifie over $1,000, 600 in 6 per cents,
The 4 per cents. are worth 124, and
the market value of his government
bonds to day is SO, $50, 00a.
But the bulk of the wealth of the
king of millionaires is invested in
railroad securities. He holds 240, 600
shares of Michigan Central stock,
800, 600 shares of Northwestern, in
Guiding so, 600 Of the preferred stock,
and Clock of Omaha, 200, 900 shares
of Lake Shore and 120, 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 %, 000 shares, and
Lackawanna, where the total was 90
900. OF the others he had in all 81
$40; grand total of $50, $40 shares of
stock.
OF various railroad bonds there was
au aggregate of S22, 120, 900, and of
state and city bonds 50, 100000. In
miscellaneous securities, manufactur-
ing stocks and mortgages the sum of
about 81, 900, 600 was shown to be in
vested.
Reckoning at yesterdays prices the
value of Mr. Vanderbilt's railroad
stock is 1913 $50, 600; of his govern
ments, so $4,000; of his railroad
bonds, 500, $50 42o; of his other securi-
ties trltle over IS 000,0 The aggre
gate is 1901 1872, 413
The Gar puts down an item of
''real estate, ETC., s., 900, 900" In this
is included his splendid Fifth Avenue
mansion, which, with its furniture
aud contents, cost nearly or quite So
600, 900. His magnificent art gallery,
with its gems from the best modern
masters, represents almost 81, 000, 600,
the estimate being that of a local con
noisseur who is famiiIar with the gal
lery. His stables on Fiftyfrst street,
occupying one of the most desirable
building sites in the city, represent
5000, 900. while the equine beauties
there luxuriously lodged would not be
disposed of for as much more. Maud
S. would bring $4,000 at a forced
sale, and her owner wonld not dispose
of her for any price. Early Rose
and Alaine are also held above price,
The Gar can take life comparative
ly easy on an income of $1,000, 900
year, and watch his wealth pile up
almost without any effort of mis-.
From his Governments he draws So
372, 600 a year, from his railroads and
bonds $7,304, 800 from his miscella-
neous securities $575, 905, or $40, 342,-
OILS for his investments alone. Thus
every day they earn for him SOS, 1884,
25. Every hour sees him 81, $50 SO
richer, and every minute means $40
II added to his hoard. Besides, he
calculates to make 1000, 600 every
year by fortunate sales. His rein
vestments last year, he calculates, did
this.
This rich man lives well, but not
lavishly. Last year his ordinary eX-
penses were but trihe over $500, 600.
In this is not included his great ball,
on which he expended $50, 900. His
attire is modest, and does not indi-
cate Croesus, by any means. Mrs.
Vanderbilt, too, although dressing
richly, is by no means extravagant.
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 N
vestments. 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 conces-
sions. In his Michigan Central cor
ner he altered also the figures of
his stock. The change is merel y an
increase of his holdings of railroad
securities at the expense of his loans
and surplus income, for the Gar does
not keep large bank account. Ev-
must bear interest, he be-
lieves.