Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-03-09
The WORLDS EiCHEST MAN.
An Estimate Of william n. Va ,dsr-
bits Fortune.
Worth 5000, 900, 900, and Over $1,000
Added to His Wealth Every HOur-Hs
Lives hodestly on the Neat Lit
tie Sum Of 100000
Per Year.

At the beginning Of every year, says
the New York Morning journal OF yes
terday, Mr.. w. II. Vanderbilt makes 1t
an invariable custom to take careful
inventory of his immense property. His
strong. boxes are then opened, their
contents counted, and from them the to-
tai profit for the year is reckoned. In jan
uary, 1888, he told an intimate frien1,
who had dined with him that day, that
he was worth Sl94, 100000.
AZ believe / am" said Mr.. Wander
bilt, "the richest man in the world. In
England
The Duke OF westminster
is said to be worth 5000, 0O0, 900, but 1t is
mostly in lands and houses. 1t does
not yield him per cent. n year from
now shall be worth more than $780,
100000 and will have an income equal
to per cent. on that amount"
When his talking fit had left him the
modern Midas repeuted his hasty speech
and asked that it be not reported, claim
ing his words were but boastful and his
wealth exaggerated.
A few days ago Mr.. Vanderbilt sent
some papers to gentleman with whom
he had business relations. On looking
them over the recipient was astonished
to find the rough draft memorandum
in the
Cars Peculiar handwriting.
It was dated January -, 1884, and was
evidently his last balance sheet which
by oversight had been folded inside an
other paper. OF course the secret could
not be kept and the figures reached the
Journal. An error or two may have
crcpt in on Their travels, bat IN sub
stance they tell the following:
MIR. Vanderbilt has registered IN his
name, and in coupon bonds, S3l ,WD,OOO
in per cents, maturing in 1907. He
mas lately added TO these Si,OOO,OOO in
81 per cents, and yet retains tritle over
81 100000 in 6 per cents. The 1 per
cents are worth IA. and the market
value of his governments to-day Is So.
$4,000.
But the bulk of the wealth of the
king of millionaires is invested in rail
road securities. He hold 24O, 200 shares
of Michigan Central stock, 100000
shares of Northwestern, including 3d.
OTO of the preferred stock, and block
of Omaha, 200, 900 shares of Lake Shore
and 40, 600 shares of NewYork Central.
Besides this are smaller amounts i'll a
score OF
others stocks.
an Ong which are Rock Island, of which
he had %, 900 shares, and Lackawanna,
here the total was 10000. or the
others he had in all u, $40, q grand total
of $50, $40 shares Of stocks.
OF various railroad bonds there was
an aggregate Of SD, l20, 900, and of State
ard city bonds S3,2O0,OOO. In miscel.
laneOus securities, manufacturing stocks
and mortgages the sum Of about 2,OOO,-
900 was shown 70 be invested.
Reckoning at yesterdays prices the
value OF Mr.. Nanderbilt's railroad
stocks is SIS, $780, 900, of his governments
SO, $40, 600, of his railroad bonds S26,-
S57 ,420, or his other securities tritle
over S5,000,OOO. The aggregate is S2Ol,-
32,4l3.
The Gar puts down an item of "real
estate, ETC., $3,000,000." In this is in
cluded his splendid Fifth avenue man
sion, which, its furniture and contents
cost nearly or quite S3,OOO,O0O. His
magnificent art gallery, with it gems
from the best modern masters, repre-
sents almost 81 ,0O0,0OO, the estimate
being that of local cOnnOisseur who is
familiar with the gallery. His stables
on Fifty first street., occupying one OF
the most desirable building sits in the
y-h 10 irao
beauties there luxuriously lodged would
Maud s. would bring S75, 900 at forced
sale, and her owner would not dispose
of her for any price. Early Rose and
Aldine are also held above price.
The Gar
can take life comparatively easy on an
income oftwelve millions u year, and
watch his wealth pile up without any
effort Of his. From his government he
draws S2,372, 900 u year; from his rail-
road stocks and bonds, 1894. 800; from
his miscellaneous securities, SO, 695 or
SlO,343,0 OILS from his investments alone.
Thus every day they earn for him $685.
334.25. Every hour sees him 81, lS0.59
richer and every minute means 1885,
added to his hoard. Besides this he
calculates to make $1,000, 900 every year
by fortunate sales. His Refreshments
last year he calculates did this.
THIS rich man lives well but not law
ishly. Last year his ordinary expenses,
he stated recently, were but tribe
over 800, 900. In this is not included
such iuxures as his great ball, on which
he expended $4,000. His attire is mod
est and does not indicate a Crnsus by
any means. Mrs. Vanderbilt, too, al
though dressing richly, is by no means
eXtravagant, although her diamonds
cost her lord Sl50,000.
Since Mr.. Vanderbilt made out his
balance sheet some unimpOrtant
changes have been made in his invest
ments. lie has disposed Of some of his
Lake Shore stock. Last week firm of
his brokers. Messrs. Barton, Davis 4
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 con-
siderable concessions. In his Michigan
Central corner he altered also the fig
ures of this stock. The change is mere.
" al increase ofhis holdings OF railroad
securities at the expense OF his loans
and surplus income, for the Gar does
not keep 8 large bank account. Every
thing must bear interest, he believes.