The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-04-12
NUMBER II.


Mr.. Jay Gould declared to his near
friends his intention to retire from
his active business life on the completion
of his steam yacht Atlanta, built for
his projected tour around the world.
His son, Mr.. George ]. Gould, a young
man Of 23, is to take his place as spec
ulator, and Mr.. Gould himself will lead
a private life. Mr.. Gould's fortune is
carefully estimated in round numbers at
S100, 900, 900 of which $40, 900, 900 is In
stock of the Western Union Telegraph
Company and $40, 900, 900 in the stock
Of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Com
pany. In real estate he has never put
much money, considering the size of
his fortune. His investment in this
kind OF property altogether amounts to
about S5,000,000. The remainder Of
his wealth is in securities, mainly in the
shape of the bonds Of different railroad
companies. But one large deal in spec
ulatiYe parlance remains to be consum-
mated previous to his retirement, and
that is, from the accounts given, the
proposed alliance between his South
western system of railroads and the
East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia
system and other tributary roads. Ex-
cept in his specialties, those in his con-
fidence say, he has not dealt actively in
stocks for two years. The last time he
stepped in to make his might felt in the
market was when he and Mr.. William
H. Vanderbilt engaged in tie somewhat
"pegglng' operation to prevent gen.
eral and disastrous break in the whole
list. The "boys," as Cornelius and
William K. Vanderbilt are called, have
taken their fathers place in the market,
and Mr.. Gould's contemplated retire.
ment will be even more complete than
that of William II. Vanderbilt, for
Gould's has been life of speculation.
Mr.. Gould expected to leave on his
Southwestern trip with Russell Sage
aud A. L. Hopkins. He was at his
house recently when waited upon to
learn about his retirement. but was oc-
cupied with a party of friends. Mr..
Washington E. Connor, who has long
been his business manager, and who is
head of the firm in which he is special
partner, said that Mr.. Gould's affairs
were in such shape that they could be
closed up in twenty-four hours. Mr..
Gould was a thoroughly domesticated
man. Nothing afforded him so much
pleasure as to be with his family. His
children, six in number, of which his
son George was the Oldest, were grow
ing up, and the attention he would de-
vote to them would occupy his mind.
Mr.. Connor paid high tribute to the
son whom Mr.. Gould had chosen to sue
ceed him. He said he frequently took
charge of the workings of the stock.
He selected his own brokers and sent
out his own orders. He enjoyed specu-
lation, and, what was more, was sue
cessful. When told of the belief in
some quarters that Mr.. Gould would
not start on trip around the world at
all Mr.. Connor laughed at the skepti-
cism. He said that Mr.. Gould might
not go as soon as he had first intended,
but that would be because his yacht
would not be ready. He would prob
ably cruise about New York for time,
and might start across the ocean any
time from August to October. When
Mr.. Gould was asked about two months
ago about his prospective tour and If he
was going to retire permanently from
business, he said: 81 am going to try
little play. did not have an opportu-
nifty when 1 was young, and must do
nay playing later in life. If like it
may keep it up. Mr.. Gould is AT year
ace