The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-03-30
John JACOB AST0R.
Dan and Ink Sketch Of the
Third Richest Man in the
United States.

The thru rlcneSt msH IA
Union, according TO the Ne" 1oi =
Norntnq Journal, is John 'acoL
Aetor. the chief owner and her q
The Aston estate. Unlike many MI
iionaries, says the Journal WII'ei
Astor has both pame and rlchesmSa
name linked with f.oulons "o az u
for three succeeding genera. ono.
The estimated valus or tne 49,
ostate is from 800 0cG. Geo 20 Sl0O, s.
non 0Co 2 yerita5ls mountain OF
WoId John Jacob and William B.
80 ito cole owners, tho former g
interest said to be tWo-th!tuE' .,.,o .,
For nearly Ger tofy ene WI! w. y,
bsing otbe landlords OF Ne" oiR
has sttached itself TO them; Ion9
mas a. interest in houses, lots and
farms may lie c.mputed in the
thousands. , ,.,s:
,,rinci naIIy owned ny Mr.. Astor as
chef heir to the estate IS the old
landmark, the AstOr House, which
Nos sod 10 his father by his grand
totber. the founder OF the immense
nsFete, for 81. Its present value 's
aid TO be So 900, 900. being assessed
Of Al 10000. The Guarantee and
Indemnity building, chiefly owned
bv Mr.. Astor, was purchased snort
time ago for 100000, while the
Aston estate pays taxes on S50,O0O,-
~" If real estate situated below
chambers street, most Of which con-
sistsof business houses on Broad way
and wall street. There is scarcely
award. su eat or avenue in the city
IN which Mr.. Astor does not own
real estate, on which the total
amount of taxes is over 100000
annually. ,,aoo -
tween Mr.. Astor and other mllnon,
sires is in his investments. In Wall
street. bis name never appears as
sneculatOr and seldom as an invest
or or seller of stocks. bonds or SINH
lar securities. Having an income
of 10 per cent. on the gross amount
invested in real estate. he quietly
hoys more houses or lands when
opportunity for good investment
offers. In an inventory made OF his
various properties an item Oh
$4,000, 600 in cash appeared as
"monsy in trust companies and
banks awaiting investment IN real
estate"
Mr.. Astor is q man of striking
personal appearance. being over SIX
feet in height, stout, someW hat In
clined to corpulence and stl aight ss
an arrow. When on the street his
quick, elastic step and smiling face,
fringed with small. gray whiskers,
always attract attention. His dress is
simply and surprisingly neat. AT
business or in the street he wears a
brosdcloth cutaway or frock coat,
with trousers to match, comfortable
looking shoes always lightly pol
ished, while in his hand usually
swings as he walks, 8 large, purple
silk umbrella. In summer his cos
tune is changed to black serge
coat and trousers OF some lighter
color, while an easy straw hat rests
lightly on his ivory white hair.
Mr. AstOr, though seldom speak
ing of himself, recently told friend
that although he had completed
threescore years, he felt as well and
hearty as ne did at 40. BenevolenceI
is his striking characteristic, one
probably inherited from the founder
Of the Astor Library. Many Of his
charities are published, though
the actual amount of good done with
his ever-ready check-book is little
known. In nearly all the charitable
institutions Of this city the names of
himself or wife, and often Jointly,
appear as large giyers. During the
winter months Mr.. ARtor Is either
at his Office at No. 81 West Twenty
sixth street, or his home at No 1888
Fifth avenue. TIE latter is familiar
to ResrIy every resident of Fifth
avenue, and is conspicuous for
nothing but its plainnesS and the
spacious grounds which surround 1t.
It'll built of fine moulded brick,
with trimmings Of brown stone, and
mas double stairway leading tO the
front entrance. The interior COM
Psfes favOrably with any palace.
During the late illness Of his wife
Mr.. Astor's time was chiefly devoted
70 cheering he, weary hours at the
oeds de with the same untiring af-
Iecaon rs has wn throughout the
many years Of : "rried life. His
principal recr. alton re visits to his
elegant coun.ry seat,a5 RheinecIiffe.
On-tne-hudson and Yachting. TbeI
country seat is an ancient looking
estaohshment, kept in the finest or
oef, ana Is 9, "reminiscences of olden
lines. Well shaded with trees of |
every kind, its immense lawns and
gar GARDENS are traversed by long drives
Here, in the long days of the sum.
mer months, Mr.. Astor sits on tbel
cool piazza or under some shady tree
and reads. He is having built one
Of the finest pleasure yachts yetI
launched in the wa ers Of this conn.
try, the cost Of which il nlacsS 81
nlfe over 500 900. e viii ha a. az