St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1885-06-06

VANDERBlLT'S WEALTH.
The Enormous Accommodations of the Chief
Millionaire of the Day.


The Enormous Accumulations of the Chief
Millionaire of the Day.
HIS fortune was at one time placed at
as high as $2O0,000, 900. but a good
Judge lately said that he thought $780,
O0a, 900 was now nearer the mark.
Still he is the richest man in the
world
None of the Rothschilds ever had any
thing like his wealth. The banking
business of that famous house still, of
course, goes on in London, Paris, and
Vienna, but it is now in the hands of
Young men of the Rothschild family,
and its wealth has been distributed
among quite number of its members
by will. as one by one, the older men
of the firm died The combined capital
of that family is now about $250,OOO,-
600, and some writer's have declared
that Mr.. Vanberbilt's fortune exceeded
that of all the Rothschilds put together,
but this is an exaggeration. 1t would
not be at all surprising if Mr.. Wander
bits wealth should, before he departs
this life. fully justify such statement,
but for the present it is enough to know
that he comes as near as he does to the
figures mentioned, and that he is not
only far richer than any single men,
ber of the Rothschild family. but is, as
already stated, the wealthiest man in
the world None of the traders of an
tiquity of which we have any record.
none of the present financial barons of
France or England, none of the monied
princes of Germany. Austria or Russia,
or of the world of haute finance any,
where, can really compare with him in
point of personal possessions. Old John
Jacob Astor with his fortune of $50, ,000,-
600 was, forty years ago, the Wander
bilt of his day. but even after making
due allowances for the greater purchas-
ing power of money in those times he
came nowhere near the enormous ac-
emulation of the chief millionaire of
to-day.
His wealth is largely in Government
bonds and railr Il securities. Hetakes
an inventory wealth once year.
In January, lSo.i. he told a friend that
81 am the richest man in the world. In
England the Duke of Westminster is
said to be worth 500, 900, 900. but it is
mostly in land and houses. 1t does not
pay him two per cent" This was an
unusual outbur>t of boastfulness on his
part. A year ago he had S5i, ,000, 600 in
Government 4-per cent. bonds, but the
amount was afterward reduced to $780,
600. 900. partly for the purpose of aiding
his sons who lost SlO,O0O,OO0 by Wall
Street speculations. Later on, however,
he purchased about S10.0o0,OO3 more of
the 4-per cents. and he has besides
$1,000. 900 in the Government bonds that
paw three and onc-half per cent. His
Government bonds are worth. as near
as can be stated, $1O.O00,000. He
owned year ago 240,00U shares of
Michigan Central stock. 800. 900 shares
of Chicago and Northwestern, 100000
shares of Lake Shore, 80, 600 in the Chi
cago and Rock Island road, 10000 in
| the Delaware and Lackawanna, besides
some 10000 shares in other railroads,
so that in all he held, approximately.
| $4,000 shares of railroad stock. A
large part of these he still owns, though
he is reported to have sold considerable
Lake Shore stock.
He owns 81. .O0o, 900 worth of railroad
bonds, it is said, besides $4,000, 600
worth of State and city bonds, and has
| S2,0o0.o00 in various manufacturing
stocks and mortgages. He valued his
house on Fifth Avenue at $3,O00,0OO,
the art gallery being worth, with its
contents. sl.000.oO0. He sold Maud 5.
for $4,000 last year. His ordinary ex-
penses in year. he has said. were
S2G0. 900. but his ball given in 1888 cost
him $4,000 extra. Mrs. Vanderbilt's 5
diamonds are valued at Sl50.O00. He
wears none himself A Wall Street
statistician, in referring to Mr.. Wander
bits wealth, said: "From his Govern
ment bonds he draws S2.372, 900 year;
from railroad stocks and bonds, 1884,
600; from miscellaneous securities,
S576, ,695: total. in round numbers, $l0,-
$50, 900 year. His earnings are thus
$4,000 day, $1,000 an hour, and
| $3.50 minute.
This was year ago, when his wealth
was reckoned at S200.0 100000. The
value of his securities has decreased
since, through the hard times. The
depression in trade has not imprObably
reduced his wealth nearly $50, ,0O0, 900 but
his fortune and his income are of course
still almost fabulous.-N. y. Cor. In
didndpoiis journal.
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