The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-05-21
The Astors' Millions.
A GREAT FORTUNE THAT HAS BEEN ACCU-
MULATED IN REAL ESTATE.

GREAT FORTUNE THAT HAS BEEN ACCU-
MULATED IN REAL ESTATE.
The Astor Brothers of New York
have quite pretentious brick building
on Broadway which looks ike a bank
ing house. 1t is fitted up like one.
On the inside it has all the parapher-
malta of screens, desks, big books and
clerks, which are so common in finan-
cial establishments. On the outside
of the door there are two brass signs,
one bearing the name of John j. Astor
the other William w. Astor. On the
inside each of the brothers has pri
vate office and plenty of clerks to do
the work. This place is a singular
little institution, 1t wears an air of
repose entirely foreign to a business
establishment, yet within its walls
there are more transactions of import
ance yearly than in many pretentious
financial institution. The score or
more of clerks with their big books
are kept busy looking after the real
estate which belongs to the Astors.
1t is said that this establishment col
lects in rentals more than million of
dollars year. 1t takes as much time
and attention to keep track of the pro-
perty belonging TO this noted family
as it would to conduct an extensive
banking house.
The Astors are not spectators.
They do not go upon the street for
business or invest money in ordinary
business affairs. They confine their
operations to real estate. 1t was the
foundation of their great fortune
which was left to them by the shrewd
and misery old parent who made it.
John Jacob Astor, the elder, was a
singular old person. He labored and
saved all the money he accumulated
went into land and its belongings.
The most glowing business venture
could not coax money out of his pock.
ct. He believed in land and invested
his fortune in it. His life was any
thing but a happy one, and his family
don't seem TO have improved much up.
on it. They live in good shape, that
is about all. They cut no figure in the
general life of the metropolis except
as large property owners and pur,
chasers. The two Astors are old men.
William w. is tall, robust, citizen,
near sixty, | should think. He has Q
round, full face, little inclined to be
red, and a sandy complexion. His
brother is fully rs tai, but not as stout
nor as cheerful looking. Both of them
pass along the street without attracting
any attention or scarcely a passing
notice.
In dollars and cents they are by fai
the largest real estate owners in the
United States. They are adding to
their possessions every day. Theil
present ventures, are in the direction
OF the new property about Harlem
that is just now attracting so much
attention. Next TO the Vanderbilts
this is the richest family in America
How many millions they have no one
seems to know, yet in 1860 it wa,
heraded over the United States thai
John Jacob Astor was the richest mar
IN the country. lie had a million OF
dollars then. Just think of the grea
fortunes that have been accumulated
since. The Vanderbilt estate ha,
been built upsI iuce those days. Will,
Aaors real estate, then valaed at
million, has Increased to more than
hundred millions. The fortune he lef
to his family is one of the very few il
New York that has been kept intae
and built upon by the slow increase il
the value of houses and land.