Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-26
A MODERN CRESUS.
Aias, Poor Man, He Ia Worth Only s7S, 600,
600 Instead Of 500, 600, 900
Where II Ia.

/ Wv @&3<@eA VI 8ARtfNtSfN~t
Where IL Is
fNew York Letter.l
Probably no man in America receives
a. much attention at the hands of news.
paper paragrapbers a. jay Gould. Va
rious and conflicting reports as 10 his
physical, mental. and financial condi.
tons constantly appear in print and GO
the rounds of the papers. They are
read with much interest and with
some degree OF credence by the public,
but rs o matter of fact they are seldom
based on authentic information; and
in many cases are purely imaginary. In
Wall street the frequently-recurring ru-
NOR OF Mr.. Gould's death or illnessvith
a. fatal malady is treated with ridicule,
and attempts to "bear" stocks in that
way are dismal failures. The amount OF
his holdings, however, is 50 great that
he is great power on the street, and
any sudden fluctuations of the market
rouse the suspicion that he lie at work
again. These suspicious are known 10
be groundless by Mr.. Gould's friends.
who are informed as to his &C
tual condition. While the reports
that have been circulated stating
that Mr.. Gould is affected with cancer,
/. Bright's disease, and several other affec-
tons are fabrications, his condition has
been such as to greatly alarm his init
mate friends and members of his family.
Although ,be is free from any organic
disease, he was threatened with a COM
plete breaking down from overwork.
lie has suffered from neuralgia for
years, and has lately been troubled
with dyspepsia, but he has escaped
more serious complications by taking
the long rest from business that
his physicians ordered. His sojourn at
| Saratoga is doing him world OF good,
aud his friends expect to see him back
in his Office with the return OF cool
weather. Tie stories that his active
business life is ended have no founda-
ton. His enormous interests require at
tention, and although be has given them
little thought during his enforced vaca-
ton, it was in order to be fully capable
of attending to them on his return to
his Office that he is taking rest.
While he has been away the only bust
ness matters that have been sub
mitted to him we're affairs Of the ut
most importance in which the officials
and directors of the properties in
volved did not care to assume the
responsibility. of acting without first con-
sulting Mr.. Gould. When in harness
Mr.. Gould is al idefatigable worker. He
looks into every detail OF the
management of the Missouri Paci-
fic railway, and gives close stten-
ton to the Western Union Telegraph
Company, the Manhattan Elevated rail
way, and dozens Of other concerns in
which he is heavily interested. de works
late in his Office, and then takes papers
and documents home for perusal at night.
He has transacted an enormous amount
of business during his lifetime and it is
no wonder that he broke down under
the strain.
OUT OF TEE STREET FOR GOOD.
His friends say that he will never re-
turn TO Wall street as an active trader
again. He will devote himself to the
management of the properties in which
he is heavily interested. He has with
drawn from general investments as much
as possible, and got himself very near a
cash basis. Considerable speculation rs
to his actual holdings has been INDUCED
in recently, and several computations
published that were far from being cor
rect. AS there are only one or two per-
sons, aside from MIR. Gould himself,
who have definite knowledge Of his
holdings, and they are naturally averse
TO talking on the subject, it is diff
cult to obtain positive information. The
three properties in which he is most
heavily interested are the Western Union
Telegraph, the Manhattan Elevated, and
the Missouri Pacific. From the testi-
mony OF DR.. Norvin Green before n
Senate committee short time ago, it is
known that Mr.. Gould owns one quarter
of the stock of the telegraph company,
and as the total amount is $50, 600, 600
his interest is $40, 900, 600. MIR. Gould's
purchase OF $4,000 shares Of Manhattan
stock from Mr.. Cyrus w. Field, with
what he previously owned, is said by
those who know to give him over half
OF the stock of the company, or about
Sl4, 900. 900. His interest in Missouri
Pacific has been placed at $40, 900, 600 ;
but this is greatly in excess of the actual
amount, which is 81, 900, 900. His in
vestments III other western properties are
so varied that it is doubtful If Mr.. Gould
himself could estimate their value. Many
Of these stocks, If thrown on the market
to-day without reserve, would scarcely
bring the value Of the paper that they are
printed on but if held ten years, until
the properties are developed, their value
may approach that Of the three great pro-
perties which are controlled by Mr.. Gould.
1t will be remembered thatin July, 1882,
when MIR. Gould called three well-known
gentlemen into his Office, and exhibited
stocks, bonds, and other securities, the
face-value of which was $52, 900, 600, in
order to contradict the rumors adverse
TO his financial condition, he held large
amount OF Government bonds. While his
holdings of most of the other properties
have greatly increased since that time,
he is believed TO have parted with most Of
the Government bonds. His enormous
fortune has increased so rapidly that
many exaggerated statements in regard
TO the amount OF individual properties
and as to the total amount of the fortune
have been made. Information obtained
from reliable sources places the amount
of the holdings of the various properties
as follows:
Western Union Telegraph Company. So, 000, 900
Manhattan Elevated Railroad Com
pany, ...................... 14,0OO.000
Missouri Pacific Railroad Company. -. Il. 900. O00
Iron Mountain Railroad Company zee. 5,0O0,00O
Government bonds. .................... 100000