Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-18
MOB HILL.
The Deserted Homes of the California Kuiti-
miliiOnaircs.

The Deserted Homes Of the California Hutti-
milli0naircs.
StrolliDg up aristocratic California
street, says San Francisco correspond
ent, Senator Stanford's home is the first
one seen. A magnificent dwelling 1T is.
At least $2,o90,o00 was spent on its cree
ton. The decorations of the rooms cost
more than 100000, while,the,. pictures and
furniture are valued at $1,500,000. But
the owner is not there. Both the senator
and Mrs. Stanford are at noted springs
in Germany, seeking that health that is
possessed by nearly every piowboy and
mechanic in the land. Lonely has been
and is that home? senator Stanford is
the weaithiest mar on the Pacific coast,
but unless tbs advice OF his physicians ia
carried out to the letter, the days of both
himself and wife are but few, and whas
is worse they are childish. Senator Stan
ford has neither son nor daughter to
wsom 20 leave his gold.
But to pass on. immediately adioin-
ing Stanford's house, and occupying the
remainder of the block, Is that of Mrs.
Hopkins Searles, but known until her
marriage few months since with Mr..
Searles of Massachusetts as Mrs. Mark
Hopkins. An imposing edifice, this Hop
kins mansion, and cost a million and q
half TO build. Poor Mark Hopkins! He
planned this house, but by constant ap-
plicatiop to business and the requirement
of wealth as the financier of the Central
Pacific company, he lost his reason be-
fore it was completed. Ons day he was
stroIllng with an attendeut along the
street when he suddenly exclaimed:
"What Internal fool built that housed"
H. ,rl 1f+n hi f2<u
worth round $40, eOO,O00, married and
is living in Massachusetts. OnIy a SCR
want occupies the Hopkins mansion.
Diagonally across the street from this
is the brown stone residence of bonanza
king James G. Food. 1t is said that this
residence cost 100000. Every atone
in the building, and even the fence, was
brought from Connecticut. The fence
itself, with it's bronze gates, cost 100000.
But the house is also tenantless. Floods
eyesight has nearly left him. He, with
his wife and daughter, is in Europe, try
log 20 regain health, while control OF his
busin esq, under the advice Of physicians
has been placed in Ell Others hands.
Next comes the residence of Mrs. Col
ton, she who was given such prominencs
a few years since by the newspapers on
account of her suit against G. 2. Hunt
iEgton. In this suit the famous Hunting
ton letters to Cotton were produced
Cotton was chief law adviser of the Cen
trail Pacific railroad, and since his death
his widow has lived but little at their
home. To-day the curtains are drawn
low and the shutters closed, denoting the
absence of the owner.
The last Of the homes of the million
aires is that Of Charles Croker, whose
death has just taken place. Between
million end quarter and million asd
half was spent III its erection, but it has
not been much occupied of late. For
months Crocker has been fighting against
q usually fatally disesae, and at the time
of his death was absent from his homs
for the purpose of restoring his health.
His wife was in New York.
Thus run the homes of the millionaires-
Not single ne is occupied by it's owner.
No wonder thinking people in the city
look up TO Mob hill and feel thankful in
their hearts that they have health, If not
gold b. the millions.