The Washington critic., 1889-04-20
SCIENTISTS WITH FORTUNES.

II might surprise people who have been
reading about them in the papers to Know
that the members Of the National Academy
of Sciences, which has been in session over
at the National Museum this week. are
rich men as well as learned ones. The list
of millionaires is quite long one when 1t
is remembered that the active membership
is but about 100 The president o. G.
Marsh, is q millionaire more than once. He
inherited his money from Peabody, the
famous philanthropist, who did so much for
science. Beside his Inheritance, he has a
large income, and though he lives well and
entertains lavishly at his handsome home In
New Haven, his income is so large that he
probably puts away q goodly sum every
year. Alexander Gresham Bell is q million
aire many times over, and his fortune is
growing at the rate OF small fortune every
month. His tastes are quiet, and he proba-
bly, does not live as expensively as some
poorer people. Alexander Agassiz, the
famous naturalist's son, is an honorary
member Of the Academy, and he is several
times millionaire. As few scientists have,
be made his fortune from his scientific at
tainments. He, like his illustrious father,
is o naturalist, but 1t was not from this
study he made his fortune It was from
his extensive knowledge as mineralogist.
lie found fortune In the copper mines.
To his erudition are due the rich copper
mines in the Calumet and Hecla regions
that have proved valuable as gold mines.
Fairman Rodgers and Coleman Sellers are
also millionaires. Their fortunes were made
out of engineering enterprises, and Mr.. Sell
ers has extensive iron interests. He has pat
ented anumber ofinventions that yield hand
some results and he is president Of the com.
pany that owns the immense Midvale Steel
Works just outside OF Philadelphia. Edward
c. Pickling, the Harvard astronomer, inher-
tied splendid fortune from an uncle. Lewis
NJ. Rutherford is another millionaire by In
heritance. DR.. Horatio Wood of Philadel-
phia makes more money by literary work
than any other member Of the Academy and
probably few, If any, derive larger
incomes directly from their scientific
incomes, not including incomes from
investments. Besides enjoying large
practice, he is the editor Of the Medical Jour
nal and other medical publications and the
author Of the United States Dlspensary. His
literary work alone is said to bring him an
income of some $4,000 or $4,000 year.
Charles +. Chandler Of New York is another
rich man and his income is not less than $780,
600 year. He is a chemist and his income
is principally from the assaying business, he
being the foremost assayist In the country
He is also professor in the Columbia Col
lege. Wolcott Gibbs is another rich chemist,
his fortune coming from his work In cor
nection with the manufacture of drugs.
Theodore N. Gill of this city is worth
some 100000, and is a naturalist of en-
inent distinction, and more especially au
ichthyologist. His fortune was inherited
In part and much increased by real estate
investments. Clarence King of New York
is millionaire and over. He is a practical
geologist-practical enough to have made
his immense fortune out Of his ability as a
mining expert. Joseph Leidy of Philadel-
phia is an eminent naturalist and anatomist
worth, probably, a hundred thousand dol
lars. DIR. s. Weir Mitchell has amassed
large fortune from his practice, and he is
the accepted authority on nerve diseases.
These are some of the richest members of
the Academy, but there are more rich ones,
and probably every members income is
over SIS 600 a year. Many hold professor
ships in Columbia College at $500 year.
1t is noticeable that not one Of the rich
members Of the Academy made his fortune
in trade.