The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-23

There are comparatively few Bostonians
who would be considered extremely wealthy IN
other great cities Of the United States. The
millionaire has become somewhat common,
Wand Che man who wishes 10 attract attention
Iscby his fortune must express 10 with eight ilg-
beihres There are many wealthy families
thcabout Boston, but comparatively few Inn
70 ,nensely wealthy individuals. This is due
fofin part 10 the fact that B0stoninns incline
10 enjoy wealth without risk, ana WINE
thdhis NAV be fortunate for the possessors 10 Is
a doubtful blessing % tho city. Besides bos-
linton was founded 50 many years ago that the
wealth Of the founders has been divided and
eb-livded through many generations. Jn-
III recent years large families were the rule
an New England and consequently few, II
my, of the early great fortunes have been
kept intact Children, grandchildren and
rreat-grandchildren have helped fritter away
the denominations Of earlier generations in
other cities the fcyerish cxcitements Of gam
bling i'm grain real estate and other specu-
lativo articles create fortunes in day and
dsporse them In a day, but these opportuni-
ties are comparatively unknown here.
OF the milonaires Of Boston Mr. Frederick
/. Ames unqucstionably stands at the head.
Mr.. Ames, though taxed only on a little over
100000 in Boston, is estimated as worth
SeOO0j. 900 20 $25OoO0OO. The Ames family
fillsnd small part In the history Of state and
nation. Mr. Ames i, "A cousin Of the governor
of Ahe commonwealth, and is emiuently
- ad magnate. lie Is perhaps the only
in Boston who would rank beside the
rich men Of New York. his only rival
pc J. Montgomery Sears Personally con-
Ied with upwards Of sixty railroads, he is
}. ,lroad man in the largest sense
~ ever yet has a single word or faint Of cor
or dishonorabe practices attached to
~ His operations are always from prac-
fica standpoints He is in no sense specu-
lator. lie is fully competent % judge OF the
value, quality, resources, availability ana
possibilities OF railway establishments, and as
an adviser in these directions has few equals
Mr. Ames is a director who directs. He is re-
served in manner; just and patient with sub
orfiinates: quick 70 determine and not slow %
,ct .-punctual aud Mijhal. upright and lust
'<afSant 10 meet With his two cousins no
Q associated in the great manufacturing
n nncss at North Easton, where no has his
~ mer residence He has a palatial man
in the aristocratic Back bay in Boston
Governor Oliver Ames, like his cousin Fred
(nts his wealth by millions. Though he
rs a comparatively small tax in Boston,
as legal residence being North Easton, where
ly.vas born in 1851, he occupies perhaps the
y 1est mansion in Boston, on Commonwealth
ivenue, it being taxed on an assessed vaua-
lion of about S2OOOO0 He has been four
us lieutenant governor and three years
Stfernor, declining a denomination He en-
>c'cd his fathers shovel works and learned
cali branches Of the business I'm 1873, when
no had been twenty-five years in business, bis
father, Cakes Ames, died, leaving an inn
mensc estate, scattered in almost every state
In the Union, with an Indebtedness
amounting to 100000 while appraisal
showed that unsecured creditors could
r scarcely expect forty cents on the dollar But
In spite Of the panic, which came six months
after his fathers death, and everything else
Oliver Ames made tho estate pay in full and
left enough 10 pay million dollars Of leea-
cies and a surplus besides for the rcsiduary
legatecs Since then he has climbed rapidly
up the steep hin of fortune. lie has acquired
large railway and other interests and has
been a bold operator In the stock market.
! Possession Of large means by him and his
family has been coupled by a large public
spirit aud many notable illustrations of lib