The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-12-06
Thoughts From a Close Observer on
the Effects of the Late Finan-
cial Disturbance.
SOME OF OUR WEALTHY MAGNATES
Rockefeller, Gould, Vanderbilt and
Hill Control the Railroads of
thu United States.
President j. j. Hill Quietly Watch.
ing the Development of
Events.
Especial Correspondence of the TR BUNE.l

Especial Correspondence of the TRt BUNE.
New YORK, Nov. 20.-One of the re-
suits of the recent Wall street panic is the
return of Jay Gould to power as n rail
road magnate. He has acquired control
of the Union Pacific mail steamship
company. He has acquired also an in
terest in the Atchlson Topeka a. Santa Fe
system as well as in the group of southern
railroads known as Richmond Terminals.
Gould's investment of about $25,000,000
was made at an opportune time. Stocks
have since advanced steadily and he could
doubtless realize $5,000,000 IN his pur-
chase if that moderate profit were likely
to satisfy him. Already he is reaping the
fruits of his success. His son has become
president of the Pacific Mail and his
friend Sydney Dillon has succeeded
Charles F. Adams as president of the
Union Pacific which will be run entirely
in the Gould interest.
What concerns Montana most is that
there has been a mutual change of owner
ship in the Northern Pacific. Mr.. Rookie
Teller the Standard Oil magnate who
bought heavily when the preferred shares
fell to panic prices is regarded now as a
bigger man than Willard under whose
guidance the stock Of the company was
consolidated some time ago. Whether
Mr.. Rockefeller will take an active part
in the management of the company
remains to be seen. He may work in
harmony with Mr.. Willard and forego the
toll and trouble which railroad control
involves. He may leave Thomas Cakes
as president and content himself with
representation on the board of directors.
1t is pretty certain that he will act in ac-
cord with Jay Gould for it is understood
that it was on the advice of the "wizzard
of Wall street. that he invested his mil
lions so readily in Northern Pacific pre-
ferred. Willard is due here today and it
will soon be known if there is to be a
radical change in the management of the
company which he controlled so abso-
lutely not many months ago.
Rockefeller, mean while enjoys the
reputation of being the wealthiest nan
in the United States. His wealth is esti-
mated at $135, 900, OOO. His business Of
fees alone occupy an immense marble
building worth probably $~2,00O,0O0.
William W. Astor ranks next, his prop
erty being worth $126, 000, 900. Cornelius
Vanderbilt is credited with $90,O00,0O0,
while Jay Gould has the modest sum of
$~75,0O0,00O. Henry j. Flagler has $780,
100000 and Charles j. Pratt $55,000,OO0,
and so on down to the people who have
only $3,000,00 The number is legion
apparently of those who have 100000
for no one has undertaken to make a list
of them.
1t is understood that Gould desires,
with the aid of such %mllllonaires as Sid
ney Dillon and Rockefeller, to form a
western railroad association that will be
such in all the name implies. 1t is to
maintain rates and restrict construction
While no one would deny the RAILROAD
companies rates that are reasonable and
fair, there will be strong objections
raised to any attempt to suspend con
struction west of the Mississippi. 1t
would not be the interest of the com
panies themselves to do so. Montans
could pay good dividends on 1000 miles
of branch railroads. Let Jay Gould re
strict unwlse construction, but let hin
not deprive Montana and the neighbor
ing states Of the iron highways needed
to develop their matchless% resources.
Mr.. james J.. Hill has been in tow
some days, a quiet but interested observer
of the financial movements and combina.
tions. He keeps the finances OF his large
railroad system in good order and so is
able to weather any storm that may arise
in Wall street or Cornhill. He stands
we'll with the capitalists but he has never
sought to make the Great Northern a
speculative stock such as those which
serve as shuttlecocks for the bulls and
bcdlo' 1le Has, Ho"eftl, uepdltcu IloHi
his usual reserve to express the wish that
Smith Weed may be elected United
States senator for New York.
Governor Hills friends, however, con
tend that he is entitled to that honor
There are also some Cleveland men Wit
would gladly consent to a compromise by
which Mr.. Hill would forego his presi
dental aspirations in exchange for sucl
support as would ensure him the senator
ship. .Tammany, which is now all pow
erful in this city, will have much to say
as the solid phalanx of Tammany Assem-
blymen may hold the balance of powel
among the rival candidates. Tammany
is on very good terms with Governor
Hill, but if it deems it prudent to supper
any other candidate from the interior O
the state, it may regard with a kindly eye
the claims of Mr.. Weed, who would b.
al able and efficient representative of the
Empire state in the senate which 1ngalll
and Hoar have done so much to lower il
the estimation of the public. GOTHAM.
w. Nyy~rIJ EN,u:-L-J