The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-21
VANDERBILT RICHES.
MADE Up OF A VAST AGGREGA-
TON OF STOCKS AND BONDS.

How the Elder w. 81. vanderbiIt's Wealth
Was Divided Between His Sons-To
What Extent the Latter Have Increased
Their Inheritaace-The Family.
William II. Vanderbilt was by long odds
the wealthiest man in the world. The low
est estimate put upon his fortune was
$3.50, 1000, 900. Chauncey NJ. Depew said it
aggregated 500, 600 600, and that figure was
probably not far wrong. To each of his
eight children was bequeathed $4,000, 900;
5000, 900 was set aside to provide an in
come for Mrs. Vanderbilt, and the remain
ser was directed to be divided between the
two eldest sons, Cornelius and William b.
Vanderbilt.
In round numbers they received $50, 500,
900 each, which, with the requests of SlO,-
000,00O increased their shares to 500, 800
600. Cornelius Vanderbilt at the time was
estimated to possess S., 0O0,G0 The pres
ent estimates of their fortunes take into
consideration the natural accumulations
and allow for the expenditures, for 1t is
known that the Vanderbilts use great
deal of money.
W. II. VANDERBILT.
The accumulation of money by Comma
dore Vanderbilt was more notable than
that by Mr.. Gould, or perhaps by any other
| man who made himself multl-mlllion-
sire through his own efforts. 1t was more
difficult to make money in the days OF
! Commodore Vanderbilt than it is now, yet
the commodore in his lifetime amassed a
| fortune of fully $50, coo, OO0 This amount
was more than doubled by William Fl.
Vanderbilt principally through the extern
sion of his railway interests.
! Next to the Astor fonune there is no
| fortune so securely invested as that of the
| Vanderbilts. 1t consists almost entirely
| of government bonds and the securities of
! the Vanderbilt railroads, which form one
of the most prosperous systems in the
country. The Vanderbilt stocks suffer less
! in the mutations of the stock market than
almost any other class of securities, and
the Vanderbilt fortunes accordingly sus-
tain small changes in periods of financial
stress.
AT one time William II. Vanderbilt was
an operator in the stock market on a great
scale. Both he and his two eldest sons,
Cornelius and William K, lost heavily in
the tumultuous financial times of 1884 and
then abandoned speculation altogether.
Cornelius and William h. Vanderbilt are
said to have lately increased their holdings
of stocks to a considerable extent, not,
however, for speculation, but for invest
ment. The interests and dividends which
they receive amount up very fast, and they
diminish the accumulation every now and
then by buying stocks and bonds. For the
most part they purchase the securities of
oil huu
bought good many government bonds.
CORNELIUS VANDERBILT.
Cornelius Vanderbilt was the favorite of
his grandfather, the commodore, whose
name he bears. He is an excellent business
man, of conservative ways. When not alb
sent from New York he is to be found
every day at his Office in the Grand Cen
trail station. A door from his office opens
into the office of Chauncey NJ. Depew, the
president of the New York Central and
Hudson River railroad. He depends on
Mr.. Depew for counsel, as his father did
before him, and takes infinite pleasure in
Mr.. Depew's clever sayings and funny sto-
ries. He and Mr.. Depew lunch together
regularly.
Mr.. Vanderbilt is interested perhaps
more in church work than in financial af-
fairs. He erected very handsome build
ing for the railroad branch of the Young
Mems Christian association and often takes
part in its meetings. He is never heard as
a speaker except at these meetings. He
attends the fashionable st. Bartholomew
church In Madison avenue, and may be seen
any Sunday afternoon vending his way
home from service with prayer book and
hymnal in his hand. He has never dis
played any political aspirations. His name
was once suggested for mayor, but the
proposition net with prompt disapproval.
Aware that he has more money than he
can spend even by the most lavish outlay.
William X. Vanderbilt leads perhaps the
most elegant life of any American. He
pays little attention TO business for the
good reason that there is little necessity
for it. AS his property is made up of the
securities of the railroads which his broth
er Cornelius oversees with jealous care, it
is in no danger of impairment. He and
his wife are devoted to the pleasures of so
ciety. His steam yacht, the Alva, named
after his wife, is the finest private craft
afioat, and he spends much of his time on
it. He has the reputation at the Union
club, of which he is a member, of being one
of the most expert whist players in New
York.
THE VANDERBILT SOS.
Fred W. Vanderbilt, who occupies the
old mansion of William II. Vanderbilt at
Fifth avenue and Fortieth street, was for
merly one of the most successful specula-
tors in Wall street, but he stopped stock
operations at the request of his father
when the latter discontinued his own vent
ures in the financial whirl. Like Willia,S
II. Vanderbilt, he is a lover of speedy
horses, and his stable contains some of the
best roadsters that show their quality
on St Nicholas avenue. A favorite diver
sion Of his is billiards. Few professionals
can handle the cue with more adroitness.
William II. Vanderbilt's youngest son.
George W. Vanderbilt, never displays any
leaning toward finance. He is a thorough
bookworm, and has library of which
there are few equals A few years ago he
was animated with an ambition TO become
q newspaper reporter, but was finally dis
suaded by his family from entering jour
nalism. He was willing to begin at the
bottom and work up He expected in time
of course TO be great editor" He has
turned from stocks to lands in his invest
ments. He is one Of the large landholders
on Staten Island, and has great tract in
the south.
William II. Vanderbilt built house for
each of his children, with the exception Of
Fred W, to whom, as stared, be gave his
own former residence, and of George W,
the only unmarried one, who resides with
his mother in the great brown stone struct-
ure on Fifth avenue and Fifty-frst street,
New York World.
Too Big for Hsn Rates
Truth is eminently stranger than fiction.
A big long lank mala human entered the