The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-18

Gould's fortune. There may be no dram
attic battles with the great financiers; no
startling exhibitions of strategy and dis
play of splendid audacity and. courage,
such as characterized Jay Gouid's creative
career, for conservatism depends upon
other qualities than these; but watchful-
ness, caution, foresight, knowledge OF men.
of national resources. of political tenden-
ces and material development. as well as
keen, intuitive perception of the hidden
purposes of men will necessarily DO exer-
cised every day if George Gould and his
brothers are to preserve what their father
made.
In one respect the position these young
men are now compelled to take in the
world of finance and business energy is
peculiar. They are the only inheritors of
one of those colossal fortunes made since
the close of the civil war who have re-
ceived it from the creator of it and who
are expected to. do with it as he would
have done.
The Vanderbiits Of the present day are
of the third generation. They are not the
sons, but the grandsons, of the maker of
the enormous property. Their father,
William III. Vanderbilt, had the same re-
lation to the Vanderbilt fortune that the
sons of Gould now bear to that which he
created. William Fl. Vanderbilt, when
he received his inheritance, was as
old as Jay Gould was when he died.
The second Vanderbilt had his for
tune some ten years, and so well
did he manage it that the great financiers
looked upon him as having done almost
as great things as his father and some of
his achievements were almost as dramatic.
He preserved, not as the miser does, but
as the great capitalist should do, by devel-
opment, and he gave to his sons nearly
double the fortune that the commodore
made.
William A. Vanderbilt. a man past so
when he received his wealth, is the only
person to whom the Gould boys can point
as having had the same experience as that
upon which they are now entering. The
Astors of this generation are the great
grandsons of the founder of the Aston
wealth. The men who since the war
have amassed colossal fortunes in
the far West either by mines or
railway development cannot expect to
maintain these possessions AS the Gould
fortune will be maintained and developed
Senator Stanford's son is commemor ated
in q great university; Mr.. Huntington has
no one upon whom he can lean as Gould
did upon his son George; the Hopkins and
the Croker millions are already scattered
to some extent; Flood and o Brien and
ex-senator Fair and their fortunes were of
influence that is now a tradition and cam
not be renewed in their heirs. and Mr..
Mackay's son as yet gives no hint OF such
pre-eminen; ability as is necessary to make
his name As potent as his fathers has been
and now is. sidney Dillon is name that
is now of the past. Russell sage has
no children, and perhaps the greatest
constructive genius OF all OF the giants
developed since the war, John d. Rookie
Teller, cannot hope that his achievements
will be suggested by anything that his
heirs may do. Therefore the sons of jay
Gould. on the threshold of life as they
really are. are really the first. William II.
Vanderbilt excepted, 10 show what may
be done in the way of maintaining one of
the half-dozen colossal fortunes created
since the war.
The impression among the other fran
clers of New York IS that George Gould
will Justify his fathers confidence. Ger
tsinly ne and his brothers are to be num-
bered among the greater powers in the
financial world, and some things can now
be told of them which Will furnish some
hint OF their capacity 10 meet the enor-
nous responsibilities that have now come
10 them.
1t has been said by those who know tho
two older sons, George and Edwin, that
together they wouid MAKE the Jay Gould
that Wall street knew. Certainly not
physically, however. They are larger men
than their father was. George Gould Is
bat little taller than jay Gould was, but
is of much stouter figure. suggesting far
greater physical strength. He is esteemed
q handsome young man, for his features