The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-03
ooDDIED the WESTERN UNION.

parallcled most Of the lines OF Western
Union, and cut the rates until the older
and larger corporation found that its
profits were being reduced toward the
vanishing point. Then it was glad to
make terms with its competitor; a
union OF interests was the result, and
Mr.. Gould obtained control OF the
united concern.
The controlling interest of the ele-
vated railroads OF New York was
achieved by Gould recently, and the
history OF the deal is well known to
newspaper readers, as is also the man
ner Of his requirement OF the Western
and Southwestern railroads, Kansas
Pacific, the Baltimore & Ohio Telegraph
Company (which was consolidated with
the Western Union and the two made
the greatest telegraph monopoly in the
world).
HIS FORTUNE.
No two estimates agree as to the
amount of Mr.. Gould's fortune. The
most conservative figures place it at
about 500, 900, 900, while some people in
Wall street, who think they know some
thing about his accumulations, figure
that he must have gotten together fully
SlO0,0G0,000. His known holdings OF Sc
curities are about as follows: Twenty
two millions par value OF Western
Union Telegraph, which at to-day's
prices would fetch about SlS,600,000;
$4,000, 600 par value of Missouri Pacific,
which is now worth in tine market
S5,5O5, ,0O0 He is supposed to hold in
the neighborhood OF SS,000000, proba-
bly, more, OF Manhattan railway stock,
worth $40, 100000. His holdings of all
these stocks have been larger than this,
but he sold them to either invest the
money in new issues OF bonds of the
Missouri Pacific and Manhattan COM
panies, or to finance those companies
until bonds could be issued. Excellent
information is that he holds about one
third OF the bonds issued on the Mis-.
souri, Pacific system, which would be
about S900O0,000.
His estate holds over $12,0O0,000 OF
Wabash railway stock, which shows a
loss OF between s., 900, 900 and S., 100000.
As long ago as 1884 Mr.. Gould was
known to hold about 5000, 900 OF first
class railway mortgage bonds upon
others than those controlled or managed
by him. Besides these items he had
large investments IN great number OF
properties oncerningwhichth the general
public knows little or nothing. His
holdings OF Union Pacific bonds, which
have never been stated, must be large,
but it is not believed that he owned Of
late years much, il any, Union Pacific
stock.
From the foregoing figures, which are
approximately correct, it is easy to fig
ure up in the neighborhood Of SO, ,00O.-
600. OF late years his fortune has in
creased rapidly, owing to his enormous
income from his holdings OF Western
Union and Manhattan stock, to say no.
thing of his investments in bonds. His
income from these three sources alone,
cannot have fallen under $S,000,00G
year, and has probably exceeded that
amount.
GoULD's DOMESTIC LIFE.
Mr.. Gould married when he was q
young man, and was always domestic in
his habits. He loved his family and
home more than most men do today.
Society he cared nothing for, and paid
little attention to it. Though he paid
for box in the Metropolitan opera
house, he was seen there but rarely.
He attended the theatres at times, but
not with any regularity. He never, 80
far as known, expressed any high ap-
probation OF high arts, of music, the
drama, or literature, although he did
write history OF Delaware county that
is regarded with favor by collectors OF
rare and curious books.
The financier had always had lik-
ing for fine flowers. He spent large
amount Of money on beautiful flowers
and rare plants for his hothouses and
gardens in Tarrytown, and some very
fine specimens OF orchids have been de-
veloped there. But in the main Mr..
Gould lived moro plainly than many
men whose income is less than $4,000
a year.
He has had his hands full OF business
at ali times. But he has never been
niggardly. Like most other business
men he could not be his own almoner.
AS he said, while his wife was alive,
she distributed his money for him, and
did it with free hand, as many know.
Then Mr.. Gould gave in addition to
those societies that are organized for
the purpose OF relieving the needy.
HIS HABITS.
Nor was Mr.. Gould what some persons
call a religious man. But he was as re-
Iigious as most of his nsighbors. For
years he kept pew in local Episcopal
church. Such are the main points in
character the most remarkable, IN some
respects, OF his time. He was born
sickly and was mover robust, except as
TO will and brains. Alone and unaided
he accumulated a vast fortune which
passes intact to his children. No man
was more simple in life or hsbits. He
said that he could never dissipate even
il he wanted to, for he was so consti-
tuted physically that he could not use
tobacco or take intoxicating liquors.
He has been moderate in all things that
he ate or drank. Even in his most ac-
tive days, when he was constantly at
his office, he would take but light
breakfast, consisting mainly OF eggs
and rolls.
Mr.. Gould would never reply to a
newspaper attack upon himself. Yet
he had no particulaE prejudice against
the press, although he has sometimes
said he had long been the most abused
man in the country. For that matter
he has from time to time been inter-
ested in various newspapers.
Rssoutiuus az Respect.
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 2.-General officers
and heads OF all departments Of 30