Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-04-21
AN ECCENTRIC MILLIONAIRE.
Peculiarilits of Jos phi Richare.cn
SAID 10 b. Dying.

Concerning G man well known to
many people In Utah, especially those
who were acquainted with the details
OF the construction OF what was for.
merly known as tho Utah Northern,
the narrow Ruage railway from Oguen
Into Cache valley, the Chicago Record
OF last Saturday speaks as follows;
A man 81 years old, whose wealth is
reosoued 1T 500, GOO, 900, lie dying in a
house which ne built for his own resi-
dence on lot 100 feet long by 8 feet
wide. 1t Ia four stories high, OF red
brick, with brown stone trimmings,
and Is probably the nsrrowest house in
the world. This peculiar structure has
long been one OF the sights OF New
York, as Its owner and occupant has
b zen notorious rs miser. Joseph
Richardson, who has enjoy this un.
enviable reputation, was boro In
Englanu, came TO this cJuntry az
boy, and bsgan lie as laborer; but,
having the moneymaking capacity
anu an economical disposition, rapidly
acquired fortune. FJr halt century
he has been one u the best known
contractors in New York, and has su.
perintended construction work amount
ing TO billions. He has built railroads
Ia New England and New York anu
IN the west. He was Jay Gou,d's
favorlte contractor, because he never
failed to osrIy out his stipulations with
| the greatest exscIness. He never
adj trouble with his men, his material
was the best, ne always paid his bills
| pro mptly, and his word was as good as
| a government bond. He built a large
portion OF the Missouri Pacific, tne
| Texas pacilc, the Union Pacific. the
| Mexican Central anu other great lines
| In [ West, and where other con.
tractors lost money Richardson always
made q good protit.
| OF late years he has had an office
down town and has managed nis
business through superintendenis. He
always wore the garments OF labjr-
ing man, and carried his lunon IN
his pocket wrapped up In paper. In
appearance he TeIembles Russell Sage,
anu shares many OF that gentlemsn's
Characteristic, except hat he is an
lnfidel, while Mr.. sage Is an orthodox
Presbyterian.
He lived q bachelor until about
1880, when, much to the surprise OF
us acquaintances, ne married the
I
commauded the famous 79.h New
York volunteers dnring the civil war.
Notwithstanding his penurious disp0-
sliiin they are said 10 have lived
happily.
BY me means .or other unknown,
Mr.. Ricn srdson few years ago be-
came possessed OF strip OF land al
The 90 rn,r VI Lexings avenue anu
send street, which was 100 feet long
and fest wide. The na1 who
owned tne adjoining lot waited to
guy II, anu fired 81 200 in 1882, but
but Mr.. Richardson demanded S., 900,
which was several times more tnan Its
value. The neighbor proceeded to
erect q residence upon his own lot,
j. with windows overlooking the street
+ anu Mr.. Ricnardson's property. Toe
latter, In spite oil him, built his pacu.
, liar house, coveriog the entire area,
s leet Wide anu 100 feet deep. There
, are two bay windows wnich proisct
/ lest. thus making two OF the rooms Oh
, each Il or s feet wide for u portion o
their depth. But IL is the Queeres
and his wife sleep on co.'s. Their di d.
log table Ia q shelf hell with hingei
, sgaints the wall, and may be let dow L
. when not In use. There is no running
a water In the house, except in tn,
), kitchen, and all that Is used has to b,
carried up and down stairs. Toe up.
|, per rooms are reached cy a spiral stair
= way, such as you would find in thu
steeple OF q church, and it 10 SO narrow
that stout person can scarcely CLINT
!, 1t.
Another OF Mr. Richardson'
= peculiarlties is a cOffin which wal
), made for him unuer his own super
, vision several years ago, and has sine,
y been kept iu au upper chamber. ID.
A selectei the tree. sent the log to tn
saw-mill, where 1t was made int
boards under his own inspection, an,
then TO his own carpenter shop, where
:. the cCtfih was constructed ACCORDING
TO hls own directions. Ii he shoul
:, die, as he probably will. In one OF tn
), upper rooms where he 10 now lying,
Will be impossible to take his body gu
OF the house except by lowering 1t from
one OF the windows.
Il Many stories are told OF Nj
&c Richardsou's scrupuloua honesty. ii
II always eKacted the nali-cont when
II was Que him, but he was equally care
Ie lul to pay ali he hirlsel! owed. On
!, OF The stories is that, forgetting hi
~ luncn one day, be bought some apple
10 and borrowed paper bag OF u Germa
a grOce lyman In his neighborhoou /
IL carry them in. When he returne
from mis- Luslu ess that nj gh; he brougt
the bag VAIN him, careiully foideI vi
and gave 1t back TO the grocery saa
"A | u iIh nFnnaF Than no