Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-17
THE HOUSE OF Vanderbilt.
Survivors of CorBeilus-The Lntters
Enormous Wealth.
CSew York Times.

CSew York Times)
Cornelius. the eldest son, is the first 10
pass away Of william II. Vanderbilts
eight children. There IS a peculiar signi-
ficance in this fact. For twelve years ne
bore the brunt OF the care and response
bility Of all the Vanderbilt millions. His
death recalls the following words, which
were uttered by his father just before his
death: "The care of S200,000,Clo is too
great a load for any brain or back TO
bear. II is enough to kill a man. l have
no son whom / am willing to afflict with
the terrible burden. SO, when L lay down
this heavy responsibility, l want my sons
10 divide IL and share the worry which 1t
will cost 10 keep II"
Three brothers and fouI sisters survive
Cornelius Vanderbilt. William X. and
Frederick w have for several years been
associated with Cornelius in railway man
agement William X. Vanderbilt was
chairman Of the Board Of Directors
Of the Lake Shore road up 10 year ago,
when he assumed fun direction of all
the Vanderbilt railway interests. George
W. Vanderbilt, the youngest brother has
but little taste for business. He Is
student and a noted collector Of rare
! books. Margaret Louisa, the eldest sis
ter, Of Cornelius. is the widow of Elliott
, +. Shepard. Emily Thorn, the second
sister is the wife of William Sloane, the
carpet manufacturer. Florence Adele
the third sister, is the wife of Hamilton
Mex. Twombly. who Is connected with
various Vanderbilt interests. Eliza o.,
the youngest sister. is the wife Of DIT. w.
Seward Webb, who Is president OF the
Wagner Palace-Car Company.
So well systematized were Mr.. Wander
| bits business affairs. especially the rail-
road interests, that his death will cause
| little. If any, disturbance in the operation
| Of the vast system that bears his name.
| His brothers and Chauncey NJ. Depew,
| j. Pierpont Morgan, and Charles c.
| Clarke were his confidential and trusted
! business associates, and they will UNI
! doubtedly continue the management OF
| his interests on the same conservative
| lines that he laid down.
| 1t is possible that in Cornelius Wander
| bits will may be found some specihc
directions for the disposition and care OF
| his various properties. The terms OF his
| requests to his children Will also have al
| important bearing on the future manage
! ment of this vast estate Should the cid
| EST son. Cornelius. succeed his father
| s the head Of that branch of the family
| ne will undoubtedly exercise an active
| influence in Vanderbilt affairs.
THE VANDERBILT CHILDREN.
| The present Cornelius Vanderbilt, eldes
| son of the man who died yesterday, Is
| not yet 90 years old, but he has already
| demonstrated his possession Of the Van
derbilt traits of self-reliance, perseryer
| ance. and creative ability. graduate
! Of Yale University and the Sheffield
! Scientific School, ne turned his attention
! 20 mechanical engineering Immediately
! after leaving college. He was assigned
to a desk in the Office Of the superinten
dent Of transportation and motive powe
not quite two years ago, and FOL
! many months devoted himself as
| closely to the routine and detail of the
! office as though he We're the humbles
! clerk I'm the service He started on hi.
! railroad career with the avowed intention
| Of proving that ne was capable OF doini
something worth while.
! He was especially anxious that hi
father should know that he possessed
practical qualities. and that he was dis
posed TO put them to the best use posi-
bic.
one OF the first things to which n
turned his attention was the construction
of a locomotive. He made a careful
study of the subject, and prepared a de
sign and complete drawings for moderl
locomotive. Two successful locomO
tives have been built from design
by young Vanderbilt. The latest one Il
new departure in the matter of boile
and fre-box. and the practical tests mad
Of this engine or the 18th and 18th Of las
month were entirely satisfactory.
Young Mr.. Vanderbilt received the de
gree OF NJ. +. from the Yale Universt,
last June, and he Is now connected witt
the civil engineers department Of TIT
New York Central railroad. About yea
ago President Galloway intrusted hin
with the task OF investigating method
for doing away with the smoke and nois
! caused by the passage OF trains through
the Fourth-avenue tunnel Mr.. Wander
bilt still has that problem in hand.
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt was gradu
ated from Yale last June. He is Z
| bright, active, young man, and closely re
| sembles his brother, Cornelius, in per
! sonal appearance. on July 26th ALFRED
a trip around the world. He was accom-
| panied by william z. Burden, Ernest
Iselin, and Douglas IL. Cochrane The
| party are now I'm China.
Reginald Vanderbilt. the youngest son
| is about II years old, and Is now sopho
! more at Yale.
| Gertrude Vanderbilt, the elder daughter
| is the wife Of Harry Payne Whitney, an'
! her home is in the Whitney house, at TN
| southwest corner or flity-seVehth stree
| and Fifth avenue, directly across the
! street from the great Vanderbilt mansion
| in which her father died.
Gladys Vanderbilt, the youngest child
| is now about IA years old, and is a pupi
| in a private school,
THE DEAD MANS WEALTH.
There has naturally been much surmis'
and speculat ton regarding the extent o.
Cornelius Vanderbilt's wealth. Persons
who have been closely associated wiz
the millionaire for many years unhesi
tatingly say that his fortune exceeds
noe 000.OOO In fact, the more common es
innate is N25.Oo00OO. Cornelius was wortf
fuIIv 100000 when his father died. The