The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-13
AvAST ESTATE
Cornelius Vanderbilt Said to
Have Doubled His In
heritance.

New York, Sept. 13.-Cornelius Van
derbilt died the possessor of a fortune
almost beyond the power of imagina-
ton to grasp, a fortune represented in
figures IS 800, 100000
The mansion at Fifty-seventh street
and Fifth avenue is the most costly
and magnificent town house in Ameri-
ca. It was one of Mr.. Vanderbilt S
ambitions to own the finest residence in
the country, and two years ago he had
the house enlarged and greatly i'm
proved. This splendid building has a
frontage of 120 feet on Fifth avenue,
and is $50 feet deep. The main hall is
40 by so feet. with ceiling S5 feet high,
and is made entirely of stone, carved
in imitation of the style of the Chateau
de Bloisin, France.
The library is furnished in Louis
XVI. style, and the main salon in the
style of Louis XIV. The house contains
a BAH room 65 feet in length, and the
other rooms are prOportiOnately mag
nificent in size and decorations.
The Newport home, THE Breakers" !"
is one of the most magnificent country
houses in the world. Cornelius Wander
bilt bought it in 1884 from Pierre Loril-
lard, paying 100000 for it. He made
extensive alterations and improve
mentS.
It has been said that he doubled the
fortune his grandfather left him. He
inherited about $50, ,000, 900 and he pro-
bably increased his wealth as much
again in investments. 1t can not be
O00
The will of w. H Vanderbilt provided
for a trust fund aggregating $40 900, 900,
which was to be divided into equal par
cells of IS, 900 600 each. Each parcel was
to be held in trust separately for one Of
the eight children The trustees were to
be Maria Louisa Vanderbilt widow Of
the testatOr, and his four SONS. Cor
nelius, William K. Frederick w and
George w. Vanderbilt, but none of the
trustees was to have any voice in the
administration of his own particular
share.
At the death of any one of the bene-
ficiaries under the trust fund his parcel
was to be divided in equal shares
among his children, unlSss the benefi-
ciary had by his last VIII arranged a
different distribution This trust fund
is to continue until the death of the last
surviving trustee, when it is to be di-
vided among the beneficiaries.
Beside his share in the trust fund,
there was left to Cornelius Vanderbilt
one-f fifth of another fund of $40, 900, 900.
This share was to go to him directly.
In addition he received the sum of
81, 600 600, some portraits, and a marble
bust of his grandfather. The total
amount that went to Cornelius Van
derbilt from the estate of w. H, Van
derbilt was therefore, $4,000, 600, exclu-
sive of real estate.
Russell Sage places Mr.. VanderbiIt's
wealth at S115, 900. 600; James r. Keene
at S125. 00O, 900; Henry CleWs, at 1926, ,000,-
600; Heidelbach. Ichelheimer & Co, at
S110, 900 900; J. w. Hinckley at 800 000,-
600; Louis Wormser at $125, 900 900: Null
Ter. SchaH & Co, at $125, 900, 000 and
Houseman, Connor and Lazard Freres
at 500, 600, 000
The question of heirs to this great
fortune is already discussed and specu-
lation is rife as to how Cornelius, the
eldest son of the dead man. who def1ed
his father by marrying Grace Wilson,
will fare.
Cornelius Vanderbilt's wife was Miss
Alice Gwynne, a descendant of Charlie
magne, Alfred the Great and other
royal ancestors, according to genealogi-
cal charts. She bore six children-WiIl-
lam H, who is dead; Cornelius, %
years old; Gertrude. %; Alfred Gwynne,
q; REGINALD. Is, and GLADYS. Il.