Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-09-14


| ture-roomS, mushrooms, sewing
rooms, ana employment bureau and
other advantages,
Mr., Vanderbilt, as has already been
said, had an ambition to become the
richest man in America That his
fears ot poverty we've mfounded may
De seen II the figures which describe
his wealth, When his father died
Cornelius VANDERBILT; was given start
III life with $10OO00O0 lie nj once
began 1 policy which was calculated to
| increase TIA; wealth The Wander
bits have practically adopted the Eng
liSh system Of prjmogeuiturc which
keeps the wealth OF The family intact
by the father leaving the bulk Of it to
the eldest son, who constitutes the
head OF the house. II the wealth he
kept intact, and there can now BE no
doubt that despite his waywarlness
on the score OF marriagc Cornelius,
Jr., who welded the Miss Wilson, will
inherit his fathers property, it will In
crease enormously, the regular rate
Of per cent, being compounded scmt-
annually. In five years II should have
grown 10 SS40,000000 in ten years
S4+S,0OO,000, in twenty-five years $Ntl,-
100000 and in fifty years $4,000, 0Oo, 900.
AS matter of fact. The fortune will
not grow in this way, but tho extreme
care with which Mr., Vanderbilt handl-
ed his affairs has already increased the
property and there is no reason why
Cornelius, lr.. should not Nc worth
something like $500, 900, 000 II the Van
derhiE tenacity OF life carries him
over middle life.
Mr. Vanderbilt amassed his wealth
by clever tnanciering rather than by
bold speculation. Like Mr.. Rookie
Teller, he ahhored gambling and never
speculated. His purpose was to eN-
tend the New York Central road by
absorhinG small roads 1T cheap values
and increasing their market worth by
building up their business with careful
and capable management He did not
like real estate investment, thinking il
unsafe Government bonds, railroad
bonds and shares. municipal bonds
these he considered cleaner tmore com
forting and safer by such methods
as these he Is said to have added in
few years after his fathers death not
less than $50 00O, GOO to his inheritance
He knew exactly how many dollars
he was worth, His investments were
all in gigantic sums, and he kept
pretty little pocket memorandum book
with condensed records of his affairs.
One Of his hearts desires was to
bring up his sons in the same fashion
as his own father reared him. He
would have liked to feel in dying that
his name and wealth would be perpct-
uated. Cornelius debut in the world
of business was made when he was 4
very young man. He began as a clerk
in the Shoe and Leather bank of New
York. So assdnously did he work and
such Capability did he disclose that the
directors saw that, If properly directed,
he could be of vast use to the intsitu-
tion. He was rapidly advanced his
salary was raised and he was in
fair way to making success in the
Shoe and Leather bank when his
grandfather had him transferred to the
Nissan bank, At - he undertook the
study of railroads, and thence his
path was made easy for him and he
readily took his place in the front rank
Of inanciers.
Mr.. Vanderbilt was Sc years old He
~ : In,
weighed in ordinary health $50 pounds.
His features are clear cut and strong
He had a good mouth, very firm but
hind, his lips rather inclined to be
thick, No one would say that his
hin was in any degree weak. Ills
eyes were gray what are usually
called fine" eyes. He had we'll
shaped and evenly balanced head The
size Of the hat he wore was ~. His
hands were small and his foot arts
tocratic--Which is said to mean long
ana slender. His carriage was erect.
His dress was in quiet, almost even in
dark colors.
The disposition of his estate Is a
matter OF some doubt Cornelius, Jr.,
was alenated from the family by his
marriage to Grace Wilson who was
eight or ten years his senior. Van
dnrblt left five children Cornelius,
Gertrude, Alfred, Reginald and Gladys.
Gertrude became the wife OF Harry
Payne Whitney, son Of the former sec
rotary of the navy. William G. Whit
ney.
GEORGIA SUGAR CANE.