The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-17
THEIR R|)AD 70 RICHES
Business Methods and Policy
of the Astors.
CHANCES FOR ESCHEAT
Rumor That William Waldorf
Means to Sell Out

4
ed upon his case in some judicial pror
ceeding. New York state has passed s,
many laws upon the subject, and thes
have been interpreted in so many way!
| by the courts, that absolute certainty a:
to each point involved could only be at
tanned by an ex cathedra decision on tina
particular point.
But the broad outlines OF the matter ert
fixed Mr.. Aston as an alien can hold
landed property in this state He car
give 1t away. He can sell it. he can 6e-
vice II by will. even 10 ar alien The
doubtful point is whether in the unlikely
case of his dying intestate the property
would devolve to his children Even this
point is not all doubtful. If his children
remain citizens of the United States. the
fact that he himself was an alien would
not debar them from their inheritance If
they follow in their fathers footsteps and
forswear their allegiance TO their count
Try. then it would seem that the real es-
tate in New York OF which ne died poss-
essed would, would If he left no Will,
devolve TO the next of kin who are sub
jects Of the United States. As the Aston
blood IS widely defused in the veins OF
American citizens of many grades Of So
cial life, the final contingency Of failure
of American heirs is inconceivable. But
should the inconceivable become an ac-
tual concept, then the commonwealth OF
New York through its attorney general
would have right to claim all his real
estate within the limits of the state.
II would have a right to do this. but It
is doubtful whether that right would be
exercised Precedent shows that the
legislature at Albany IS glad to come TO
the rescue of alien heirs by special legis-
lation TO suit their case.
Nevertheless. If Mr.. Astor's children be-
come aliens by their own act it would
seem that the legislature could not help
them as against the next kin. II could
not pass a retroactive statute depriving
the next kin of their statutory rights.
The commonwealth may resign its own
rights. but not invade the rights of
others
The point is a subtle one and. as al
ready noted is not likely to arise Mr.. As
tors children are not as yet aliens in the
eyes of the law. A shrewd business man
like Mr.. Astor would not. would not. In
the event of his childrens expiration, neg
lect TO provide for them by will or other
wise. A credited rumor already has il
that he is determined to provide other
wise by disposing at once of all his
American holdings 10 the highest bidder
In his own words, as reported. he intends
10 wash his hands Of America and OF
American methods" Rumor adds that
many persons. native and alien. have al
ready hignified their willingness to enter
the market Should an alien become the
purchaser ne would hold the property sub
ject 10 the not very onerous limitations
already noted II he have no heirs in
America, the possibility Of final escheat
to the state would be come a little less
remote
The total wealth of William Waldorf
As,or. who is the present head Of the As
tor family, Is estimated at $50 eOO. 90. His
cousin, Colonel John Jacob Astor. is re-
puted 60 be worth slO0.OO0.o00 Even ap-
proximate TO the value 10 the value Of
the property of other Astors, in name or
blood, cannot easily be made, but the to-
tai amount Of wealth invested in the As I
tor name in real estate on Manhattan is I
land is estimated at $4,000 go. OF which ;
It is safe to say that almost a half be- /.
longs 10 William Waldorf Astor.
This grand total represents 1520 parcels +
OF land with over seven miles Of frontage
the other. The department Of vital sta +
tistics has estimated that the total num- 1
Der OF people working or residing on the :
Aston property reaches somewhere in the !
Of one ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS +
Of one hundred thousand. j
which IS about the population OF Albany I
As " call know il was the son Of poor
butcher in the town Of Waldorf, Germyan .
John Jacob As5or by nane-who laid /
he foundation for the gigantic patrimony.
He came over to the United States. az the
age Of twenty in I7S2-
n New York his brother. Henry Aston.
rad already. 70 quote the proud language
II a biography contained in Americas
successful Men" (New York Tribune
Publishing office. established himself
Is a merchant ID cattle and rneats." an
eloquent paraohrase for the naughty
commercial pursuits followed b tha "a
her in the ancestral castle q Walso-s.
-nder the aeets Of this Bowery -aazuate
lofty example obIigez ne to dip ny pm
r caastely ornamental language John
aco5 'bussed himself In the fur trade.
o whose vsss Developments hls thought
al attention had been directed ~ fei-
or coantryTnan. and wherein irame1=e
roits were being realized - The last QUO +
atioa Is borrowed from famous art
le IN the Pan MAI Magazine
Il Is a shrewd sunrise u mine thai ths
55ozraphe- II the T-sazne
o7npiszt5on Is one vith the .li8st-4ous
uthor who hlazens his narre in he pan
fan? ! almost he7e no. pr - thsre
-znains % Us a sia-'e a-t1=i -sh,se pic
1rsl excsszes ere csDsbls q =-7etharirz
be lily - 50 sEee; a deata. thez rnrrs-
az literature has ne less % 8eaio-e 81 1
= recent ra-fshrnc-7. 70 80.
Let - r@tsrn 20 the TriNsze ass-ra pAsr.
= informs that Mature cas; tzis vo1nE I
al - p.'n.e.~ zssE 81 - iorsl i
In Wiz. sol n ke~7fng ~i.s Hss oa,-
ard aspect The7 enRags-i ir the rsr-
7zss y fsrs t-u-- ;he f-fl17 --fEsss ard
y shipment - than % Eurora 10 rs
s1zr b g sast that RS pz-soazI "a
sc1. hss Integrity an-a J1F;Ic- sal KS lar.
n the cozs5snee a7d ssf..stsh.o e fhs
80 tribes - fbe Forrest"
HIS f.c-szs.ng euerxy rsrslrs4 n
.psa ders1sz7snt O. tise ~ rad Fss- !
re TIE end q ths c@z.z-v - haf. %
soss his oza exrrsassoa. "a saIFaas cal- J