The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-10
THE NAN[1ERBILTS
VAST PROPERTIES
They Viii Probably Be Directed by Dr.. W. Seward
Webb, Who Is Once the Greatest Rail
road Men In the World
NAN WHO BUILT UP WAGNER COMPANY
AND FORCED PULLMAN To BUY AT BIGP PRICE
By JULIUS CHAMBERS.
Copyright; ali rights rsserved.)

1t was one Of thu greatest capitulat.oiS
in railroad history. and DIR. Webb has
the credit for it all The Pullman Com
pany Was fought by lim at every step
and forced again and again to renew
leases at a loss in order to save its pres
lige This was forcibly shown in the
cases OF the Atchison, Topeka and Santa
Fe and the Northern Pacific renewed con-
tracts Dr.. Wabb is now q Pullman di-
rector.
I1le railroad Development Of the Adiron-
dacll region is one Of DR.. Webb's most
daring, achievements. When ne planned
the building of the line dire predictions
Of failure were heard on all sides. 1t was
said that he was FAIR in advance OF the
time, and that the enterprise would end IN
financial disaster. over ten millions OF
dollars were invested i'll the great enter
prise and the foresight of DR.. Webb has
been fully viudicated. The road has been
leased 10 the New York Central and HUI
son Rive. Railroad, and it is one Of the
most valuable OF their acquisitions
At The present tine DIR. Webb is inter-
ested in extending tie Rutland Railroad
system. ana has by absorbing through
ltIrcg and building connecting links, formed
a lire from near Troy to his nome, at
ShelbTue. VI. through Burlington and
across in the direction of PlatlsburS ana
OgaensbaTg. This makes Il straight Inc
of about 7Oo miles OF road.
RARE KNOWLEDGE OF DETAILS.
Few men under fifty years OF age, as
DR. Webb IS tlaTe n.ide 50 great reG2En
IN the railroad world. One of the secrets
of his success is the carneStneSs Wlth
which he enters into everything ne uhoef-
takes and his mastery of details Reports
rarely satisfy him. He must see every
thing with his own eyes. While the LAd-
i1ondaclz road was Being built he was
constantly on the ground. and knew every
thing that was being done on every mile
Of IL Every branch of mechanics is to him
an open book He has his own locomo-
tive and can Tun it as well as can any
engineer in his service. Not only teat,
he understands every part of its construc-
ton Dr. Webb's private car ElsnerH.
is perhaps, the finest car in the word
ana It's constantly in service. The t1lls-
mere has carried him and his friends TO
every part of the country-Cal!forna the
extreme South, distant Alaska and Mex
ico Foreign tours have no attraction Tor
him He prefers the Hudson TO the
Rhine and Lake Champlain to Geneva. IN
his opinion the Alps are not in it With
tn, Rocky Mountains. That is not the
fashionable view but he holds to IT,
This love Of nature it probably is tt1at
has led him to the creation OF that spiell-
did settlement i'm the Adirondacks known
as NclaSare Park. 1t comprises ll2,ooo
acres of mountain forest, stream. lake
and the best game preserve in the United
States. IN the same spirit the magnificent
Shelburne farms. DR.. Webbs Vermont
homo has come into existence. Next 10
Mr.. George Vanderbilt's Biltlnore, IN North
Carolina. this establishment is unquestion-
ably tina finest country seat m me G!l!-
led States FoIl, million dollars II IS ssaiet,
have been expended there. and the result
is q wonder in artistic, aSl1chtuiSi anu
residential development
AN AIIL-AROUND SPORT.
AS a SPORTSMAN, DR.. Webb has given
tie st,on gest evidence of the all-rounded-
ness of his character. He has built many
va chts. One of them, El,lrida, was bouSht
by the Government during the Spanish
war. In the old coaching days he was
oYf. of the most generous patrons of that
form of amusement. He was interested in
rIle. Westminster Kennel Club: also he
did more probably than any man IN the
country TO introduce and popularize the
nov. appreciated hackney horse. The fore
most horse of that breed, the celebrated
Matches. was his property. OF the Amer
lean Hackney Association he was Tue llfst
secretary-treasurer.
TO all Deserving charities and benevolent
projects that appeal TO them both DIT.
and Mrs Webb are most generous siTers
Their income is more than a million dol
lars q year, and 81 large share of 1t is
bestowed upon itlilanthaopic institutions
and distributed among a long roll OF pen
sloners. But this is q subject upon which
DR.. Webb cannot be induced to break 81
lenCe-
Personally. DIR. Webb has the affection
of al that have worked with him or I'M
der h:m-hunlbIe employees and high Off
cials. a large collection of loving cups
and other testimonials attest the esteem
in which he is ileld.