The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-07-19
ORIGINAL VAN
DERBILT GRIT
incident Showina Z Die HOT Die Witr
Old Cornelius.

Old Co:-reIiu5.
self-reliant young Cornelius Van
derbilt is carving cut a career for
himself in which the family millions
play only an incidental part. Up 30
the time that he was stricken With
typhoid fever little more than a
year ago he had shown qualities that
caused the gray boards OF finance to
exclairn: THAT boy has got the origi-
nal Vanderbilt grit in him. He is
made out OF the same stuff as the old
Comm odore." There is no more I'M
assuming person in the metropolis
than Cornelius Vanderbilt, says the
Chicago Record Herald, but his deter
nination knows no limit. After his
fathers death he found himself prac-
tically family outcaSt. He was snub-
bed right and left by even the subor-
dinate officers Of the Vanderbilt rail
roads. He had previously, in nechan-
les garb. learned the trade Of loco
motive building. His course OF en-
cheering and mechanics in Yale Col
leSe was of great help to him, and
during his fathers lifetime this am
bilious young man established head
quarters in the Grand Central station
and designed a locomotive. When it
became known that the eldest son
at the head of the house OF Wander
bilts had been cut off with a paltry
million, while his younger brother re-
ceived $4,000. 600. the bulk OF the for
tune OF this branch Of the family,
there was much wonderment as TO
what Nicely would do.
''Mr. Depew, l will not abide by the
terms of the WILL" said Cornelius
calmly day or two after his fathers
funeral. "Of course know that my
marriage displeased my father, but I
have done. no wrong and my duty to
my wife and child compels me to in
sist upon my right to share in my
fat.ie-'s estate.
what do you Want?'' asked Mr.. De-
pew kindly. for he had always liked
Nicely"
ALFRED is welcome to the larger
share and to the headship Of the fam
lily replied Cornelius. But l want
at least as much as the portions al
| lotted to the younger children. l feel
| that l am entitled to such recogni-
ton
1t is a matter OF public information
that Mr.. Depew, acting for the execu-
tors of Cornelius Vanderbilt. deceased,
at once summoned Alfred home from
a .lalf-fnished trip around the world.
Without any public discussion or scan
dial young Cornelius wishes were com
| piled with. and he received from AL
| fred enough to make his share OF his
fathers estate about $500 900. Then
| the modest mechanic and designer
went back to his draughting board,
only to be told that the Office space
| occupied by his table and chair was
needed for other purposes. He moved
| from one Office TO another under con
slant prodding, and finally in shce:
disgust retired from the Grand Cen
trail station and established an indie
pendent office in lower Broadway
His patents for a fire box which p:ac-
tically revoutioniZed the freight loco
| motive were commented on favCrably
| by experts. but the New York Central
| directors gave the cold shoulder 10
the young, inventor for nearly year.
1t was not until young Cornelius an
nounced his intention OF building d
locomotive at his own exrenss, that
the board ordered the construction OF
a trial machine in the company S
shops. Now seven or eight of the
principal railroad systems in tins
country are using the Vanderbilt 10
coInOtiveS.