The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-01-05
{. 7. YERKES IS DEAD
NOTED RAILWAY fINANCIER DIED
In new YORK CITY.
Suffered Complication of Diseases
His Family Present at Deathbed-
Was Born in Philadelphia in 1882
Made His Fortune in Chicaqo-He
Built Railways in London.

charles T. Yerkes, the noted rail
way financier of Chicago and London
died Friday in his apartments at the
Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New Yorl
city, where he has been ill for NOR.
| than six weeks.
Mr.. 1erkes suffered from a compli
cation of diseases growing out of 9
severe cold which he contracted in
London early in the fall.
At the death bed were Mrs. Charles
I. Yerkes, his wife: Charles Edward
Yerkes, a son, and his wife: Mrs
Charles Ronda Miller, a daughter. and
the physician. The death was peace
full. but unexpected at the time.
Mr.. Yerkes' residence is at Sixty
eighth and Fifth avenue. Speyer &
Co., the New York banking firm. which
had much to do with the New York
financing of Mr.. Yerkes' affairs, made
the following statement:
The death of Mr.. Yerkes is partic.
ularly sad, coming at time when his
great work in connection with the Lon.
don underground street railway was
rapidly approaching completion and
important portions of it were being
put in operation. Mr. Yerkes' failing
health had warned him and the bank
ers associated with the enterprise
that arrangements should be made for
relieving him of portion of his work,
or for completing and carrying it out
in case of his DEATH These arrange
ments have been perfected and will!
be announced at the proper time"
His Biography.
He was born in Philadelphia. on
June Is, 1889. He was educated in
the public schools. He began business
at the age of II and at 20 was a pri-
vate banker In 1861 he purchased
his first street railway stock. In 1854
he assumed millions of Philadelphia
city bonds, but failed to carry out his
contract. He was indicted, found gull
ty. but executive clemency was extend
ed. Later the city council released
him from all debts which afterwards
Mr.. Yerkes paid his creditors He
arrived in Chicago in 1882 and opened
a banking house. In 1856 he made his
first railroad venture in Chicago. He
changed the horse cars to a cable sys.
tenn. He was the first to give the
city anything in return for the priv.
ileges accorded corporations. He gave
a $4,000 telescope to Chicago univer-
sity. In 1898 he began the consolida-
ton of the Chicago street railways.
In 1901 he left the city with $15,0O0,-
900 and went to London where he
built all underground railway. He was
rewarded with wealth and fame He
J. p. Morgan and asso-
ciates who formed an American syn
dictate in London underground.
His Art Collection.
When Mr.. Yerkes made his will,
several years ago. he announced that
he had left his collection of pictures
and objects of art and his two houses
at Fifth avenue and Sixty-eighth street
in New York city to the Metropolitan
Museum of Art This property is
worth about 100000. The houses
themselves are veritable art mu-
scum 1t is said among his friends
that this provision of his will remain
ed unaltered.
Among Mr.. Yerkes' most treasured
possessions is collection of oriental
rugs that is said to be the finest and
most costly in the world.