The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-10
RICH MEN AND WOMEN
 OF THE UNITED STATES

lowing year. His income is now about s15,000,000 a year. according to a re- cent estimate. Concedfng that his in come for six years has averaged s20,- 100000 or s120,000,0o in all. he could have given away at least $10o. 100000 without impairing his capital
 AstOrs and VanderbiIs.
 The fortune of the Astor family Is estimated at s50o.o0o.o0O John Jacob Astor the first, died in IS4S. the rich est man of his day. Ais estate was worth s40,000.000. The bulk of 1t was left to his son. William B. Astor. On his death in 1875 he left s13o. 100000 to his sons, s70.000,00 to John Jacob II, and $60,000,000 to William. When William died in 1892 he is said to have left about 900, although the fortune of his wife, Mrs. Astor and his son, the present John Jacob, are now considerably larger.
 Although William Waldorf Astor Is a.. Englishman by adoption his wealth represents an American fortune. His father is said to have bequeathed to him fortune of $10o,o0o,0O0. He is now worth $15o,00o.000
 The Vanderbilt family fortune also has reached large figures. Commodore Vanderbilt left $90,o0o,0oo the bulk of his estate to his son, William H. Van- U, s15 ,000. GOO to the latter's sons. When William H. Vanderbilt died in 1885 he had increased his inheritance to $20O,- 000, 900. His sons. William K. and Cor nelius the second, received $50.000,000 each Each of his eight children re- ceived s10,O00,Ooo, one-half of it in trust, and S200O0,000 was distributed In private bequests. Thus the two sons acquired an inheritance the present value of which is difricuit to estimate.
 Jay Gould left an estate the net value of which was $77,000,000. The fortune of the Goelet family, made like that of the Astors by invest ments In New York real estate. is put down at $1OO,Oo0,0oO.
 Fortunes of Three Women.
 Three of the richest women of the country are Mrs. Russell Sage, Mrs Anne weiChtman Walker, and Mrs. Hetty Green. Of these Mrs. Walker. with her $120,00 900, is the richest father, William Weignman of Phila- delphia.
 Starting as penniiess boy in lab ratory, MT. Weightman laid the found ation of his wealth Tn the uuinine trade during the civil war and by fn- troducing sugar coated quinine pills It was swelled rapidly by real estate
  phia. His friends were amazed when he died leaving his entire fortune, ex- cept for a few small Dequests, to Mrs. Walker, his daughter.
 Mrs. Green who has passed her three score years and ten, Is still active, and is probably the second richest woman in this country. She is said to be worth $100.O0o.000.
 Mrs Sage is possessed of at least | $75.000.00O. When Mir. Sages will was filed on July 27. last. Mrs. Sage became the heir of the bulk of his property. Twenty six relatives were the benefit ciaries of legacies of $25,000 each, which have largely been increased since then. After paying small private be- quests 1t was announced that the rest would be given away by Mrs. Sage.
 Before the will was filed, one esti- mate of the size of the fortune was ESQ., 100000. This was declared to be much too low. The estimate of Wall street was $100. 900, ,000, Other estimates since the will was filed have varied from s63. 3.0OO.00O to ss3,000.00O. The balance which Mrs. Sage will distribute Is said to be $75,O00.000
 Some HaxnrdOus Guessea.
 It is hard to estimate the fortunes of men like J. P. Morgan. H. H. Rogers. and E. Fl. Hartman. Mir Morgan's fortune was recently estimated at s5.- 00O, ,0O0 but this at best, Is hazardous guess Equally hazardous would be an estimate of the wealth of E. H. Harri- man. man tactiturn, secretfve. even among his associates. unostentatious in his many benefactions. MT. Harriman's wealth has been estimated at $150,000,- 000. Probably no one but himself knows how nearly his fortune approxi- mates this sum.
 James J. Hill President of the Great Northern Railway is rated at $100.000.- 900: simon Guggenheim and his broth CTS $200. 100000; Claus Spreckels S50.- 100000; William A. Clark $150, 900: and the Field estate $100.000.000.
 And no doubt there are many other