The Washington herald., 1907-06-02

New York, June Thomas +. Ryan
has ended his days OF activity IN Wall
street His departure for Europe on FRI
day signalized his breaking away from
the personal management Of the gigantic
corporations with which ne has been as
sociated for The last twenty-five years.
The news of Mr.. Byaus retirement was
confirmed to-day I'm Wall street by men
who know him intimately and who have
closely watched his movements in the
stock market during the last year.
There is a Wall street tradition that
Mr.. Eyans ambition. after he had become
an important factor in The financial
world. was 10 accumulate 800 10oon0. This
he has accomplished. His fortune is esti-
mated by those in "a position TO know at
considerably over that figure. Mr.. Ryan.
according 10 inside information in Wall
street viii now enjoy a retired life on his
magnificent estate IN Nelson County Va
That he may direct his energies toward
becoming a United States Senator from
Virginia is considered a strong possibility.
lie has long held that ambition. and his
friends expect that he viii realize it,
The retirement of Mr.. Ryan from Wall
street has been expected for some time
The first inkling Of it came when the
fnancier began TO unload his huge hold
ings Of stock in tbe I1terhorough-Metro-
polirsn Railway Company This was
something over a year ago. Since that
time he has gradually sold out his stock
until ha holds practically no INTERIOR
ough-Mc.ropoIItan shares.
sells His Gas Holdings.
Subetan,iation Of tile rumor That He
had got rid of his extensive holdings iu
the Consolidated Gas Company was given
hy AIr. Ryan himself before Doe sailed on
Friday Mr. Ryan WAS largely lustrU-
mental in bringing about the eonzolida-
tion Of the gas and electric light COM
panies Of The cjty several years ago. AT
one time he was the principal storkhaldor
in the Consolidated AS he stood on tire
deck of the Celtic last Friday Nr. Ryan
said.
4 don't own a dollars worth of gas"
That meant only one thing. that lie had
quietly sold out an his stock II verified
what Wall street had suspected From "a
source. the reliability of which is unques-
toned. 10 was learned to-day that Mr
Ryan has quietly sold out aU his stock
holdings iu the great corporations. includ-
ing numerous railroads outside the city
and the American Tobacco Company.
The only interests which lir. Ryan has
not either sold or transferred are those in
the larger trust companies and banks
These are the Morton Trust Company the
Metropolitan Trust Company. the Na-
ti0uaI Bank Of Commerce. and the Union
Exchange Bank. I'm aIl of these be Is
director
viii ReIInquish Positions.
He is first vice president Of the Morton
Trust Company and Of the National Bank
of Commerce Il is said that he will re-
luquish his office Of vice president in
both of these institutions. but viii retain
his directorships I'm them. His parucipa-
ton in the affairs Of these financial or
ganizatons viii be reduced 70 mini
mum.
Mr. Ryan holds the controlling interest
i'm the Equitable Life Assurance Society.
Mr. Ryaus rise 90 power in the dnau-
cal world was remarkable. Fa is NOW
ffty-Gve years old. He started his husi-
ness career i'm Baltimore dry goods
house iu lSf2 He soon tired of that, and
I'm 1870 came 10 New York. where he got
q position with a Wall street brokerage
firm. Il was not long before ne had made
a successful venture I'm the stock market
With the money he made ne started i'm
business for himself
Tn 1874 he bought seat on the stock
exchange. From that time be has been a
power with which Wall street has had to
reckon.