AMERICAN MILLIONAIRES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 28 April 1891, Page 4

AMERICAN MILLIONAIRES.

< An American paper gives much information to its readers on the subject of the great fortunes made in that country, their amount, nnd how they are spent. Mr. John D. Rockefeller and Mr. Win. Waldorf Astor share the pleasant distinction of being the richest men in the world. The fortune of each of them amounts to Mr. Rockefeller made his money by inventing an easy method of transporting petroleum to the various markets. He laid a small pipe from one of the wells to a railroad, through which the oil ran into a tank car. l-'rom this successful experiment grew one of the most powerful monopolies on earth, the Standard Oil Trust. Mr Rockefeller is a deacon of the Baptist Church, and is one of the largest contributors to that denomination. He is little seen in society. Almost liis only amusement is driving, Now and then he spends an evening at the opera ; but the great bulk of his time is devoted to his enormous business. He lives in New York. His brother, Mr. William Rockelcller (tortune /G.ooo.ooo) possesses the finest and cobtliesf country place in America. It is at Tarrytown-ontheHudson. The system of electric lighting is the most complete in the world. Wires arc carried all over the extensive grounds, and the turn ol a switch lights the whole place up Trotting horses form his pet amusement. In contrast to the Rockefeller millions, which were accumulated in one generation, the fortune ot fhe ;Astor family is inherited hum a diligent that goes as far back as the days when New York was called New Amsterdam. Mr. Astor's wealth is almost wholly in real... estate... The most fashionable part of New York, including Broadway, belongs to him. Mr. Astor is literary. He has \itril;ten-j>.evejral novels, and is said to be at \vork"upon another. He is now residing in London. Mr. J. Gould's fortune is quoted^ at £20,000,000 (written in dollars, it. iook&iflcr%dtble^ v and suggests an astronomical calculation), and is almost wholly composed of stocks and bonds in various railroads and the Western Union Telegraph Company. He is probably the busiest man in America, possessing marvellous vitality and activity. Like all such men, he has suffered -in health' from overwork, and five j-earstisfo was obliged to retire from active business life. Now he is we'll again und, if possible, more energetic than ever. -"''jjf A "''.<" :V-i •■'■' .:-:- -.-r. ;< The head of rive Vahderftilt'-family was the richest man in the world. His fortune was computed at He had been left sixteen iiniilrons, by his father, - Commodore"' -YarrderbrH, 'and 'doubled it, leaving it to his eight children, the two eldest sons taking the great bulk of it. It consists of Government., bonds and the securities of the Vanderbilt railways, one of the most prosperous systems in the country. Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt (fortune /16,000,000) is more .interested in church work than in finance. 4 •'f'h^isvholej fatnily is of religious bent, and their "charities are on a very large scale. Next to these, the biggest fortune is,'o.yi/ned fb'y Mr*. Golis P. Hnntington. He; made it .all himself, £8,000,000. He is one of the greatest railroad owners in America. He lives plainly, walks the three miles from his home to his office more often . than not, pdfrequently has been heard to say that he "does not know the sensation of being tired. Mr. Philip D. Armour possesses -£5,000,000. The early lesson of thrift abides with him still, as with all the self-made millionaires, or multimillionaires as they arc often called, and s not only thriftj.but teniporancg.Uistinguishes them. Not oiie: among over a* hundred of the richest men in America is " a drinking man." Mr. John D.-Roekelellcr is a total abstainer. Mr. Astor and Mr. Gould seldom touch wine. -The-Van^erlijU^are equally abstemious. Miv Hdntirigt'on's strongest beverage is lea. None of the t leading millionaires smoke. Tcrsdmb-rliiV: abstention may appear to be a loss of opportunity. On • the whole the multi-inUlionaires of Ajnerica bear a splendid charaerer. Some are' munificent in charities. None are men of pleasure. None arc purseproud. To turn to ladies. There are several on the list. Mrs. Hetjy Qtpen4%reputed to be the richest woman in theSvorra. Her father, a whaler in a large way of business, left her nearly aricl-an^aunt afterwards "left her almost as much more. By her business ability she has .increased 'this to /G.000.b00. She spends Tittle on dress, never follows the fashion^ and lives simply, j