AMERICAN MILLIONAIRES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11436, 18 January 1892, Page 1

AMERICAN MILLIONAIRES.

* An American paper gives much information to its readers on the subject of the great fortunes made in that country, their amount, and how they are spent. Mr. John D. Rockefeller and Mr. Wm. Waldorf Astor share the pleasant distinction of being the richest men in ' the world. The fortune of each of them amounts to £25,000,000. 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. From this successful experiment grew one of the most powerful monopolies on earth, Che Standard Oil Trust. Mr. Rockefeller is ' ' a deacon of the Baptist Church, and is one ■ of the largest contributor. 1; to that donomina- ■ tion. He is little seen in society. Almost - bis 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 enormons business. He lives in New York. . His brother, Mr. William Rockefeller (for- • tune £6,000,900) • possesses the finest and costliest country place in America. It is at - Tarry town-on-the-Hudson. The system of electric lighting is the most complete in the world; Wires are carried all o.ver the extensive grounds, and the turn of 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 of the Astor family is inherited from a diligent ancestry, 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 written several novels, and is said to be at work upon another. He is now residing in London. Mr. J. Gould's fortune is quoted at £20,000,000 (written-in dollars, it looks incredible, and suggests an astronomical calculation), and is almost wholly composed of stocks and bonds in various railroads and the Western Union Telegraph Company. He ie-probab]y the busiest man in America, possessing marvellous vitality and activity. Like all such ' men, he has suffered in health from overwork, and five years ago was obliged to retire from active business life. Now he is well again and, if possible, more energetic than ever. ■ ■ 4 V^.,t The head of the Vanderbilt family was the richest man in the world. His fortune was computed .at £32,000,000. He had - been left sixteen millions by his father, Commodore Vanderbilt, 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. The whole family is of religious bent, and their charities are on a very large scale. Next to. these, the biggest fortune is owned by Mr. Colis P. Huntingdon. He made it ■ all himself, £8,060,000. He is one of the greatest rail-. . road owners in America. He lives plainly, walks the three miles from his home to his office more often than not, and frequently lias 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 are often called, and not only thrift, but temperance distinguishes therrt.- Not one among over a hundred of the richest men in America is " a drinking ■ man." Mr. John D. Rockefeller is a total abstainer. Mr. Astor and Mr. Gould seldom touch wine. The Vanderbills are equally abstemious. ■ Mr. Huntington's strongest beverage is tea. None of the' leading millionaires smoke. To some this abstention may appear to be a loss of opportunity. On the whole the multi-millionaires of America a splendid character. Some are muni;/?jjw§gpt in charities. None are men of SSSWgßure. None are purseproud. to ladies. There are several on i'!?iyiftlUt. Mrs. Hetty Green is reputed to be '.';&£s|*R!best woman in the world. Her father, -*-;£.tffiper in a large way of business, left her y?'-ii&xly £2,000,000, and an aunt afterwards 'f> left her almost as much more. By her business ability . she ' has increased this to £6,000,000. She spends little, on dress, never follows .the fashion, and lives simply, ■