| Name. | Capital. | Revenue at 5%. |
|---|---|---|
| J. Gould | £55,000,000 | £2,750,000 |
| J. W. Mackay | 50,000,000 | 2,500,000 |
| C. Vanderbilt | 25,000,000 | 1,250,000 |
| J. P. Jones | 20,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
| J. J. Astor | 18,000,000 | 900,000 |
| W. Stewart | 8,000,000 | 400,000 |
| G. Bennett | 6,000,000 | 300,000 |
These are the princes of the Land of the Dollar. The largest English fortunes fall short of these figures. The Duke of Westminster's is reckoned at only £16,000,000; that of the Duke of Sutherland at £6,000,000; the Duke of Northumberland has £5,000,000; and the Marquis of Bute £4,000,000.
It is in mines and railways especially that the colossal fortunes have been made.
In France, with their fortunes translated into francs, Messrs. Jay Gould and J. W. Mackay would be billionaires; it takes a larger word than millionaire to give an idea of the opulence of these men, and I beg to suggest to the editors of French dictionaries the addition of the word,
"Milliardaire, or Billionaire—a person possessing at least a milliard. This phenomenon is found in America."
Needless to say that, with his millions on millions, Mr. Jay Gould is a power. I was told in America that this man went to New York with only a few dollars in his pocket, and for some time earned a living by selling mousetraps. He now holds the American Stock Exchange in the hollow of his hand; instead of mice, he goes for bulls and bears, and stocks rise and fall at his whim. Other speculators are glad to pick up the crumbs that fall from his fingers. As for contending with him, as well try to break the bank at Monte Carlo with a sixpenny-piece.
I have not seen the town house or the country house of Mr. Gould; but I know that in the grounds of the latter stand conservatories estimated to be worth £50,000. I trust this will give an idea of what the rest may be. In these jottings, taken by the way, I can scarcely do more than put the reader on the track of that which can be seen in America.
I cannot guarantee that Mr. Gould is a happy man. Concerning immense fortunes, a witty American friend, rich in moderation and a great philosopher, said to me one day:
"No man can own more than a million dollars. When his bank account outgrows that, he does not own it; it owns him, and he becomes its slave."
The two kings of American plutocracy are Messrs. Vanderbilt and Astor. The name of king applies to them less on account of the size of their fortune than the generous use they make of it. They have founded hospitals, museums, and libraries, and are known for the generosity with which they respond to appeals for help in philanthropical causes. Shortly before my arrival in America, Mr. Vanderbilt had given 500,000 dollars to found a hospital in New York. Mrs. Astor had just given 225,000 dollars towards the funds of the Cancer Hospital.