was held up to all the country as an illuminating and imperishable example of the fortune that thrift, enterprise, perseverance, and ability would bring. FOOTNOTES: [143] Matthew Hale Smith in "Sunshine and Shadow in New York," 186-187. [144] See Part III of this work, "The Great Railroad Fortunes". [145] See Part III, Chapters iv, v, vi, etc. [146] Proceedings of the [New York City] Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, 1844-1865:213. [147] Doc. No. 46, Documents of the [New York City] Board of Aldermen, xxi, Part II. [148] Proceedings of the [New York City] Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, 1844-1865:734. [149] Ibid:865. [150] Proceedings of the [New York City] Sinking Fund Commission, 1882:2020-2023. [151] Documents of the [New York City] Board of Aldermen, 1877, Part II. No. 8. [152] New York Senate Journal, 1871:482-83. [153] See Exhibits Doc. No. 8, Documents of the [New York City] Board of Aldermen, 1877. [154] For a full account of the operations of the Tweed regime see the author's "History of Tammany Hall." [155] Report of the Metropolitan Board of Health for 1866, Appendix A:38. [156] "America's Successful Men of Affairs":36. [157] "No church disdained his gifts." The morals and methods of the church, as exemplified by Trinity Church, were, judged by standards, much worse than those of Astor or of his fellow-landlords or capitalists. These latter did not make a profession of hypocrisy, at any rate. The condition of the tenements owned by Trinity Church was as shocking as could be found anywhere in New York City. We subjoin the testimony given by George C. Booth of the Society for the Improvement of the Condition of the Poor before a Senate Investigating Committee in 1885: Senator Plunkett: Ask him if there is not a great deal of church influence [in politics]. The Witness: Yes, sir, there is Trinity Church. Q.: Which is the good, and which is the bad? A.: I think Trinity is the bad. Q.: Do the Trinity people own a great deal of tenement property? A.: Yes, sir. Q.: Do they comply with the law as other people do? A.: No, sir; that is accounted for in one way--the property is very old and rickety, and perhaps even rotten, so that some allowance must be made on that account. (Investigation of the Departments of the City of New York, by Special Committee of the [New York] Senate, 1885, 1:193-194.) CHAPTER VII THE CLIMAX OF THE ASTOR FORTUNE The impressive fortune that William B. Astor left was mainly bequeathed in about equal parts to his sons John Jacob II. and William. These scions, by inheritance from various family sources, intermarriage with other rich families, or both, were already rich. Furthermore, having the backing of their father's immense riches, they had enjoyed singularly exceptional opportunities for amassing wealth on their own account.