[Gutenberg 6495] • Great Fortunes from Railroads
![[Gutenberg 6495] • Great Fortunes from Railroads](/cover/nWZFbTcXzzAG7uMP/big/[Gutenberg%206495]%20%e2%80%a2%20Great%20Fortunes%20from%20Railroads.jpg)
- Authors
- Myers, Gustavus
- Tags
- united states -- economic conditions -- 19th century , businessmen -- united states -- history -- 19th century , wealth -- united states -- history -- 19th century , railroads -- united states -- history -- 19th century
- Date
- 2004-09-01T00:00:00+00:00
- Size
- 0.28 MB
- Lang
- en
Chapter I. THE SEIZURE OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN
Before setting out to relate in detail the narrative of the amassing of the great individual fortunes from railroads, it is advisable to present a preliminary survey of the concatenating circumstances leading up to the time when these vast fortunes were rolled together. Without this explanation, this work would be deficient in clarity, and would leave unelucidated many important points, the absence of which might puzzle or vex the reader.
Although industrial establishments, as exemplified by mills, factories and shops, much preceded the construction of railroads, yet the next great group of fortunes to develop after, and along with, those from land were the fortunes plucked from the control and manipulation of railroad systems.
THE LAGGING FACTORY FORTUNES.
Under the first stages of the old chaotic competitive system, in which factory warred against factory, and an intense struggle for survival and ascendency enveloped the whole tense sphere of manufacturing, no striking industrial fortunes were made.