[Gutenberg 6495] • Great Fortunes from Railroads by Myers, Gustavus -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

HISTORY OF THE GREAT AMERICAN FORTUNES VOL. II I. THE SEIZURE OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN PART III CHAPTER I

THE LAGGING FACTORY FORTUNES.

MIGHT OF THE RAILROAD OWNERS. THE LEGALIZING OF CUNNING THE LAND LAWS AGAINST THE POOR VAST TRACTS SECURED BY BRIBERY. GREAT EXTENT OF THE LAND FRAUDS. THE SWAYING OF GOVERNMENT. GRANTS TO CANAL CORPORATIONS. THE GRANTS FRAUDULENTLY MANIPULATED CASH THE GREAT PERSUADER A WELTER OF CORRUPTION. IMPOTENCE OF THE PEOPLE. VAST THEFTS OF LAND. SPOLIATION ON A GREAT SCALE. THE "CASH SALES" ACT. COAL LANDS EXPROPRIATED AN ARRAY OF COMMANDING FACTS.

CHAPTER II

GOVERNMENT BY PROPERTY INTERESTS.

CONDITIONS OF THE NON-PROPERTIED. THE SUPREMACY OF EMPLOYERS. AN INCESSANT WARFARE. THE WORKERS' STRUGGLE FOR BETTER CONDITIONS. EMPLOYMENT OF MILITIA AGAINST THE WORKERS. CAJOLING THE LABOR VOTE. THE BASIS OF POLITICAL PARTIES. WEALTH AND THE SWAY OF DIRECT POWER THE PASSING OF THE MIDDLE CLASS. THE TRUSTS AND THE UNEMPLOYED. THE STATE OF THE FARMING POPULATION. METHODS OF THE GREAT LANDOWNERS. SEIZURE OF IMMENSE AREAS BY FRAUD. ACTUAL SETTLERS EXCLUDED FROM PUBLIC DOMAIN. THE GIGANTIC PRIVATE LAND CLAIM FRAUDS. FORGERY, PERJURY AND FRAUDULENT SURVEY. INCREASE OF FARM TENANTRY. A LARGELY DISPOSSESSED NATION.

CHAPTER III

NINETY MILLIONS IN FIFTEEN YEARS.

A FORTUNE OF $700,000,000 BONDS THAT HOLD PRESENT AND POSTERITY. THEY DECREE TAXES AT WILL. AND EXERCISE UNRESTRAINED POWER. HIGH AND MIGHTY POTENTATES. THE FOUNDER'S START. DRIVING OUT COMPETITORS. REGARDED AS A COMMERCIAL BUCCANEER. EXTORTION AND THEFT COMMON. THE CORRUPTION OF OFFICIALS. VANDERBILT'S HUGE LOOT. BLACKMAIL CHARGES TRUE. HE QUITS STEAMSHIPS.

CHAPTER IV

THE ANSWER FOUND.

INDISCRIMINATE PLUNDERING DURING THE CIVIL WAR. PATRIOTISM AT A SAFE DISTANCE. VANDERBILT'S METHODS IN WAR. HORRORS DONE FOR PROFIT. FRAUDS REMAIN UNPUNISHED. THE STORY OF A FRANCHISE. VANDERBILT GETS A RAILROAD. THE ALDERMEN OUTWITTED BY VANDERBILT. HE ANNEXES A SECOND RAILROAD. CUNNING AGAINST CUNNING. ACQUISITION BY WRECKING.

CHAPTER V

GOULD OVERREACHES VANDERBILT

A NEW CONSOLIDATION PLANNED ALARM OF THE TRADING CLASS A LEGALIZED THEFT OF $44,000,000 VANDERBILT AND HIS CRITICS. THE WISDOM OF GRAND LARCENY. HE CONTINUES THE BUYING OF LAWS PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PRIVATE USE "REFORM" AS IT WORKS OUT. VANDERBILT'S CHIEF OF STAFF REPRESSION BY STARVATION. THE SERMONIZING OF THE "BEST CLASSES." "HONESTY AND INDUSTRY" ANALYZED. LABOR'S PRINCIPLES IGNORED.

CHAPTER VI

VANDERBILT'S CHARACTERISTICS.

THE OLD MAGNATE'S DEATH. THE RISE OF THE FIRST TRUST. CORPORATE WEALTH AND LABOR UNIONS. THE GREAT STRIKE OF 1877. FRAUD BECOMES RESPECTABLE WEALTH MORE RAILROADS ACQUIRED. THE SEQUEL TO A "GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT." HE EXPANDS IN SPLENDOR. A SUDDEN TRANSFORMATION. "THE PUBLIC BE DAMNED." ADDS $100,000,000 IN SEVEN YEARS. HIS DEATH A NOTABLE EVENT. HIS FRAUDS IN EVADING TAXES. HIS WILL TRANSMITS $200,000,000.

CHAPTER VII

THE GREAT LABOR MOVEMENT OF 1886

THE HAYMARKET TRAGEDY. JUDICIAL MURDER OF LABOR'S LEADERS. THE LABOR UPRISING IN NEW YORK. CAPITALIST TRIUMPH BY FRAUD. THE LABOR PARTY EVAPORATES. THE SMALL CAPITALISTS' LOSING FIGHT. SEIZING RAILROADS AND COAL MINES. AND THE WAY IN WHICH IT WAS DONE. THE DICTATION OF THE COAL FIELDS. THE BITUMINOUS COAL MINES ALSO. THE HUGE PROFITS FROM THE COAL MINES.

CHAPTER VIII

AN $8,000,000 AREA CONFISCATED.

PUBLIC TAXATION TO SUPPLY PRIVATE CAPITAL. A MULTITUDE OF ACQUISITIONS THE BOSTON AND ALBANY RAILROAD BECOMES THEIRS. THE GOVERNMENT AN ENGINE OF TYRANNY. MACHINE GUNS FOR THE OVERWORKED. TEN MILLIONS FOR A DUKEDOM. DIVERSITY OF THE VANDERBILT POSSESSIONS. THE SORT OF ABILITY DISPLAYED.

CHAPTER IX

JAY GOULD'S BOYHOOD

HE GOES INTO THE TANNING BUSINESS. HE BUYS RAILROAD BONDS WITH HIS STEALINGS. WHY THIS BIASED VIEW OF GOULD'S CAREER? THE TEACHINGS OF HIS ENVIRONMENT. A SPECIMEN OF GOULD'S TUITION. PATRIOTISM AT FIFTY PER CENT.

CHAPTER X

PRIVATE CONFISCATION OF THE ERIE RAILROAD.

THE SPECULATOR, DREW, GETS CONTROL. GOULD AND HIS PARTNERS FLEE WITH MILLIONS. GOULD BRIBES THE LEGISLATURE WITH $500,000. GOULD AND FISK THROW OVER DREW. ALLIANCE WITH CORRUPT POLITICS AND JUDICIARY. GOULD'S TRADING CLASS SUPPORT GOULD'S DIRECTORS BRIBED TO RESIGN. THE LEGISLATURE BRIBED AGAIN. GOULD'S DIRECT ERIE THEFTS WERE $12,000,000. AN EXTRAORDINARY "RESTITUTION." THE SECOND STAGE OF THE GOULD FORTUNE

CHAPTER XI

THE ABUSE OF GOULD OVERDONE

GOULD EMBARKS ON HIS CONSPIRACY HE BRIBES GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. GOULD BETRAYS HIS PARTNERS. THE MEMORABLE "BLACK FRIDAY" ELEVEN MILLIONS POCKETED BY JUDICIAL COLLUSION. THEIR PRESENT WEALTH TRACED TO FRAUD. THE CLUBBING OF THE UNEMPLOYED.

CHAPTER XII

THE MISLEADING ACCOUNTS HANDED DOWN.

SECTIONAL INTERESTS IN CONFLICT. A MYTH OF MODERN FABRICATION CONGRESS BRIBED FOR THE UNION PACIFIC CHARTER. THE CREDIT MOBILIER JOBBERY. GREAT CORRUPTION AND VAST THEFTS. THRIFTY, SAGACIOUS PATRIOTISM. THE BRIBERY PERSISTENTLY CONTINUES. JAY GOULD COMES FORWARD