The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-18
HIS FOOT on THEIR NECKS.
[From the Boston Advertiser.l

1t was remark OF the iaso S.uao
Fisk, Jr., that when he had Deel
Z year with the firm with whom
began his career in this city he had no longe
to be his own GRAND boy. and on proper oc
casions people were willing to hunt nun q
for the ale of business. But what would b
have thought of position and power tina
would have enabled him to stay at resldenc
four miles away in Brookline and compe
every man who would fain do business witt
him to seek an interview ct his own time AM
place? Such is the position which his some
time confederate and associate has achieved
MI. JAY Gould's residence Is on Fifth Ave
nue.. near the Park, and more than three
miles from Wall street; yet it is said of hin
that he never leaves his house except for re-
creation. During the morning he is at hom.
apparently idling away his life, but really full
OF intense activity. Lines of telegraph keel
him accurately and instantly informed of any
fuctuation in public securities. or in the sell
ing price of fancy stocks. Other lines main
tain communication with his Wall street
agents--a wire to each agent, it is said. Hi
operators are in separate rooms for fear o.
some useful hint he is shown to pleas
ant anteroom where his eyes will wander
over objects of virtu, until presently MIR.
Gould will saunter in with the air OF man
who has not an object in life. To the in
quiries of his friend-sgonized, it may be
with the frightful fluctuations Of his favorite
investment-he returns only vague express
sions of ignorance or Nervousness, and, re-
ferring to the fact that he never goes to Wall
street, AYERS that he knows little or nothing
as to what is going on there. And yet all the
while be is the terror of that street. He is
reputed to WELD enormous capital It has
been stated that he controls 200. 600 shares of
Union Pacific, and his influence is out Of
proportion to his wealth, for, while no one
knows his wealth, all the operators know and
have felt his power. A curious story is told
illustrating his tactics.
1t Is stated that during all the recent trans
actions in Union Pacific Railway stock not
share has been sold by any Of the Boston
directors. Their enormous blocks remain
intact. The belief is that Gould brought
this about by buying of them the option to
take, at any time within year from the date
of the transaction, any proportion of all their
shares at eighty, the shares then standing at
thirty-five. Forthwith the stocks begin to
rise, but not share Of these blocks is put on
the market, as the owners are too uncertain
about their ability to replace at saving price
to care to risk the operation. And so their
passive cooperation is secured.
It results that all the weak operators in
whatever stock Jay Gould chooses to take
hold of are absolutely at his mercy. For
months, il may be, there have been no sales,
OF, il BALES, at unvarying prices. Suddenly
there is ripple. There are sales perchance
q little under the market. The sales con-
tinua Timid ones get frightened and sell.
Then others sell. Then 1t may be rumored
that Jay Gould is selling, and SO he may be,
but he may also be buying, and doubtless is
1t the same instant. Or perhaps he makes
{" corner" and then "squeezes" his victims.
In any and all ways he profits out Of the pub
lie loss. And so he has his foot on their
necks.
And yet this man, with his millions Of
capital, his profound calculations, his COM
his resources, his impenetrable
6nesse. may at any day take hold Of gold-as,
witness the Black Friday-and demonstrate
that his foot is on all our necks; for touch the
price of gold and the entire commercial COM
munity feels it as with an electric shock.