Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1876-08-21
rII.pgN.. cRooKED wAY~.

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rILDEN's cR00kED wArs
Since Samuel J. Tilden became the
Democratic candidate for President.
soms Of the ''crookednsss'' Of his path
way in life has been brought 70 light.
The people are gradually beginning to
learn how he smasssd that colossal for
tune. which has given him the rsputa-
ton Of being the wsalthisst lawyer In
New York. Charles 0'Connor is
ranked a. the greatest legal mind in
America. He IL . rich man. too. but he
counts his wealth by hundreds OF thos'
sands. while Tilden figures up his in the
millions. Tilden has always been
esteemed an honest man, because he
covered his tracks well. Nov that he
il before the people a. a presidential
candidate. the real facts Of his career
arc coming to the surface. II seems
that no has been mixed up in fraudulent
railroad schemes with Tom Scott; that
be was the prominent counsel OF the
infamous Credit Mo1aisr Ring; and that
he has made his money. not a. an hon.
est lawyer. like Charles o'connor' but
by sharing in the spoils Of swindlins COR
~porations. This accounts satisfactorily
for the vast d~isproportion between the
estates Of Charles O'Connor. the prince
Of American lawyers and Samuel j.
Tildsn. who. while q brilliant attorney.
is still greatly tho inferior Of his great
brother professional.
With regard to Tldsn's railroad
schemes We cannot do better than to re-
produce an editorial from o late number
Of the San Francisco Chronios. II tell.
the whole story. and the facts are mat.
tsrs OF record. Il Is headed TON
Scott and Samuel ]. Tilden." and reads
as follows:
In 1865 the Legislature Of Pennsylvania
granted . charter 10 . corporation entitled
the Continental Improvement Com
pany.'' The certificate Of incorporation
on nle shows that Thomas A. Scott held
1900 shares Of the capital stock. repre-
senting 500. 0oo. and hat Samuel j. .Tl-
den held 1000 shares. representing sSo.-
600. This concern MAS organized ON the
plan Of the Credit Mobilier. 81 which u
probably furnished the suggestion and thr
model. and which some years later ruined
the reputation 81 every man prominently
connected with II. Previous IN the organ
ization Of the Continental Improve
ment'' Congress had made . liberal grant
Of lands In Michigan IN aid In building
the Grand Rapids anil Indiana Railroad;
Soon after the company had eommenc~i
builiing the road II beeame embarrassed.
and " Reformer" Tillen's Credit Mobllier
corporation took q contract To hnI.h u
upon the following terms Scott, Iiideh
ACo. were 10 receive s2j.OOJ per mile IN
seven per cent. gold bonds, so,oo Per
mile In capital stock. together with
The entire land grant. Under this
agreement IA. Continental Improve
ment Company received gold bonds TO the
amoun Of Ss.000.O 0o. which they speedily
sold In the London and New York markets
at about sc cents in gold. This Job result
ed we'll for Scott a Tilden. but not so well
for the unfortunate stockholders Of the
road. The report Of the Railroad Com
mis.ioners Of Michigan for 1874 showed
the earnings Of tho road 81 the figure OF
Si,ii9. 700, and the operating expenses and
interest on bond. at Si,ti7, $50. revealing
n deficit Of S297 ,59i. such wxs the result
10 the road and its stockholders. But the
Continental Improvement Company had .
much better showing to make. Up 20
July 4, 1878. they had realized from the
sales Of bonds and lands Ss.Gt5,0ti. while
their expenditure for building the road
aggregated only s.275,6I6. leaving them
the handsome profit 81 S4.36o.3G h
brilliant Transaction gave Tilden the repu-
tation, among the various railroad rings,
of being the shrewdcst and craftiest man.
sgcr Of similar schemes In the country.
and his services were thenceforth eagerly
sought by the various rings that were aim
ing TO accomplish dubious ends by crooked
paths.
We have spoken OF the resemblance In
anna features between the "Continental
Improvement Company and the Credit
Nobilier, and II may not be irrelevant TO
recall q scrap % history tending TO show
that the Democratic reform candidate"
had some connection with the latter gigan-
tic svindle. The readers OF the CArVsieis
will remember the intense excitement pro
duccd throughout the country BY the reve-
latious elected by the Congressional lnves-
tiratipg COMMITTEES while taking testimony
in that matter. The Official record OF that
testimony contains the following:
o.<.,,,. By Mr.. Hesr-wcrc you not in