San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1877-11-10
An Adventurous Career.


financial endeavor loses o hero whose
record is unparalleled in the history of
business effort. His life was one of
glittering successes, dazzling failures,
brilliant frauds, and reckless extrava-
rance. In his character he was an
anomaly. Thoroughly lacking in prin-
ciple when his interests were ut stake,
he was at the same time honest A
close, shrewd calculator in his every ac-
tion,, he was also prodigal. Destitute
of any moral nature, he became god
through his lavish generosity. With all
the instincts of Woodworking man,
his preferences were for the everyday
life of king. Voluptuous in his tastes,
he courted hardships for the pleasure
he found in them. In him all extremes
conferred.
Born in Greene County, New York,
in 1911, he in early life developed ia
cility for conceiving and executing
plans involving heavy monetary inter-
ests. The shallow streams OF trade had
no allurements for him. 1t was in the
broader sea that he found water to
float his gigantic schemes. EN-
barking in the lumber business,
he matured arrangements that soon had
placed him at the head of that interest
but for the crash of 1887, which laid the
fabric of his early fortunes in ruin. He
turned his eyes upon California and was
pleased. In July, 1S49, he landed at
San Francisco with shipload of lum-
Der. His profit on his cargo was
$4,000. His profits in experience were
millions. Taking subordinate position
in a undergrad, he studied the situa-
ton. San Francisco needed lumber.
Contra Costa County would furnish it.
He hired 500 men, and cleared $500, 900.
California bowed before him, made him
her model in politics and in society
When the crisis Of 1854 passed over, his
worshipers found him to be forger and
an exile. He might have saved himself,
but in trying to save his friends he had
committed crimes that drove him from
the country, but he had paid every per-
sonal debt he owed. '..44t.
The next news of him reported him
Superintendent of Bridges on the VAL
paraiso and Santiago Railroad in Chill,
a road that had ruined every contractor
that had touched it. There were but SO
miles to finish and they were through
solid rock. For S12,0O0,0O0 he filled
the air with earth and stones, and in two
wears the road was finished. The high
est honors were crowded upon him, and
the Chilenos made an idol of him. Peru
sought him, and he laid railroad lines
through swamps and mountains, and
storms, and earthquakes. His successes
were scarcely commensurate with his
prodigal style of living. The entertain
ment he gave on the completion of one
road cost upwards of 100000 in gold.
He chartered steamships and extended
roads to convey his guests to the ban
quet. The nabobs of the Republic
looked upon his expensive habits with
wonder. His wealth was unknown, but
along the western coast of South
America he was called Monte Christie,
and he put the same energy into his
work that Edmond Dantes put into his
vengeance. His residence was the finest
in Peru, and his table ready for guests,
however unexpected and however nu-
merous.
Around Lima was dilapidated adobe
wall, and beyond the wall weary prai-
RE of refuse. For an interest in the re-
deemed land he made the waste flow
er-garden. The stable product of the
Republic had been revolutions. Evolu-
ton in office depended upon the financial
condition of the "outs." When their
Treasury was ruined they ousted the
Sins" who retaliated when'they had
expended their stealings. A stable Gov
eminent was necessary to Meiggs's
schemes. When the "outs" were i'm
poverished he gave them what they
wanted from his own means, and they
left the Government intact. He in
augurated system of bribery that par
alyzed all opposition. A dangerous
man was to him merchantable arti-
Gle. When the combination became
too strong for him he bought the Gov
eminent.
By expanding fortunes he secured
contracts for building 1,0O7 miles Of
roads, for which he was to receive 1926.