, 1877-10-14
HENRY MEIGGS


!: HENRY ME1GGs.
, HESRT MEIGGs, the Peruvian Railroad princ.
died ut Lima on the Goth ult. In his takinp ~
the world OF romantic financial endcayor los4s
hero whose record is unparalleled in the hsto,v
OF business effort. His life was one of ol;,,et,
ing successes, dazzling failures, brilliant fr,u1s
and reckless extravaganza. In his charactpr h.
was an anomaly. Thoroughly lacking in pripe4.
pie when his interests were at stake, he VA, a.
the same time honest il close, shrcwd ,a,iu.
lator in his every action, he was also protl;c,,
Destitute OF any moral nature, he became IN,
through his lavish generosity. With Ill the IN
stincts Of a hard-working man, his preferences
were for the everyday life OF d King. yolun
tuous in his tastes. he courted harlships for rho
pleasure he found in them. In him all extremes
centercd.
Born in Greene County, New York, in 1911. be
in early life developed facility for convciyinc
and executing plans involving heavy monetary
interests. 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. -Embarking in the lumber business.
he maturcd arrangements that soon had plaeed
him at the head Of that interest but for the
crash OF 1887, which laid the fabric OF his early
| fortunes in ruin. Hc turned his ewes upon
California and was pleased. In July, 1919 be
landed at San Francisco with a sllip!oad Of
| lumber Ills profit on his cargo was ?j00GO
! His profits In experience were millions. Taking
subordinate position in iuzurcr-yar!, he
| studied the situation. San Francisco needed
! lumber, Contra Costa County would furnish
| it. He hired 500 men. and cleared S5OO,pW,
California bowed before him, made lin he,
| model in politics and in society. When the
crisis OF 1854 passed over, bis worshipers found
| him to be foreer aud an exile. He might hare
saved himself, but in trying to save his friends
| he had committed crimes that drove him from
the country, but he had paia every personal
debt he owed
The next news OF him reported him as Supef-
intendcnt Of Bridges on the Valparaiso & San
tiago Railroad in Chilli, road that had ruined
every contractor that touched it. There were
but thirty-three miles to finish, and they we're
through solid rock. For 12,oOo,ooJ lie fllea
the air with earth and stones, and in two years
the road was finished. The highest honors we're
crowded upon him, and the Chilenos made Al
idol Of him. Peru sought him, and he laid rail-
road lines through swamp5 and mountains, aud
storms, and earthquakes. His successes were
Of living. The entertainment he gave on the
completion OF one road cost upwards of $4,000
in gold. ne chartered steamships and extended
roads to convey his guests to the banquet. The
nabobs OF the Republic looked upon his ex-
pensiye 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
n ~.
was the finest in Peru, anu his table ready for
guests, however unexpected and however
numerous.
Around Lima WAS a dilapidated adobe wall,
and beyond the wall weary prairie of refuse.
For an interest in the redeemed lan;l he made
the waste 4 iiower-gartlen. The staple product
Of the Republic had been revolutions. Evolr-
tion in Office depended upon the financial con,li-
tion Of the ':outs.'' When their Treasury was
ruined they routed the ''ins,'' who retaiated
when they had expended their stealinSs.
stable Government was necessary to ME.GGs'
schemes. When the s!outs' were Impoverished
be gave them what they wanted from his own
means, and they left the Government intact.
&c inausuratcn q system OF bribery that para
yzcd all opposition y dangerous man WAS to
lim merchantablc article. When tue coca-
oination BECAME too strong for him he bought
he Government.
By cxpend,nS fortunes he secured contracts
or building t,0Js miles Of roads, for which ht
vas TO receive Si25. .00j,0J0. These roads ALL led
o bis financial Waterloo. For the first time be
lad misca lcu]atcd. They proved failures. and:
laying absorbed the contract price, forced him
1pon the market for money. His enemies seized
lpon the advantage offered, and refused to at
cpt his bills, which became 4 drug. He bought
he Government Endorsement and staggered Oh
lis bonds fell on the foreign Bourscs, anu final
= became yalue1ess. The combination
ormed against him struck blow after
How at his credit. Two strokes ot
paralysis had weakened him, aud q third found
lin shattered and broken. Exposures OF his
rauds came thick and swift. His creditors
'ere ciannorous, and the poorer were paid to the
lttermost farthing- 1t was plain to him that
lis fortunes had fallen beyond retrieving. and
C turned away from the cares and troubles ofa
fe remarkable for its incongruitics, its pleas
res and anxieties.
He left Peru almost bankrupt through schemes
rEcd upon her as her salvation. His death has
reatcd financial revolution whose effects will
c felt after his rails have rusted and his ties
ottcd away In his life he taught peculiar
:sson OF sagacity, without moral balancc; nj
cucrosisy, without an element OF justrc;ot
,aSniticent frauds built upon foundation Of
.ir dealing between men.
The New York Sur thus refers to the sale OF
&c ''Pathfndcr's" library, which took place
II debt last week:
4 eale not altogether voluntary, Of Gen. JoHy C.
nENosr.s books, pictures, and brc-a-brjc wa
.ssslln IN huKTz . gallery Ia-t evening. Inc futA