The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-11-01

that had touched it. There were but SO
miles to finish and they were through
solid rock. For S12,000,000 he filed
the air with earth and stones, and in two
years 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-
rie 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 thes"outsn were inn
poverished he gave them what they
wanted from his own means, and they
left the Government intact. He in
augurated a 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 1907 miles of
roads, for which he was to receive $780,
060,000 These roads all led to his
financial Waterloo. For the first tims
he had miscalculated. They proved
failures, and, having absorbed the
contract price, forced him upon the
market for money. His enemies seized
upon the advantage offered, and refused
to accept his bills, which became drug.
He bought the Government indorse-
ment and staggered on. His bonds fell
on the foreign Bourses, and finally be-
came valueless. The combination form
ed against him struck blow after blow
at his credit. Two strokes of paralysis
had weakened him, and third found
him shattered and broken. Exposures
of his frauds came thick and swift His
creditors were clamorous, and the poorer
were paid to the uttermost farthing. 1t
was plain to him that his fortunes had
fallen beyond retrieving, and he turned
away from the cares and troubles of a
life remarkable for it, incongruities, its
pleasures and anxieties.
He left Peru almost bankrupt through
schemes urged upon her as her saliva
ton. His death has created financial
revolution whose effects will be felt after
his rails have rusted and his ties rotted
away. In his life he taught peculiar
lesson of sagacity, without moral bal
ance; of generosity, without an element
of justice; of magnificent frauds built
upon a foundation of fair dealing be-
tween men.-Chicago Tribune.