The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-08-20
ANOTHER NEW ROAD.

ANOTHER NEW ROAD
! GIT TDrED DREAM or MONOPOLY
HOW orR MODERN HIGHWAYS ARE
GT-fIT-INPROvED LAW AND FINANCE
F,pm ha tu,,Son ipp",d.
Yesterday Constable Stern discovered
in the city jail a map of the United
States and some railroad connections
which We're entirely new to him. On
making inquiries he discovered that the
map had been drawn by couple of pris-
oncrs and was the ground plan of a big
railroad scheme in which the two We're
interested
I'VE propose. said one OF them. "to
start Il new railroad system beginning ut
Carson and ending in New York
when will yon begin operations ,"
uucriyd the officer.
oh. as soon as We get out. Now let
me outline the plan. We start out with
some pins, chains and compasses and
make survey. We announce through
the press the proposed Carson. Arizona
and Texan line. Then We incorporate
and let i'll lot of the solid citizens. ap-
point a committee to go to the financial
cGnters and lay in with syndicate of
bankers to place our securities. They
make a satisfactory lay. advertise heavy
IN the high toned papers. and the treas
urv begins to bulge. We get the coun-
try excited, the people subscribe for the
bonds. and they go like hot gridtle
cakes.
Do you catch the idea -
Tiic Constable began to GROW interest
ed and nodded his head.
"Wcll. then We apply for a govern
ment subsidy, throw few thousand
shares of stock around Congress. get
some OF the orators to talk OF the wealthy
country about to be opened up great
natural resources requiring development.
&c. and the things done Then we sell
the land at five dollars an acre. and push
cut rnaH right through to Texas
l"n get quite Il start said the Of
ttrcr: but who pays of the haudS?"
"Db. / forgot one of the most import
ant accessories: OF course We organize a
construction and finance company: as
directors Of the railroad company We
Vote unanimously t" give ourselves, rs u
construction company. fat contracts:
then we suh-contract the construction
otit to actual contractors at half price
and they pay the hands or not, just As
they choose. But these are minor de
tails. Now our next point is New Or
leans. We want more money. 50 we find
laws in the original bill of sale. and as
we take a hand in clecting the iud yes
they pronounce the title invalid. holders
haven t money to contest it. SO we serve
writS OF ciectment on the fellows who
have improved our lands and sell EN-
again at higher figures. This gives us
another raise. ard then we freeze out the
original stockholders. sell the road, buy
it in. reorgamize water the stock like
the devil and give everybody a chance. ="
But the law steps ill
oh. d-n the law. The law doesn't
cover railroads: railroads are too lively:
besides we're putting up a job now to
have majority Of our own men in the
United States Senate (we've got all the
state ScnateS now and the Supreme
Court. and then We can head off any
communstic attacks you know
When we get cur road to New Orleans
ont Of our earnings, our lands, and the
ment, what we made on the construction
company and the reorganization. Uncle
sam Swoops down. calls for his money
and threatens to take the road Well.
there nothing small about us: we say.
take the old road: il ; busted concern
anyhCw. Then he won want it so bad.
you see, and we continue business
= bnt how do Sou freeze out the stock
holders -
Why, We hire the Government Com
missioner to make Il report and bear the
stock. That shakes the holders out and
we rake it in in blocks. Then he makes
another one you see aud the market raj
lies
Bnt this costs money: You need a
good lot
Well. we've made Il good lot in back
tieiGhts and sockin' it to the small ship
per' and the competitive points. to
say nothing OF Construction Company.
our lands. and freezing out stockhold-
ers."
The policeman had no reply.
Then from New Orleans we 90 IL
New York.
" But have You made enough to build
the New York road. The Eastern peo-
pie won't stand the back freight racket.
May be not but the dear public there
are always keen to put mp for railroads.
4iF '''HhtiS arrange dil lll'il. ana IL us
too thin for the United States they have
aals across the big pond who are always
ready to help unload il road on foreign
investors, for a divide. They are always
| ready TO build the road and let the com.
pany run it-and we re the company YOU
know
"Gnc splendid racket To work is hen
| stocks are low We buy. then form a pool
| with Other roads. SHOW hig earnings.
| stocks advance. everybody PUSHES in. and
", iyt en- boom it up till We think they
are high enough. when We quietly un.
| i":td PASS the word 10 break the pool
we sell short and the lambs are shcareG
both WAYS.
| " Railroalin@ is a money making bust
ness anyway. BY @ivin' the bic shippers
| special rates and -lingin' around passes
pretty lively. givin' free excursions. sub,
Scribin' literally to Statesmcn's benefit
funds, and occasionally builtin' churcl
perhaps owning Il newspaper here and
there to blacbguard anti-monopolists ant
| lead public opinion; liy pursuing liberal
policy like this, We can always make our
selves solid with the ruling classes. O
course this costs money, but as we tax
| both producers and consumers we reas
Sess all these little expenses on the pub
| lie. and more too, for the farmers ant
other small shippers never bargain to
rates: steam transportation costs might,
little. and what with new inventions ant