Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-19
JAY GOULD's POWER.
An Interview with the Terror of
Wall Street at His Fifth
Avenue Home.

Avenue Home.
when the financial crash comes
lots Of you fellows will be smashed,
Jay Gould will worm out, though"
The gentleman who said this was
Uncle Rufus Hatch, and he addressed
q throng Of brokers from the deck OF a
big steamship on which he was about
To sail for Europe. Almost at that
moment Jay Gould himself came
through the companion way, nodded
pleasantly to Uncle Rufus and his
friends, and hurried down the gang
plank to his cab. His presence had
the effect on those scofing brokers
that a taskmaster's exerts over slaves.
1t was greatness passing m~ediocrity; it
was the winner OF the big game recog.
nizing the chaps that couldn't
play very well; it was the utility peo-
plo making room for the star.
la this little incident is furnished
an illustration of how Jay Gould dom
mates Wall street. The Stock Board,
individually represented, take off their
hats to him, and tremblingly defy him
when they band together. The move
ments Of the Treasury Department
create no more concern than his. His
nameis one more powerful to oonjure
with that Of Vanderbilt, Keenc or the
Rothschilds.
Few people know Jay Gould. Re-
firing, suspicious, scheming, ambi-
Gous, uncommunicative, crafty and
dyspepsia, as he is thought to be,
those who have sought his companion
ship have gained it only at a cost to
themselves, and relinquished it
without regret.
In business he has two associates,
Russell Sage and his sons partner,
William Conner. The first is a pro.
fame, shrewd, ignorant man, rich, un-
pleasant in manner and noisy, the 9TH
err a quiet little chap about 30 years
old, with the physical incongruity Of
flaming red hair and jet black eyes
that sparkle and flash like diamonds
and intensity the effects of the odd
contrast. Not that MI. Gould con-
fines himself to any broker; he him
self is not a member OF the Stock Ex-
change. Like the wind that bloweth
where it listeth and no man knOweth
whence it cometh or goeth so the great
Spectator moyeth.
AT GoULD's HOUSE.
Recently | had an interview witt
Mr.. Gould. 1t took place by appoint.
ment, at his house, on Fifth avenue
Just opposite the Windsor Hotel. i
is a handsome brOwnstone high-stool
house, with large plste-glass windows
hung with hand woven linen curtains
The hall ia wide and carpeted will
Persian rugs. The staircase is Meth
or imposing in size nor handsome. 4
splendid Sevres vase stands on a ped
estal at its base. The parlor is
three-roomed affair, tastefully an.
plainly but extensively furnished
with sliding doors between and an ex
tension back, which Mr.. Gould uses q
an Office and study.
He calls it a library. There ar a nun
Der of books in it-"POor's Railroa
Manual" reports, statistics, maps an
globes, specimens Of cable and tele
graph wire, a few models and som
profile drawings. There are also som
steel engravings of familiar subject
} a long table, some stiff chairs, a sofi
one easy chair, a shrouded post in ii
corner that | suppose contains a gol
and stock telegraph machine, a pile
letters on the table, a clock, with
most unmusical tick, on the mantle
I piece; a sea coal fire blazing bright
. in the CRATE a soft light from an a
: gand burner and the fnaAcier stanc
ing with his head inclined forward ar
his brown black eyes regarding me il
. tently through his glasses.
I He is dressed plainly, without jew
elry Of any kind, indeed; his bear
which he wears full over his face, we
: trimmed and cared for, his hair neat
!, brushed, and his hand, which be res
ed on the table beside him, as viii
as it could be.
Al, THE CHARM OF BUSINESS.
| He indicated a chair with his han
and indicated his objection to form
interviews. Then be said that bus
ness had a charm for him that extern
ed to nothing else. Even in his DO
( hood days up in WASHINGTON coun
he liked to barter.
r He saw the Washington coun
G railroad building and worked as su
e veyor's assistant upon it. He thong
3 he would like to own it and 6nal
did control it. But it was too narrC
q a scope for his ambition. Besides tn
S the geography Of the United Stat
would never allow a north and sou
e railroad to become as great as tho
s which run east and west, the star
r empire goes that way-a smile of Sc
appreciation for apt reference probat
/ goes around the mouth and causes t
e ends Of the black whiskers 10 trent
y a little.
LES nc |COullnueoi lIOul Cast
west aud vice versa there must alws
be the great movement of thin
z Lines of railroad built that way "
always be the great lines and the
that cross them will always be fec
ers."
> Going into Mexico from Texas
not exactly west or southwest, \
Gould"
= True enough, but after all the :
velopment of the country which
along the line of east and west I
road will be the support and source
d prosperity for the road itself.
q The future Of that vast country !
not in my Judgment been even il.
a Gated yet. Now there's the connect
made by the Southern Pacific fl
d ocean to ocean, the penetrating lin
Of a score of companies all pushi ng Il
ward with the greatest rapidity, reac
ing out TO grasp and hold the fruit
region OF the Southwest"
l.
o still Another.
0PELIKA, ALA, Nov. /. 80.
II. II. Warner & Co.; Sirs-I ha