Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-01
FOUR MILLIONAIRES.
HOW SENATOR GORDON AND HIS ASSOCIATES cor
RlcH-A RAILROAD SCHEME


| From the New Orleans pcayune.
For the term In the United States Senate. he
ginning March 4, 1879. the incumbent. chosen
by the people of Georgia, through their hearts
| and legislators, was a man who had been
wounded in battle eight times. He commanded
wing of Gen. Lees army at the close of the
war. He was a captain. a Major. a Lieutenant
Colonel, Colonel Brigadier-General. a Major
General. and corps commander, He WAS a
member of the National Democratic Convention
In 1868 from Georgia. and also i'm 1872 and A
Presidential elector for the state at large in
1868. and also in 1872. He took his seat in the
United States Senate March 4. 1913, and his Sec
ond term would not have expired tn twelve
wears from that date, and no man living is au-
| th0rized to say that his third term would have
ended before March 4, 1891
Senator Gordon found that the needs of his
family were greater than the calls of his ambi-
ton, and he threw away almost whole term in
| the Senate. and marvellous popularity i'm
Georgia. When people asked the reason, he
said that he had to make more money, and he
thought he could make $4,000 wear
That man is now a millionaire He has not
only made himself millionaire: he has also
made his two brothers milonaires, and he has
made Gov. Colquitt Of Georgia q millionaire
They are four millionaires now.
Gordon has organized the Georgia Pacific
railroad and sold IL to the Richmond and Dan
vile Extension company (that is. to the Penn
sylyania railroad people, who own the road from
Richmond to Atianta) for 100000 cash and
certain amount of stock. Besides this the
Presidency of the Georgia Pacific remains in
Gen. Gordon's hands, and the cash has been
paid and the Gordons and Colqultt own o., OO0,-
GOO In the Richmond and Danyille Extension
company, and will have two and one-half times
that amount Of stock in the Georgia Pacific.
Gen. Gordon will remain president of the
Georgia Pacific. Major f. c. Gordon is presi-
nent OF two roads belonging TO the company In
Mississippi the charters Of which extend from
birmingham, Ala, to the Mississippi river. Mr..
w. S. Gordon is director in the Richmond and
Danyille Extension company, and Is also raising
company to build a railroad i'm Florida
The Louisville and Nashville road at about
the time Of Gordons resignation. was begin
ming to get foOthOld in Georgia where II has
now intrenched itself on the Western and At
lantic from Chattanooga to Atlanta. the Georgia
from Atlanta to Augusta, and the Central from
Atlanta to Savannah, SO thoroughly that 1t will
need all the powers Of the powerful Georgia
railroad commissioners to hold 1t in check.
Just then, however, 1t was not very strong in
Georgia, and was watching every point with
jealous eyes. Seeing an opportunity to secure
the services of popular Georgia lawyer, it Gag
eriy retained Gordon as one of its counsel. In
order to hold an entrance to Atlanta it bought
the Georgia Western charter from Atlanta to
birmingham. After its great victories in
Georgia it did not need either Gordon or the
Georgia Western, and 1t gave Gordon the
Georgia western charter. probably to get rid q
him. This was Gordon's nest egg.
The three GOrdons and their Governor now
set themselves to raise company to build from
Atlanta to the Mississippi river. They obtained
conditionally over 1000 acres of coal lands,
granted on condition the road was finished.
These lands were worth a couple of millions,
but OF course they will not be worth cent to
the Georgia Pacific until the road is completed.
They also secured two valuable charters in Mis-
sissippi and the right of way for over a hundred
miles. .
With this stock In trade, the rest was easy
The Richmond and Danville Extension COM
pany viii build the road as soon as possible and
turn it over to the Georgia Pacific railroad
company, which, like many another name of
railroads in the south, will mean the Pennsyl-
vania railroad. The road is sure to be built,
and 1t will be of very great service to Atlanta,
Birmingham, Columbus, and other places
through which it will pass on its way to the
Mississippi. The wealth Of the three Gordons
and Gov. COlquitt cannot fairly be estimated to-
day at less than million apiece.