Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-04-28
JAY GOULD AN AMERICAN.

1t is the fashion just now, especially
with cheap demagogues, to set up a
howl against Mr.. Jay Gould. The
fact that he is employing all his
princely income in keeping furnaces
glowing and rolling mills going in
manufacturing rails; in employing men
to dig the ores and Goals; in chopping
the ties. in building the bridges, and
10 grading the road beds. all ramnify-
ing and giving life to thousands of in
dustries and giving employment to
hundreds of thousands of men, counts
for nothing SO long as there is a chance
to make cheap capital by playing upon
the predjudices of class. Did Jay
Gould tie up his capital as did the AS
tors, or sink it into registered bonds
as miser, there might be some ex-
cuse. But being an American and
believer in the genius of our institu-
tions, and clarifying in personal enter
prise, he delights in employing his
capital to the fullest extent. But few
months ago he remarked that nothing
afforded him so much real pleasure as
in marking the..developement OF the
country, the growth of he towns and
the property of the people along his
western lines of railway. No doubt
he has often squeezed Wall
street, but what is Wall street
if not cage of sharks and
SPECTATORS, a curse, rather than
blessing, to any and all American in
dustries. Gould has what he eats and
wears; all else that he possesses is ex-
pended in industries which call for
labor, and which employ men. If he
squeezes Wall street for million to-day,
the contract is let for another hundred
miles of road tomorrow, the building
of which affords wages and opportu-
mites to thousands. AS for the gen.
crosby of the man, we quote late
interview with Jerome Hill, who
says:
heard some one talking, the other
about a generous gift of $1,000, in
case where there was public suffering
1t was spoken of as very handsome
thing, and it was; but do you know
the most striking instance of that
kind of generosity? 1t was at Mem
,.hic s,,t 80 xryhnn no
go bad. i was there through the early
part Of it, the only representative of
our houses, but finally left at the
earnest solicitation of my brother,
who said for me to go any place, to
Europe. or east or west, but to leave
Memphis. Every body who was able
to leave did so. The city was de-
serted, except by the poorer, VINO
could oil go, aud who were attacked
by the fever by dozens on all sides.
There was no business, there was
nothing in the city TO lessen the alarm
ing features of the emergency. APP
peh after appeal had been sent out To
the country for aid, and response
after response had come in, but the
fever bad hung on. and had
asthth't ep Hiah anu ptpNfu 81 tosA-
" in its treatment and the funds and
contributions had rapidly disappeared
and further appeals seemed in vain.
Whole families were down. Fathers
Were being carried out of one room
while children and mothers were dy-
ing in the next. Ii was an awful mo-
ment. Whatever was done had TO be
done quickly. The Howard Ass0cia-
ton, which was in charge of affairs,
was powerless TO continue its noble
work, and was brought face TO face
with the necessity of throwing down
its arms. Just n that moment mes
sage came over the wires from Il man
who is more cursed than any other
man III the country saving, DRAW on
me at sight for $4,000, and draw on
me daily for whatever the Howard As
ISOLATION may need until the fever cpl
demic is under control" That. be-
lieve, was the most generous donation
ever ade-absolutely without limit.
IL was signed by Jay Gould. ! am no
specisl adherent or defender of that
gentleman, bat | tell you that was a
noble action. which should not be for
gotten as il is. AT that time he had
no interests whatever in that section
or within many miles of it.