Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-02

IL Va. One of the Mo-, Remarkable the
World Ha. Known.
Ihe history Of Jay Gould from the bsrefooted
boy who wandered over the rough hills Of Della
ware county to the railroad king whose wealth
was estimated at $50. 900 900 is one of the most
remarkable among self-made men.
OF Mr.. Gould's career since he began 20 op-
crate In Wall street columns might be written
we're the story not pretty well known 10 the
public. The speculations in Erie. the 'black
Friday and other periods are familiar and
have been often retold- Suffice it to saw that
from the time he went into Wall street Gould
forged straight ahead. There going
back and but little standing still Line after
line Of railroad fell under the control Of this
man, whom other tnsnciers called the wizard
OF Wall street. until thousands upon thousands
OF miles OF road we're TO all intents and pur-
poses his own With a single move in the stock
m.rket he could affect financial matters not
only IN every city in this country, but In Lon
don, Paris and Vienna we'll
tie turned his attention to the telegrsphic
system Of the country and did not rest until he
bad q monopoly OF that and controlled the
Atlantic cable a we'll
Wxa this enough Not at all There were
elevated railroads in New York city represent
ing millions IA money. Here was more work
10 the hand Of this remarkable man. and in the
WIS SYSTEM. too, I'us-eu uDuer us III
rection.
Talk Of Alladin's lamp. IL was but dull.
rusty affair placed alongside the brilliant light
Oi this mans genius There is nothing. in fact
~ fiction. since Adam delyed for a living that
can rival the plain straightforward story of this
mans life. IL Is simply unparalleled. There
has never been anything ike 1t and good
hsurers say there Is never likely to be again.
HIS BoYHooD
Mr. Goud was born in West Settlement, a
backvoOsis village of Ro1bury Delavar county.
" L., May q. 1886. He was the son Of John
H. Gould. farmer, who fairly weIl-to-do
and who had been a deputy sheriff in the
famous anti-rent war in early thirtes Young
Gould was also cousin of Alfred Gould. the
inventor OF the chain well pump, and was
CLOSELY con aected with the Mores. a prominent
Scotch family and others we'll known in the
country. His mother died when he was an in
FAINT Gouid left home with 80 cents in his
pocket and studied at Hobart Academy. in a
nelghooring town. Here he turned an extra
penny by keeping the books of the village
blacksmith. eventually enjoying a brief part
nership in the concern. He was fond OF mathe:
mates, and on leaving school found employ
ment in making surveys for map of Ulster
county at salary Of $40 per month The
correctness of the work attracted the
attention OF John peIsfeId. who applied to
the legislature to authorize p OF the state
to be made, in which Mr.. Gould would have
PROMINENT part OF the WOTh- me WOrk
failed, owing to the death Of the promoter, and
Mr. Gould. having gained $4,000 or $4,000
through his previous maps, wrote history of
Delaware county.
HIS FIRST STOCK OPERATION.
Mr.. Gould subsequently entered into part
nership with Zadlc Pratt in the tannery bust
hess in Pennsylvania at place known as
GouldsbOro. In 1856 the patent was sold and
Gould went to New York with quite an ad
ditlon to his fortune. Later he entered into
business with Charles ID. Leupp, leather mer-
chant In the panic of 1857 Leupp's capital
wrecked.
Gould : father-in-law. Mr. Miller. initiated
the yonug fnaneier into the railroad business
and sold him number OF shares in the Rut-
land and Washington railroad AT 10 cents on
tbs dollar. Gould showed much interest
that he was soon elected president and general
manager Of the road. and finally consolidated
~ with the Rensselaer, and Saratoga railroad
When stock went up Gould sold ont at a hand
some profit
ENTERED WALL STREET As A BROKER
In 1859 Gould entered Wall street as a broker
He established a small private Office and made
money fast. The following year he entered the
frm OF smith Martin and became AN expert in
the mani vulatisn OF railroad securities.
The yerIosl of the civil war GOuld's op-
portaaiiy. Erie railway stock went Gown 10
bed rock and Gould bought II for Ia song. with a
Daniel Drew and prevented Commodore VAN
derbut from cornering the Erie interest
Gould rapidly became the leading spirit of
the LrIe I:iIlrOad Company. In july. 1867, he
Va made president OF the road He also pur-
chased n controlling interest in the Tenth Ma
tIOtial Eank.
BLACK FRIDAY AND THE LATE JIM FISK.
An attempt wss made by Gould in 1869 to
corner all the gold in the country. Fifty mil
hons Of dollars were the prize aimed at. The
price Of gold in March of that year was 1901.
the lowest three wears. Gould bought % .OOO-
900 worth AZ 49, and put mp the price to no
A few DAYS later gO.d rose To IA On Septen-
Der "A. the famous back Friday" Gould de-
termiued 90 unload his holdings Is quickly as
po-sible. Without the knOwledge Of his asso-
Ciates b. sosi large part of his gold to his own
irienas 60 100. \ little before noon an order
went from Washington 90 sell 1 900 900 Of gold
frOm the snbtreasury. The corner collapsed
and number Of business men and spectators
were ruined
He next made large purchases 81 The stocks
Of the Jnicn Pacific. the Wabash. the Texas
Pacific the ~. Loais and Northern the Mis-
sour Pacific and the Missouri Kansas and
Texas rAilsoad companies. taking the latter out
II the hands Of II, receiver. lie also invested
deeply IN the stock of the Atlantic and Pacific
Telegraph Company, aud on It's consolidation
with the Western Union in 1879 he organized
the American Mon. which two wears Inter
Inerged into the Western Union In Decem-
Der 1850. official records showed that Mr.
GiouId was IN control Of 10000 miles OF rail
roads or more than One-nin:h Of the entire
mileage Of the country. Early in ISL he be-
came interested in the elevated railroad system
Of New lOrk city. 4 doubt having been cast
upon his financial standing he summoned sew
srzl gentlemen 90 his private office ON March
- Iss2. and spread before them for exAmina-
ton certificates Of stock having face value OF
e. 90. JOO all in his name and offered to
produce $50 900 O0O more IL desired.
In March. 1881. Mr.. Gould purchased a con-
trolling interest IN the ST. Loans and San Fran
ci-co Railroad Company. which has an aggre-
xa.e mileage % nearly 900 miles and was a
joint owner with the AtchisOn. Topeka and
SantA Fe Railroad Company OF the Atlantic and
Pacific company
HIS DOMESTIC LIFE
In appearance Jay Gould was a little man, Of
s.ight weight and build. slightly bent shoulders
aud sharp piercing eyes looking out from a
continuance ~h~se outlines were expressive OF
10. aulet but intense nervous energy which
could or occasions be called into action. lie
xs,. a full beard and dressed nnosteu tatiouslv
He married. shortly after going To- New York
citv IN 1s56 Mis- Ella Miller. daughter OF a
wealthy New York citizen. ana had Ave chill
dr.n. three -on-. Geo. j., Edward and Howard
lid two daughters. Miss Helen and Miss Han
ran Gould. Hi e!des; son. George. who