The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-03
JAY GOULD.
Starting in Life Poor He Becomes Rail-
road King.

Starting in Life Poor He Eecomes u Rail-
road King.
Until he WAS IA years of age Jay Gould
lived with his parents on his fathers farm.
near Roxhury, Delaware county, Now York,
where he WAS born May II, 1896. At that
age he entered Hobart academy, New York,
where he Rcquitcd n taste for mathematics
and surveying, and on leaving school found
employment in making tho surveys for II
map Of Ulster county. The accuracy of
this work attracted the attention of the late
John Delafield, who applied to the Iegisla-
tnre for mid in the completion Of the topo-
graphical survey of tho whole etnte by Mr..
Gould. Mr.. Delnfeld died before airy
material progress wag made, and Mr..
Gould undertook to make the surveys un-
aided. During the summer OF 1863 he com
pleted survey of Albany county, and sur-
veyed and mapped other countieh in New
York. from which he accumulated 5000.
He published "History of Delaware Coun-
tY" tl55GJ, and while projecting other sur
vovs was prostrated with typhoid fever.
On his recovery he became acquainted
wi th Zadock Pratt, who sent him into the
western part of the state 10 select site for
tannery, He chose Il fine hemlock
growth, erected Il gawmill and blacksmith
shop, and with MIR. Pratt vas doing Il large
numbering business subsequently he
bought out Mr.. Pratt's interest and con-
Quoted the business alone till Just before
the panic Of 1867. when he sold out his en-
tire plant. In the same year he became the
largest stockholder and n director in the
Stroud sburQ, Pa. bank. Shortly after the
crisis no bought the bonds of the Rutland
q Washington railroad at 10 cents on the
dollar, abandoning every other interest and
putting all his money into railroad So
curities. For a long time he was president
treasurer and general superintendent of
this company. He brought about the con-
solidatIon of the Rensselaer, d Saratoga
road and with the proceeds removed to
New York City. in 1859, established himself
as n broker. and invested heavily in Erie
railway stock. He entered the directory OF
that company and became preaident. hold
ing the office until the reorganization OF
the directory in 1872. He next made largo
purchases of the stocks of the Union Pa
cifc. the Wabash. the Texas Pacific. the st.
Louis d Northern, tho Missouri Pacific and
the Missouri. Kansas d Texas railroad
mpanies, taking the latter out of TIE
hands of its receiver. He also invested
deeply in the stock of the Atlantic " Pa
cifio Telegraph company, and on its con-
solidation with the Western Union he Or
ganized the American Union 1879). which
was merged into the Western Union in
1881. In December, 1880. official records
showed that Mr.. Gould WAS in control of
10000 miles of railroad, or more than one
ninth or the entire mileage OF the country
Early in 1881 he became interested in the
elevated railroad system of New York city.
A doubt having been cast upon his financia
| standing, he summoned several gentlemen
to his private office on March 13. 1882. and
spread before them for examination certl
fcates of stock, having face value OF
$53 900, 900 all in his own name, and Offered
10 produce $20,0oO.0OO more if desired. Ii
March, 1887. Mr.. Gould purchased con-
| trolling interest in the st. Louis 81 Sar
Francisco Railroad company. which has al
aggregate mileage of nearly 800 miles, anc
is joint owner with the Athison. Topeka j
Santa Fe Railroad company, of the Allan
tic d Pacific and the western PORTION of the
| Southern Pacific railroad companies
| These, with the projected trunks. gave hin
control of an additional 5000 miles of rail-