The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-08-12
GOULD-s
Tho heath Of r. j. Moss ReSfves -
story about H.

story about II.
Col. S. W. Fordycc, President o
the ST. Louis, Arkansas and Texa!
Railroad Company tells the story o
how Jay Gould once saved IL
Moss from financial ruin:
.When the Charles Francis Adams
management of the Union Pacific
Company was overthrown, n Mr.
Gould came into power with thai
company, S. II. II. Clark was given
the task of unraveling the details and
adjusting the terms OF the many con-
tracts which the Adams party had
entered into, among the contracts be-
ing the celebrated one which per,
United the Rock Island road TO enter
Union Pacific territory over Union
Pacific tracks AMI make n connection
with one of its own branches IN
Nebraska. which entered into dlrcc'
competition with the Union Pacific
Mr.. Gould settled this matter by de-
hberately violating the contract in
| spite OF the law or the courts. and
| turning the matter over to his legal
department. with Instructions TO fight
to a finish on the ground that no rail
road manager has 4 right 10 make a
contract with another corporation.
which. on lis face, simply neal that
his own security holders should be
icrccd Tor the benefit of the sccurii!
holders OF competing lines. That
.iEht is still on in the courts. and il
vii STAY there rs long rs the Union
raciiic Company can employ lawyers
.yho are shrcwd enough TO keep Il
there. or until the Rock Island people
,ircr Il compromise. In Mr.. Moss
clsc. however, the circumstances were
different. Adams had ordered all
enor!nous number of railroad ties, tar
beyond the lcgitImate needs OF the
COMPANY. The price TO be paid WAS
! fair one, and Mr.. Moss, in good
faith. had made extensive prepare
lions by the establishment of tic
amps, the laying in of supplies. and
the employment of men and horses i'll
order TO fulfill his part of the agre'-
.ncut. As soon as the new manage
mcnt realized that it would have TO
take these ties, which it did moi want.
and could not readily use, an order
was issued to cancel the contract.
This meant ruin for Mr.. Moss. and he
applied to Jay Gould's sense o juStic"
and honor to say him from disas er.
lie showed that he made the coutr CT
in good faith for a fair price, AMI
that he had good ground for acton
in the courts If the contract was call
rclcd. This last argument never had
much force with Jay Gould. lie
kept contracts only when il suited
his interests 10 do So. and, aS he told
Judge Dillon. of his legal department,
once. lis yuur business To get lis out
Of such srrapc>: that's what you are
Iur." Mr.. Clark was also appealed TO
BY Mr.. Moss, and the result was that
The Union Pacific took the ties at the
contract figure, advancing several
hurried thousands of dollars. and
then Joined with Mr.. Moss i'll diSpOs-
in" OF the surplus To other companies,
nursing The job al"n. a> business men
can 10 if they will anu act in harmony
| with each other. instead of trying to
cut each Others thrOatS. Mr.. Moss
credit and fortune were saved hy this
act of Jay Gould's. which TO Col.
| Fvrdvcc's eyes seemed to have been 4
deed OF liberal aud generous dealing,
worthy of comment. and of being
presented in evidence in favor OF Mr..
Gould at Il tine when everyone was
evidently endcavOring TO tell OF ali
the bad and evil actions the dead
iinancicr had been guilty OF