The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-08-03

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thin soiled region in a way that would
greatly enrich himself because of his
vast property holdings there. He had
well nigh persuaded group Of CAPT
tallsts To undertake the extension
when, acting cautiously, as financiers
mast. they decided TO ask Duncan to
study the situation and make report
upon the project. He had already
studied the question thoroughly during
his stay at the mines and was con
WINGED that nothing but loss could
come of the attempt The region
through which the line must run was
too poor in agricultural and other re-
sources to afford even a hope of
paying traffic. The line itself must be
costly one because of certain topO-
graphical features, and, finally, another
and shorter line, closely paralleling
this proposed extension, but running
through much richer country, was
already in course of construction.
Tandy knew all these things quite
as we'll as Guilford Duncan did. But
Tandy also knew many methods in
business with which Duncan was not
familiar.
As soon as he was notified by the
capitalists with whom he was negotiat-
ing that they had employed Duncan to
examine and report and that their final
decision would be largely influenced by
his judgment, Tandy, with special pc
likeness, wrote to Duncan asking him
to call at his house that evening "fOr a
little consultation on business affairs
that may interest both of us"
Duncan well knew that he had Of
Tended Tandy in the matter of the coal
cars, but as Tandy had made no sign
he could see no possible reason for re-
fusng this request for a business con-
sultation Moreover, Guilford Duncan
felt himself under double response
bility. He felt that he must not only
guard and promote the interests of
those who had employed him to study
this question, but that he was also un-
der obligations to consider carefully
the interests involved on the other side
His function, he felt, was essentially
IL
the case 1t was his duty to hear the
other, and Tandy was the spokesman
of that other.
Duncan's reception was most gra-
ciousJ and Napier Tandy came at
once to the subject in hand.
I'm more than glad, Duncan" he
lyingly said, chat these financial peo-
pie have asked you to examine and re
port upon this scheme Of extension.
You are so heartily in sympathy with
every enterprise that looks to the de-
velopment Of our western country, and
informed, that Of course project like
this appeals to you"
1T does not appeal to me at all, Mr..
Tandy," said Duncan frankly. Il do
not think well of the extension. IT,
Pardon me for interrupting" inter.
posed Tandy in fear that Duncan
might commit himself beyond recall
against the scheme. Pardon me for
interruptlng, but you must see that the
Redwood mines, in which, / under
stand, you own 10 per cent
Il own % per cent, for ! have put
my savings into that enterprise" an.
swered Duncan.
well, so much the better You must
see that the Redwood mines, in which
you own % per cent, will benefit as
much as the Quentin mines do by this
extension of the railroad 1t will give
FL 60 q
one. We can play one market against
the other you see, and
"That isn't the question that / am
employed and paid to answer" inter
rupted Duncan. You have other and
vastly greater interests than those Of
the mines that would be served by the
extension OF the railroad But the
1inanciers who are asked to put their
money into this project will be in no.
wise benefited either by the increa sed
earnings of your coal mine and ours
or by the development of your other
and far greater interests that are de-
pendent upon this extension. So when
they employ me to report upon the
project | am not free to consider any
of these things. ] must consider only
their interests. ! must ask myself
whether or not ii will pay them to
undertake this extension know that
Ii will not | know that the extended
line cannot within d generation to
come pay even operating expenses, to
say nothing of interest on the cost of
construction. / am bound to set forth
those facts In my report They pay
me 10 tell them what the facts are. or
course, | shall tell them truly Other
wise ! should not be an honest man.
should be a swindler. taking their mon
ey as pay for deceiving them and in
ducing them to undertake a losing en-
terprise"
ooh that's all right. But you might
be mistaken, you know. You've form
ed a judgment after a brief trip
through the country. That country
seems poverty stricken just now, but
that's because II hasn't enjoyed the
stimulating influence Of a railroad. II
Is better country than you think, as
can convince you If you'll let me take
you through IL In a carriage. We can
start at once-tomorrow mornIng-run