The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-07-22


der obligations 10 consider carefully
the interests involved on the other side.
His function, he felt. was essentially
d judicial one. He knew one sidc Of
tho case, II was his duty 10 hear tho
other, and Tandy was tho spokesman
OF that other.
Dpncan's reception was most gra.
cious, and Napper Tandy came at
once to the subject In hand.
I'm more than glad, Duncan ho
lyingly said, 'that these financial peo.
ple have asked You TO examine and rc-
port upon this scheme OF extension.
You are 10 heartily In sympathy with
every enterprise that looks to the do
vciopment Of our western country, and
your intelligence IN 10 superbly well
informed. that OF course a project like
this appeals 10 you"
1T does not appeal to me at all, Mr..
Tandy." said Duncan frankly. II do
not think we'll OF tho extension. IT,
pardon mo for intcrrupting," inter
posed Tandy In fear TINT Duncan
might commit himself beyond recall
against tho scheme. Pardon me for
intcrruptIng, but you must see that the
Redwood mines, Ia which, under
stand, you own IL per cent
II own 25 per cent, for have put
my savings into that enterprise" an.
swcrcd Duncan.
"wcIl, NO much the better. You must
zoe that the Redwood mines. IN which
you own 70 per cent. viii benefit az
much as the Quentin mines do by this
extension Of the railroad. II will give
us two markets for our coal instead Of
ono. We can play one market against
the other. you see. and
THAT Isn't the question that I am
employed and paid 10 answer" inter
rupted Duncan. "You have other and
vastly greater interests than those OF
the mines that would be served by the
extension OF tho railroad. But tho
iinanciers who are asked to put thelI
money into this project will be In no
wise benefited either by the increased
earnings OF your coal mine and ours
or by the development OF your other
and far greater interests that are do
pendent upon this extension. SO when
they employ mo 10 report upon the
project ain NOT free to consider any
OF these things. l must consider only
their interests. must ask myself
whether or not II will pay them Il
undertake this extension. | know thai
II will not. know that tho extended
line cannot within q generation Il
como pay even operating expenses, u
say nothing OF interest on the cost oi
construction. ] am bound TO set forth
those facts In my report. They pay
me to tell them what the facts are, Of
course. shall tell them truly. Other
Wise should not DO an honest man. ]
should be q swindler. taking their mon
ey as pay FOR decelving them and in
ducing them 10 undertake losing en-
terprise."
"oh, that's all right. But you nigh
BE- mistaken, you know. You've form
I'd a judgment after q brief triI
through the country. That country
seems poverty stricken Just now, bu
that's because It hasn't enjoyed thu
stimulating influence OF railroad. 4
In better country than you think. al
can convince you II you'll let me take
you through Il In n carriage. We car
start at once tomorrow morning -rlr
out 10 the mines by rail and there take
q carriage and drive through the coun
try. I've ordered the carriage. viii
abundant supplies, from Chicago.
want 10 show you the resources OF the
country. III convince you before W.
get back that the country will build W
az soon as the railroad penetrates I
and that there will be an abundant
traffic for the road"
Pardon me-" answered Duncan
''rye already been through that region
rye questioned every farmer as to his
crops. I've questioned every merchant
In every village as to his possible ship
nients by the railroad and as to thu
amount OF goods he hopes TO sell II thu
railroad is built Their replies arr
hopolessly discouraglng. Taking theIl
outside estimates as certain, there can
not be enough traffic over such line
for twenty years 10 come to pay operat
Ing expenses. In the meantime thu
men whom you are asking to build tn,
road must lose not only the interest oil
their investment, but the investment
itself. l know all the facts that beal
upon the case"
"All but one,' answered Tandy.
"What is that oner'
''That a favorable report from yov
means a check, right now and here
tonight. payable to bearer, for $40,
900, My check is supposed to be goot
for all 1t calls for. You can have 4
now, and II will be cashed tomorrow
morning. Here 1t Is. Payable to bear
er as It Is. you needn't indorse 1t, ant
you need not be known In the matter
In any way, I'm talking business
now"
Duncan scanned the face Of bis In
terlocutor for an instant. Then he rose
from his seat, and with utterancC
choked by emotion managed to say: