Surface CASH

* See also Rapture Economy
* See also Money_In_Rapture
* See also North Atlantic Project
* See also Ryans Surface Organization Selling off Raising Money for Rapture Years later
* See also Secrecy_For_Rapture
Pix Of Real Pile Of Money ?
Money was Required for "Gettting Things Done On The Surface" 
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Surface Money was used to do construction/transport and to buy supplies/materials for Rapture. That money is initially coming from more than a few Investors ( with Ryan only being one ). Organizing that arrangement is fairly 'straight forward' ( though not 'easy', but Ryan had the knowhow ). Additional money would come from the sales of the possessions/property of those immigrating to Rapture over several years. Purchase of 'Real Estate' in Rapture would be a primary use for such funds. 
Subsequent transportation of all the People was its own huge project ( with its own expenses ).
Later cashflow continued as 'adjustments' needed to be made after the City exists - obtaining critical materials and tools/knowledge and personnel ... ( and various items the Citizens would want ). The "critical" things could continue even after the Closing_Off_Rapture happened ( with far greater measures taken to preserve Rapture's Secrecy ).
There of course was the Establishing of the Money system in Rapture, and Citizens previous Money/Wealth was to be converted.
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Smuggling is a CASH_Only Business :
THEN there is this the Money aspect of Smuggling activity.
You have to pay for the stuff you smuggle in, don't you ?? YES YOU DO. Even if alot is being STOLEN from The Surface ( definitely a possibility with Fontaine ). You have to pay for THAT constant ongoing risky operation as well ( 'Stealing' generally would only partially supply what was needed, AND becomes harder and harder as more attention to the crimes occurred ).
'Fencing' stuff from Rapture ??? - That is yet MORE operations to maintain (and be paid for out of 'profits'). 'Fencing' 'Fencing' - Selling of stolen goods in an organized way. usually happens with a payout return of 'ten cents on the dollar' In the end, a rather steep customer markup for the smuggled goods is required to make that system work ( putting more Contraband out of the price range of many 'customers' ).
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"A gun in every home, peace on every street." - Frank Fontaine at the installation of the first "Power to the People" machine, 1/22/57
Sowing mayhem is his intent so to grab power. An ADAM-insane gun-wielding thug/terrorist is made much more effective to disrupt normal Rapture society. Of course, such a number of guns being imported WOULD be noticed (they aren't cheap either, and MORESO IF he tried to MAKE them in Rapture - a great difficulty - As you don't just 'Wave Your Hands to make modern guns . So where did the Surface Cash come from to obtain them (?) - That was never explained ( really could NOT be explained ).
Of course, this "Power To The People" machine also means that his Opponents would likewise be better armed as well ( a 'two-edged sword' ). But then, Disorder is what Fontaine wants - It is easier to Destroy than to Build/Preserve in normal society.
(( Game facilitating elements can get in the way of plausibility - something they went 'Whole Hog' with in Infinite BS ))
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 Up There : 
The links with Ryan's Surface Organization would NOT have been severed by the time of the MMORPG, and there are many things that could aid New Rapture's recovery and rebuilding. This would offer an expanded/diverse STORY-world to be available.
Ex- There were many valuable art objects brought by immigrants, and their sale could be put to obtaining very useful things.
The Cure would require Knowhow and Materials and Tools, which were either destroyed or never previously existed in Rapture. 
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