Page:The Wizard of Wall Street and his Wealth.djvu/42

 for aid in the completion of a topographical survey of the entire state by Mr. Gould. Mr. Delafield died before any material progress was made in this work. His application to the Legislature was not successful. Some particulars of interest in regard to the map-making business are related by Oliver J. Tillson, one of his partners in the map-making enterprise, after the failure of the man who had first employed him in the business. Mr. Tillson confirms Mr. Gould's account and tells of the bargain in which the latter sold out to his partners. Here is a copy of a receipt given by Gould on that occasion:

Received of Oliver J. Tillson and Peter H. Brink ninety dollars and wheel in full of all debts and demands and dues against them and the Ulster county map.

, for.

It will be observed that he signed his name "Jason," not Jay. He was christened "Jason," but about this time began to change it to Jay, by which he was ever after known. "There wasn't any foolishness in Jason's books," says Mr. Tillson, referring to the books in which Gould had made his notes of the surveys. "He was all business in those days, as he is now. Why, even at meal times he was always talking map. He was a worker, and my father used to say: 'Look at Gould; isn't he a driver?'"

This, in fact, is the testimony of all his contemporaries. From his earlier years he was absorbed in schemes for making money, and his whole aim in