Page:The Wizard of Wall Street and his Wealth.djvu/86

 asked a question, that it would be as impossible to specify the numerous instances as it would to recall to mind the numerous freight-cars sent over the Erie road from day to day."

The report of the committee concludes as follows:

"It is not reasonable to suppose that the Erie railway has been alone in the corrupt use of money for the purposes named; but the sudden revolution in the direction of this company has laid bare a chapter in the secret history of railroad management such as has not been permitted before. It exposes the reckless and prodigal use of money, wrung from the people, to purchase the election of the people's representatives and to bribe them when in office. According to Mr. Gould, his operations extended into four different states. It was his custom to contribute money to influence both nominations and elections."

Mr. Adams did not have this report before him when he wrote his "chapter." His record closes in 1868, soon after Mr. Gould had been elected president of the road. This had been brought about in the following manner: While Gould was engaged in "fixing" the legislature, and the courts were filled with Erie suits, the various parties in interest got together and effected a compromise. Vanderbilt got rid of the useless stock he had bought at high figures. Drew pocketed his profits and returned from exile in Jersey. The Boston, Hartford and Erie crowd which had figured in these transactions,