BANKERS AND MERCHANTS 345 



was adjourned from Friday until the following 

 Tuesday. I hoped that the promoters and bene- 

 ficiaries, the Philadelphians and the arbitragers, 

 would stand by me in carrying through their own 

 enterprise. 



A Philadelphian wants more than four days 

 to make up his mind and at the meeting they 

 were noncommittal and waited until I repeated 

 my offer to take the stock that others refused 

 when they agreed that the plan was a good one. 

 This time the stockholders lay down upon me to 

 the amount of ninety thousand dollars, and as 

 some who did subscribe asked me later to buy 

 their lots I found myself the owner of more than 

 half the capital stock. 



My control of the company became quickly 

 known and three rivals approached me on three 

 consecutive days. I refused to deal with Jay 

 Gould upon any terms. Robert Garrett sat up 

 with me in my house nearly all of one night try- 

 ing to persuade me to sell my control to the Bal- 

 timore and Ohio. I told him I would submit any 

 bid to my associates, but that it must extend to 



