The History Of The Great American Fortunes

About this eBook

Author

Myers, Gustavus, 1872-1942

Title

History of the Great American Fortunes, Vol. I Conditions in Settlement and Colonial Times

Credits

Produced by Annie McGuire

Language

English

LoC Class

HC: Social sciences: Economic history and conditions, Special topics

Subject

Wealth -- United States

Category

Text

eBook-No.

30956

Project Gutenberg

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30956

Release Date

January 13, 2010

Copyright

Public domain in the USA.

Contents

1. 1.THE HISTORY OF THE GREAT AMERICAN FORTUNES
2. 2.BY THE SAME AUTHOR — HISTORY OF THE GREAT AMERICAN FORTUNES — BY
3. 3.GUSTAVUS MYERS — VOL. I. — CHICAGO — CHARLES H. KERR & COMPANY — 1910
4. 4.PREFACE
5. 5.CONTENTS — PART I — CONDITIONS IN COLONIAL AND SETTLEMENT TIMES — PART II — THE GREAT LAND FORTUNES
6. 6.CONDITIONS IN SETTLEMENT AND COLONIAL TIMES
7. 7.CHAPTER I — THE GREAT PROPRIETARY ESTATES — THE INTRODUCTION OF BLACK SLAVES. — FEUDAL GRANTS IN THE NORTH. — THE DUTCH WEST INDIA COMPANY. — OLD WORLD TRADERS BECOME FEUDAL LORDS. — AN ARISTOCRACY SOLIDLY GROUNDED. — THE ABASEMENT OF THE WORKERS.
8. 8.CHAPTER II — THE SWAY OF THE LANDGRAVES — THE COLONIES CARVED INTO GREAT ESTATES. — THE LANDED PROPRIETORS THE POLITICAL RULERS. — A CONFLICT BETWEEN LAND MAGNATES AND PEOPLE. — ATTEMPTED BRIBERY CHARGED. — VAST ESTATES SECURED BY BRIBERY. — EFFECTS OF THE LAND SEIZURES. — ATTEMPT AT CONFISCATION THWARTED. — HOW THE LORDS OF THE SOIL LIVED. — THE NASCENT TRADING CLASS. — DISINTEGRATION OF THE GREAT ESTATES.
9. 9.CHAPTER III — THE RISE OF THE TRADING CLASS — THE MANORIAL LORDS MONOPOLIZE TRADE. — THE TRADERS' METHODS. — THE BONDING OF LABORERS. — THE FISHERIES OF NEW ENGLAND. — "FORCE AS GOOD AS FORCE." — BRITISH TRADERS' TACTICS.
10. 10.CHAPTER IV — THE SHIPPING FORTUNES — FORTUNES FROM PRIVATEERING. — A GLANCE AT OTHER SHIPPING FORTUNES. — THE WORKERS' MEAGER SHARE.
11. 11.CHAPTER V — THE SHIPPERS AND THEIR TIMES — COMMERCE SURCHARGED WITH FRAUD. — MERCHANTS THE PILLARS OF SOCIETY. — POST-REVOLUTIONARY CONDITIONS. — PROPERTY'S RULE INTRENCHED. — THE RIGORS OF LAW ON THE POOR. — LAW KIND TO THE TRADERS. — THE PENALTIES OF POVERTY. — MASTER AND BONDED MAN. — TWENTY DOLLARS REWARD. — THE SHIPPERS' HUGE GRAFT. — UNITE AGAINST THE WORKER.
12. 12.CHAPTER VI — GIRARD—THE RICHEST OF THE SHIPPERS — HOW HE BUILT HIS SHIPS. — A DICTATOR OF FINANCE. — BRIBERY AND INTIMIDATION. — THE SOLITARY CRŒSUS. — "THE GREAT BENEFACTOR." — A STARK CONTRAST PRESENTED.
13. 13.PART II — THE GREAT LAND FORTUNES
14. 14.CHAPTER I — THE ORIGIN OF HUGE CITY ESTATES — THE MANORIAL LORDS PASS AWAY. — FEUDAL TENURES ABOLISHED. — THE NEW ARISTOCRACY. — CITY LAND THE SUPREME FACTOR. — THE INVULNERABLE LANDOWNER. — A PROLIFIC BREEDER OF WEALTH. — VAST FORTUNES FROM LAND.
15. 15.CHAPTER II — THE INCEPTION OF THE ASTOR FORTUNE — ASTOR'S EARLY CAREER. — HIS METHODS IN BUSINESS. — MONOPOLY BASED ON FORCE. — THE DEBAUCHING OF INDIANS. — VIOLATION OF LAWS. — PROFIT AND ITS RESULTS. — A LONG RECORD OF VIOLENCE. — ASTOR'S ENORMOUS PROFITS.
16. 16.CHAPTER III — THE GROWTH OF THE ASTOR FORTUNE — ASTOR SUPERIOR TO LAW. — LAW BREAKERS AND LAW MAKERS. — ASTOR'S MONOPOLIES. — ASTOR NOT AN EXCEPTION. — WHERE WAS FRAUD ABSENT? — LEGALIZED PIRACY IN ALL BRANCHES OF TRADE. — A NOTED LAND TRANSACTION. — THE PUBLIC UPROAR OVER ASTOR'S CLAIM. — CORRUPT GRANTS OF CITY LAND. — A PROCESS OF SPOLIATION. — THE CITY CREATES LANDLORDS. — MANY PARTICIPANTS IN THE CURRENT FRAUDS. — PILLAGE, PROFITS AND LAND. — THE FATE OF OTHERS HIS GAIN.
17. 17.CHAPTER IV — THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE ASTOR FORTUNE — BANKS AND THEIR POWER. — A MANDATE TO PREY. — COURTS AND CONSTITUTION. — THE BANKING FRAUDS BEGIN. — BRIBERY A CRIME IN NAME ONLY. — ASTOR'S BANKING ACTIVITIES. — HOW ASTOR SECURED A LEASE. — WHAT THE WORKER GOT AS WAGES. — THE WORKINGMEN'S PARTY PROTEST. — RADICALISM VERSUS RESPECTABILITY. — THE PANIC OF 1837. — THE RESULTING WIDESPREAD DESTITUTION. — PROPERTY AND CRIME. — THE SYSTEM—HOW IT WORKED.
18. 18.CHAPTER V — THE MOMENTUM OF THE ASTOR FORTUNE — ASTOR'S WEALTH MULTIPLIES. — EVASION OF ASSESSMENTS BY THE LANDLORDS. — DEFRAUDING A FINE ART. — HOW PUBLIC OPINION WAS MADE. — THE SANCTITY OF PROPERTY. — CORRUPTION AT THE POLLS. — POLITICAL SUBSERVIENCY. — ASTOR BECOMES AMERICA'S RICHEST MAN. — ASTOR'S TOWERING WEALTH. — THE DEATH OF JOHN JACOB ASTOR. — THE WONDER OF THE AGE.
19. 19.CHAPTER VI — THE PROPULSION OF THE ASTOR FORTUNE — WILLIAM B. ASTOR'S PARSIMONY. — THE PURCHASE OF LAWS. — THE INVERTED NATURE OF SOCIETY. — THE PREVAILING CORRUPTION. — BRIBERY AND BUSINESS. — WATER GRANTS FROM TWEED. — PROFITING FROM GIGANTIC THEFTS. — RENTALS FROM DISEASE AND DEATH. — HUMANITY OF NO CONSEQUENCE. — AN EXALTED CAPITALIST.
20. 20.CHAPTER VII — THE CLIMAX OF THE ASTOR FORTUNE — INTERRELATED WEALTH. — MONEY AND HUMANITY. — LAW THE STRONGEST ASSET. — THE BASIS OF WEALTH'S STRUCTURE. — GREAT THEFTS OF TAXES. — LICENSED PIRACY RAMPANT. — THE ASTOR FORTUNE DOUBLES. — THE QUALITY OF "REFORMERS." — A VAST ANNUAL INCOME. — PROXIMITY OF PALACES AND POVERTY.
21. 21.CHAPTER VIII — OTHER LAND FORTUNES CONSIDERED — THE GOELET FORTUNE. — ONCE A FARM; NOW OF VAST VALUE. — MISERS WITH MILLIONS. — THE THIRD GENERATION. — WHERE SURPLUS REVENUE HAS GONE. — THE RHINELANDERS. — THE SCHERMERHORNS. — HOW LONGWORTH BEGAN. — HIS VAGARIES—SO CALLED. — MARSHALL FIELD AND LEITER. — FIELD'S MANY POSSESSIONS.
22. 22.CHAPTER IX — THE FIELD FORTUNE IN EXTENSO — LAND FOR ALMOST NOTHING. — IT BECOMES WORTH MILLIONS. — FIELD'S REAL ESTATE TRACTS. — HIS INCOME: $500 TO $700 AN HOUR. — HIS EMPLOYEES' WRETCHED WAGES. — OUTCASTS RATHER THAN SLAVES. — CENTERING ALL PROFITS IN HIMSELF.
23. 23.CHAPTER X — FURTHER VISTAS OF THE FIELD FORTUNE — FIELD'S PULLMAN WORKS. — THE NATURE OF A MODEL TOWN. — THE PULLMAN EMPLOYEES STRIKE. — VAST PROFITS AND LOW WAGES. — "A MODEL OF BUSINESS INTEGRITY." — HE STEALS MILLIONS IN TAXES. — PERJURY AND CHEATING COMMON. — $140,000,000 TO TWO BOYS.
24. 24.END OF VOL. I.
25. 25.FOOTNOTES:

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