Q. Did General Dodge and Mr. Humphreys look into the past history of the road? A. I consider the future of a road more important than its past.
Q. Yes, but what I want— A. The past was no criterion as to the Union Pacific road.
Q. But don’t you think that General Dodge and Mr. Humphreys—? A. “All my life,” said Mr. Gould, warming up; “all my life I have been dealing in railroads—that is, since I have been of age, and I have always considered their future and not their past.”
“That is the way I have made my money,” said he. “The very first railroad I ever bought had a most deplorable past, but its future was fair. I paid ten cents on the dollar for its bonds, and finally sold the stock for $1.25. It was the future of the Union Pacific that drew me into it. I went into it to make money.”
“You were not in favor of the consolidation at the time it was made?”
“No, my interests had changed.”
“Did you try to stop it?”
“Well,” said Mr. Gould, slowly, “my opposition to it was known and they were greatly alarmed.”
“Who?”
“Ames, Dexter, Atkins and Dillon. They came on from Boston to see me about it. They had heard that I was going to build an extension to the Denver Pacific and connect the Missouri Pacific. They said I was committed to the consolidation and laid right down on me. I offered my check for $1,000,000 to let me out, and I have offered it since.