Атлант расправил плечи
The Aristocracy of pull
Speakingclearlyanddryly,ashealwaysspokeatanyconference,Danaggerhadexplainedthathalfofhisoriginalorderwouldbesufficienttobracesuchtunnelsaswouldcavein,ifhedelayedthebracingmuchlonger,andtoreconditiontheminesoftheConfederatedCoalCompany,gonebankrupt,whichhehadpurchasedthreeweeksago—
"It’sanexcellentproperty,butinrottencondition;theyhadanastyaccidenttherelastmonth,cave-inandgasexplosion,fortymenkilled."
Hehadadded,inthemonotoneofrecitingsomeimpersonal,statisticalreport,"Thenewspapersareyellingthatcoalisnowthemostcrucialcommodityinthecountry.Theyarealsoyellingthatthecoaloperatorsareprofiteeringontheoilshortage.OneganginWashingtonisyellingthatIamexpandingtoomuchandsomethingshouldbedonetostopme,becauseIambecomingamonopoly.AnotherganginWashingtonisyellingthatIamnotexpandingenoughandsomethingshouldbedonetoletthegovernmentseizemymines,becauseIamgreedyforprofitsandunwillingtosatisfythepublic’sneedoffuel.Atmypresentrateofprofit,thisConfederatedCoalpropertywillbringbackthemoneyIspentonit—inforty-sevenyears.Ihavenochildren.Iboughtit,becausethere’sonecustomerIdon’tdareleavewithoutcoal—andthat’sTaggartTranscontinental.Ikeepthinkingofwhatwouldhappeniftherailroadscollapsed."Hehadstopped,thenadded,"Idon’tknowwhyIstillcareaboutthat,butIdo.
