Атлант расправил плечи
The Top and the Bottom
WhenFranciscod‘AnconiasuddenlyboughtmilesofbaremountainsinMexico,newsleakedoutthathehaddiscoveredvastdepositsofcopper.Hemadenoefforttosellstockinhisventure;thestockwasbeggedoutofhishands,andhemerelychosethosewhomhewishedtofavorfromamongtheapplicants.Hisfinancialtalentwascalledphenomenal;noonehadeverbeatenhiminanytransaction—headdedtohisincrediblefortunewitheverydealhetouchedandeverystephemade,whenhetookthetroubletomakeit.Thosewhocensuredhimmostwerefirsttoseizethechanceofridingonhistalent,towardashareofhisnewwealth.JamesTaggart,OrrenBoyleandtheirfriendswereamongtheheavieststockholdersoftheprojectwhichFranciscod’AnconiahadnamedtheSanSebastiánMines.
DagnywasneverabletodiscoverwhatinfluencespromptedJamesTaggarttobuildarailroadbranchfromTexasintothewildernessofSanSebastián.Itseemedlikelythathedidnotknowithimself:likeafieldwithoutawindbreak,heseemedopentoanycurrent,andthefinalsumwasmadebychance.AfewamongtheDirectorsofTaggartTranscontinentalobjectedtotheproject.ThecompanyneededallitsresourcestorebuildtheRioNorteLine;itcouldnotdoboth.ButJamesTaggartwastheroad’snewpresident.Itwasthefirstyearofhisadministration.Hewon.
