THE RETIREMENT OF JAY GOULD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1123, 19 July 1883, Page 3

THE RETIREMENT OF JAY GOULD.

Thefollowing remarks about Jay Gould the American millionaire, are taken from the London Economist: —‘ There will not be many men in this country found to regret the retirement from business of the greatest speculator in America, one who has done more than any other man ever did to discredit American railroad securities in the eyes of British investors. There is, however, always a temptation to such a man, who has so long been accustomed to the excitement of the gambler’s life, to return to his old haunts ; and the chances are that Gould will not be able to tear himself away for any length of time from the city where he has amassed, according to one high-flown estimate, a fortune of 20 millions sterling. Only a few months back a New York paper stated his fortune at 40 million dollars, or 8 millions sterling, and which is the more accurate estimate we need not stop to enquire, We cannot call to mind out all the railroads be has controlled, or doea control, a single instance in which British investors have ever made money; certainly they have not done so over the Wabash undertaking, a good deal of capital which was introduced here in 1881, and has since fallen heavily in the market. But what we must ever most associate the names of Pish, jun., and Gould with, is their scandalous mismanagement of the Erie Company some 10 years ago. The record of how the Erie share capital was ‘ watered,’ from 16 million dollars to 78 million dollars in a couple of years ; how a judge of New York State was kept in their pay to give decisions as they wanted them ; how an opera house was maintained in New York ; and finally, how Gould was only removed by General Sickles out-bidding him for the votes of his brother directors, hare not been forgotten, at any rate, in this country.