the titan-第32章

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〃I　read　something　of　it；〃　replied　McKenty；　surprised　and　a　little　questioning。　　He　took　a　cigar　and　prepared　to　listen。　　Cowperwood；　never　smoking；　drew　up　a　chair。

〃Well；　I'll　tell　you　what　that　means；〃　he　explained。　　〃It　means　that　eventually　every　mile　of　street…railway　track　in　this　cityto　say　nothing　of　all　the　additional　miles　that　will　be　built　before　this　change　takes　placewill　have　to　be　done　over　on　an　entirely　new　basis。　　I　mean　this　cable…conduit　system。　　These　old　companies　that　are　hobbling　along　now　with　an　old　equipment　will　have　to　make　the　change。　　They'll　have　to　spend　millions　and　millions　before　they　can　bring　their　equipment　up　to　date。　　If　you've　paid　any　attention　to　the　matter　you　must　have　seen　what　a　condition　these　North　and　West　Side　lines　are　in。〃

〃It's　pretty　bad；　I　know　that；〃　commented　McKenty。

〃Just　so；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　emphatically。　　〃Well；　now；　if　I　know　anything　about　these　old　managements　from　studying　them；　they're　going　to　have　a　hard　time　bringing　themselves　to　do　this。　Two　to　three　million　are　two　to　three　million；　and　it　isn't　going　to　be　an　easy　matter　for　them　to　raise　the　moneynot　as　easy；　perhaps；　as　it　would　be　for　some　of　the　rest　of　us；　supposing　we　wanted　to　go　into　the　street…railway　business。〃

〃Yes；　supposing；〃　replied　McKenty；　jovially。　　〃But　how　are　you　to　get　in　it？　There's　no　stock　for　sale　that　I　know　of。〃

〃Just　the　same；〃　said　Cowperwood；　〃we　can　if　we　want　to；　and　I'll　show　you　how。　　But　at　present　there's　just　one　thing　in　particular　I'd　like　you　to　do　for　me。　　I　want　to　know　if　there　is　any　way　that　we　can　get　control　of　either　of　those　two　old　tunnels　that　I　was　talking　to　you　about　a　little　while　ago。　　I'd　like　both　if　I　might。　　Do　you　suppose　that　is　possible？〃

〃Why；　yes；〃　replied　McKenty；　wondering；　〃but　what　have　they　got　to　do　with　it？　They're　not　worth　anything。　　Some　of　the　boys　were　talking　about　filling　them　in　some　time　agoblowing　them　up。　　The　police　think　crooks　hide　in　them。〃

〃Just　the　same；　don't　let　any　one　touch　themdon't　lease　them　or　anything；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　forcefully。　　〃I'll　tell　you　frankly　what　I　want　to　do。　　I　want　to　get　control；　just　as　soon　as　possible；　of　all　the　street…railway　lines　I　can　on　the　North　and　West　Sidesnew　or　old　franchises。　　Then　you'll　see　where　the　tunnels　come　in。〃

He　paused　to　see　whether　McKenty　caught　the　point　of　all　he　meant；　but　the　latter　failed。

〃You　don't　want　much；　do　you？〃　he　said；　cheerfully。　　〃But　I　don't　see　how　you　can　use　the　tunnels。　　However；　that's　no　reason　why　I　shouldn't　take　care　of　them　for　you；　if　you　think　that's　important。〃

〃It's　this　way；〃　said　Cowperwood；　thoughtfully。　　〃I'll　make　you　a　preferred　partner　in　all　the　ventures　that　I　control　if　you　do　as　I　suggest。　　The　street…railways；　as　they　stand　now；　will　have　to　be　taken　up　lock；　stock；　and　barrel；　and　thrown　into　the　scrap　heap　within　eight　or　nine　years　at　the　latest。　　You　see　what　the　South　Side　company　is　beginning　to　do　now。　　When　it　comes　to　the　West　and　North　Side　companies　they　won't　find　it　so　easy。　　They　aren't　earning　as　much　as　the　South　Side；　and　besides　they　have　those　bridges　to　cross。　　That　means　a　severe　inconvenience　to　a　cable　line。　　In　the　first　place；　the　bridges　will　have　to　be　rebuilt　to　stand　the　extra　weight　and　strain。　　Now　the　question　arises　at　onceat　whose　expense？　The　city's？〃

〃That　depends　on　who's　asking　for　it；〃　replied　Mr。　McKenty；　amiably。

〃Quite　so；〃　assented　Cowperwood。　　〃In　the　next　place；　this　river　traffic　is　becoming　impossible　from　the　point　of　view　of　a　decent　street…car　service。　　There　are　waits　now　of　from　eight　to　fifteen　minutes　while　these　tows　and　vessels　get　through。　　Chicago　has　five　hundred　thousand　populaion　to…day。　　How　much　will　it　have　in　1890？　In　1900？　How　will　it　be　when　it　has　eight　hundred　thousand　or　a　million？〃

〃You're　quite　right；〃　interpolated　McKenty。　　〃It　will　be　pretty　bad。〃

〃Exactly。　　But　what　is　worse；　the　cable　lines　will　carry　trailers；　or　single　cars；　from　feeder　lines。　　There　won't　be　single　cars　waiting　at　these　drawsthere　will　be　trains；crowded　trains。　　It　won't　be　advisable　to　delay　a　cable…train　from　eight　to　fifteen　minutes　while　boats　are　making　their　way　through　a　draw。　　The　public　won't　stand　for　that　very　long；　will　it；　do　you　think？〃

〃Not　without　making　a　row；　probably；〃　replied　McKenty。

〃Well；　that　means　what；　then？〃　asked　Cowperwood。　　〃Is　the　traffic　going　to　get　any　lighter？　Is　the　river　going　to　dry　up？〃

Mr。　McKenty　stared。　　Suddenly　his　face　lighted。　　〃Oh；　I　see；〃　he　said；　shrewdly。　　〃It's　those　tunnels　you're　thinking　about。　　Are　they　in　any　shape　to　be　used？〃

〃They　can　be　made　over　cheaper　than　new　ones　can　be　built。〃

〃True　for　you；〃　replied　McKenty；　〃and　if　they're　in　any　sort　of　repair　they'd　be　just　what　you'd　want。〃　He　was　emphatic；　almost　triumphant。　　〃They　belong　to　the　city。　　They　cost　pretty　near　a　million　apiece；　those　things。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　said　Cowperwood。　　〃Now；　do　you　see　what　I'm　driving　at？〃

〃Do　I　see！〃　smiled　McKenty。　　〃That's　a　real　idea　you　have；　Cowperwood。　I　take　off　my　hat　to　you。　　Say　what　you　want。〃

〃Well；　then；　in　the　first　place；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　genially；　〃it　is　agreed　that　the　city　won't　part　with　those　two　tunnels　under　any　circumstances　until　we　can　see　what　can　be　done　about　this　other　matter？〃

〃It　will　not。〃

〃In　the　next　place；　it　is　understood；　is　it；　that　you　won't　make　it　any　easier　than　you　can　possibly　help　for　the　North　and　West　Side　companies　to　get　ordinances　extending　their　lines；　or　anything　else；　from　now　on？　I　shall　want　to　introduce　some　franchises　for　feeders　and　outlying　lines　myself。〃

〃Bring　in　your　ordinances；〃　replied　McKenty；　〃and　I'll　do　whatever　you　say。　　I've　worked　with　you　before。　　I　know　that　you　keep　your　word。〃

〃Thanks；〃　said　Cowperwood；　warmly。　　〃I　know　the　value　of　keeping　it。　　In　the　mean　while　I'll　go　ahead　and　see　what　can　be　done　about　the　other　matter。　　I　don't　know　just　how　many　men　I　will　need　to　let　in　on　this；　or　just　what　form　the　organization　will　take。　　But　you　may　depend　upon　it　that　your　interests　will　be　properly　taken　care　of；　and　that　whatever　is　done　will　be　done　with　your　full　knowledge　and　consent。〃

〃All　very　good；〃　answered　McKenty；　thinking　of　the　new　field　of　activity　before　them。　　A　combination　between　himself　and　Cowperwood　in　a　matter　like　this　must　prove　very　beneficial　to　both。　　And　he　was　satisfied；　because　of　their　previous　relations；　that　his　own　interests　would　not　be　neglected。

〃Shall　we　go　and　see　if　we　can　find　the　ladies？〃　asked　Cowperwood；　jauntily；　laying　hold　of　the　politician's　arm。

〃To　be　sure；〃　assented　McKenty；　gaily。　　〃It's　a　fine　house　you　have　herebeautiful。　　And　your　wife　is　as　pretty　a　woman　as　I　ever　saw；　if　you'll　pardon　the　familiarity。〃

〃I　have　always　thought　she　was　rather　attractive　myself；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　innocently。




Chapter　XXII



Street…railways　at　Last

Among　the　directors　of　the　North　Chicago　City　company　there　was　one　man；　Edwin　L。　Kaffrath；　who　was　young　and　of　a　forward…looking　temperament。　　His　father；　a　former　heavy　stockholder　of　this　company；　had　recently　died　and　left　all　his　holdings　and　practically　his　directorship　to　his　only　son。　　Young　Kaffrath　was　by　no　means　a　practical　street…railway　man；　though　he　fancied　he　could　do　very　well　at　it　if　given　a　chance。　　He　was　the　holder　of　nearly　eight　hundred　of　the　five　thousand　shares　of　stock；　but　the　rest　of　it　was　so　divided　that　he　could　only　exercise　a　minor　influence。　　Nevertheless；　from　the　day　of　his　entrance　into　the　companywhich　was　months　before　Cowperwood　began　seriously　to　think　over　the　situationhe　had　been　strong　for　improvementsextensions；　more　franchises；　better　cars；　better　horses；　stoves　in　the　cars　in　winter；　and　the　like；　all　of　which　suggestions　sounded　to　his　fellow…directors　like　mere　manifestations　of　the　reckless　impetuosity　of　youth；　and　were　almost　uniformly　opposed。

〃What's　the　matter　with　them　cars？〃　asked　Albert　Thorsen；　one　of　the　elder　directors；　at　one　of　the　meetings　at　which　Kaffrath　was　present　and　offering　his　usual　protest。　　〃I　don't　see　anything　the　matter　with　'em。　　I　ride　in　em。〃

Thorsen　was　a　heavy；　dusty；　tobacco…bestrewn　individual　of　sixty…six；　who　was　a　little　dull　but　genial。　　He　was　in　the　paint　business；　and　always　wore　a　very　light　steel…gray　suit　much　crinkled　in　the　seat　and　arms。

〃Perhaps　that's　what's　the　matter　with　them；　Albert；〃　chirped　up　Solon　Kaempfaert；　one　of　his　cronies　on　the　board。

The　sally　drew　a　laugh。

〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　　I　see　the　rest　of　you　on　board　often　enough。〃

〃Why；　I　tell　you　what's　the　matter　with　them；〃　replied　Kaffrath。　　〃They're　dirty；　and　they're　flimsy；　and　the　windows　rattle　so　you　can't　hear　yourself　think。　　The　track　is　no　good；　and　the　filthy　straw　we　keep　in　them　in　winter　is　enough　to　make　a　person　sick。　　We　don't　keep　the　track　in　good　repair。　　I　don't　wonder　people　complain。　　I'd　complain　myself。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　think　things　are　as　bad　as　all　that；〃　put　in　Onias　C。　Skinner；　the　president；　who　had　a　face　which　with　its　very　short　side…whiskers　was　as　bland　as　a　Chinese　god。　　He　was　sixty…eight　years　of　age。　　〃They're　not　the　best　cars　in　the　world；　but　they're　good　cars。　　They　need　painting　and　varnishing　pretty　badly；　some　of　them；　but　outside　of　that　there's　many　a　good　year's　wear　in　them　yet。　　I'd　be　very　glad　if　we　could　put　in　new　rolling…stock；　but　the　item　of　expense　will　be　considerable。　　It's　these　extensions　that　we　have　to　keep　building　and　the　long　hauls　for　five　cents　which　eat　up　the　profits。〃　The　so…called　〃long　hauls〃　were　only　two　or　three　miles　at　the　outside；　but　they　seemed　long　to　Mr。　Skinner。

〃Well；　look　at　the　South　Side；〃　persisted　Kaffrath。　　〃I　don't　know　what　you　people　are　thinking　of。　　Here's　a　cable　system　introduced　in　Philadelphia。　　There's　another　in　San　Francisco。　　Some　one　has　invented　a　car；　as　I　understand　it；　that's　going　to　run　by　electricity；　and　here　we　are　running　carsbarns；　I　call　themwith　straw　in　them。　　Good　Lord；　I　should　think　it　was　about　time　that　some　of　us　took　a　tumble　to　ourselves！〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　commented　Mr。　Skinner。　　〃It　seems　to　me　we　have　done　pretty　well　by　the　North　Side。　　We　have　done　a　good　deal。〃

Directors　Solon　Kaempfaert；　Albert　Thorsen；　Isaac　White；　Anthony　Ewer；　Arnold　C。　Benjamin；　and　Otto　Matjes；　being　solemn　gentlemen　all；　merely　sat　and　stared。

The　vigorous　Kaffrath　was　not　to　be　so　easily　repressed；　however。　He　repeated　his　complaints　on　other　occasions。　　The　fact　that　there　was　also　considerable　complaint　in　the　newspapers　from　time　to　time　in　regard　to　this　same　North　Side　service　pleased　him　in　a　way。　　Perhaps　this　would　be　the　proverbial　fire　under　the　terrapin　which　would　cause　it　to　move　along。

By　this　time；　owing　to　Cowperwood's　understanding　with　McKenty；　all　possibility　of　the　North　Side　company's　securing　additional　franchises　for　unoccupied　streets；　or　even　the　use　of　the　La　Salle　Street　tunnel；　had　ended。　　Kaffrath　did　not　know　this。　　Neither　did　the　directors　or　officers　of　the　company；　but　it　was　true。　　In　addition；　McKenty；　through　the　aldermen；　who　were　at　his　beck　and　call　on　the　North　Side；　was　beginning　to　stir　up　additional　murmurs　and　complaints　in　order　to　d