Richard White's Railroaded: The Transcontinentals and the Making of Modern America, is a wonderful book. In it he shows how the railroad barons were crooks and swindlers who suckled on the federal teat every bit as much as the deposed yet still wealthy CEOs of failed Wall Street and mortgage firms.
But at least the Huntingtons (well, Collis' nephew Henry, anyway) left us with the Huntington Library and Gardens, an institution that by itself makes a trip to Pasadena worthwhile. And Leland Stanford left us with, well, Stanford. Angelo? Dick? We're waiting.
But at least the Huntingtons (well, Collis' nephew Henry, anyway) left us with the Huntington Library and Gardens, an institution that by itself makes a trip to Pasadena worthwhile. And Leland Stanford left us with, well, Stanford. Angelo? Dick? We're waiting.
