PREFACE.The following chapters were written in the autumn of. 1893, just after the close of the great Columbian Exposition. The panic of that year has passed into history, though at this writing the nation ha9 not yet smerged from that enervating depression which surely follows an industrial or-financial collapse.It was the intention of the author to rewrite this book; to bring it up to date; to eliminate all reference to certain events which then seemed strange and portentous, but which now aie accepted as a matter of course, and to insert in their places others of more recent date, which seem to have a significance to students of our commercial and industrial development. Not many years ago snch an event as the legislative theft of a great franchise was regarded wif.h public horror. A decade ago a national bond steal would have aroused vast indignation. But a nation,like an individual, can become accustomed to almost anything. In view of the complacency with winch the AmericaAbout the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the difficult to read text. Read books online for free at www.forgottenbooks.org