merely given what I believe to be a sufficient resume of conditions
leading up to the later economic developments in the United States.

GUSTAVUS MYERS.
September 1, 1909.

CONTENTS

PAGE

PREFACE iii

PART I

CONDITIONS IN COLONIAL AND SETTLEMENT TIMES

CHAPTER

I. THE GREAT PROPRIETARY ESTATES 11

II. THE SWAY OF THE LANDGRAVES 23

III. THE RISE OF THE TRADING CLASS 45

IV. THE SHIPPING FORTUNES 57

V. THE SHIPPERS AND THEIR TIMES 65

VI. GIRARD--THE RICHEST OF THE SHIPPERS 83

PART II

THE GREAT LAND FORTUNES

I. THE ORIGIN OF HUGE CITY ESTATES 97

II. THE INCEPTION OF THE ASTOR FORTUNE 109

III. THE GROWTH OF THE ASTOR FORTUNE 126

IV. THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE ASTOR FORTUNE 155

V. THE MOMENTUM OF THE ASTOR FORTUNE 182

VI. THE PROPULSION OF THE ASTOR FORTUNE 202

VII. THE CLIMAX OF THE ASTOR FORTUNE 224

VIII. OTHER LAND FORTUNES CONSIDERED 242

IX. THE FIELD FORTUNE IN EXTENSO 262

X. FURTHER VISTAS OF THE FIELD FORTUNE 278

PART I

CONDITIONS IN SETTLEMENT AND COLONIAL TIMES

CHAPTER I

THE GREAT PROPRIETARY ESTATES

The noted private fortunes of settlement and colonial times were derived
from the ownership of land and the gains of trading. Usually both had a
combined influence and were frequently attended by agriculture.
Throughout the colonies were scattered lords of the soil who held vast
territorial domains over which they exercised an arbitrary and, in some
portions of the colonies, a feudal sway.

Nearly all the colonies were settled by chartered companies, organized
for purely commercial purposes and the success of which largely depended
upon the emigration which they were able to promote. These corporations
were vested with enormous powers and privileges which, in effect,
c