Harriman vs. Hill: Wall Streets Great Railroad War

(Hardback)

---

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

In 1901, the Northern Pacific was an unlikely prize: a twice-bankrupt construction of the federal government, it was a two-bit railroad (literally--five years back, its stock traded for twenty-five cents a share). But it was also a key to connecting eastern markets through Chicago to the rising West. Two titans of American railroads setsights on it: James J. Hill, head of the Great Northern and largest individual shareholder of the Northern Pacific, and Edward Harriman, head of the Union Pacific and the Southern Pacific. The subsequent contest was unprecedented in the history of American enterprise, pitting not only Hill against Harriman but also Big Oil against Big Steel and J. P. Morgan against the Rockefellers, with a supporting cast of enough wealthy investors to fill the ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria.

Reviews

"
I first read about the Northern Pacific Corner when I was ten years old. When I opened my office on January 1, 1962, I put on the wall a framed copy of the New York Times of May 10, 1901, describing the fateful prior day. Larry Haeg now tells the full story, and I enjoyed every word of it.
" Warren Buffett

"This book is a page-turner. Even for the reader that knows what is about to happen, Larry Haeg is able to convey a sense of excitement about the events unfolding."H. Roger Grant, author of Railroads and the American People

"Harriman vs. Hill is a fascinating read. It treats an important episode in business and financial history, fleshes it out in more detail than any previous author has done, and covers the ground in an engaging style. Haegs approach is original and clever in the best sense of the word."Maury Klein, author of Union Pacific

Author Bio

Larry Haeg is former executive vice president of corporate communications for Wells Fargo & Company and a former broadcast journalist.