1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 313 Questions
Vanderbilt's study was as messy as the beard on his face, but he still took out a map from an inconspicuous corner with ease.

He glanced at the cluttered desk, and then swept his big hand across the desk, clearing away the clutter on the desk to make room for the map.

After carefully comparing the Pacific Railway route map provided by Liang Yao with his own private map, Vanderbilt put away his private map without blinking.

Compared with this well-drawn map, the map of the west that he bought at a high price is really not enough.

"Who provided this map? This map is drawn very professionally, almost with military-grade specifications." Vanderbilt asked very seriously.

Drawing a map is not something that can be done in a short period of time. Liang Yao was in Japan last year, so it is naturally impossible for this map to come from Liang Yao.

"Fremont." Liang Yao replied.

"It turned out that this guy drew the map, so this map can be said to be invaluable." Vanderbilt did not hesitate to praise, "The idea of ​​​​the Pacific Railway that traverses the North American continent is very bold."

Fremont is recognized as an outstanding explorer. He served in the army in his early years, and his service was still in the engineering army, so Fremont's cartography skills are very solid.

After the United States annexed California, some people of insight have proposed the idea of ​​building a railway from New York to San Francisco.

To be precise, it is to build a railway from a city on the Atlantic coast to a city on the Pacific coast.

Only in this way can the eastern and western regions of the United States be closely connected, which will not only promote the development of the western region, but also help maintain the unity of the United States, which can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

Of course, this bold idea is ultimately just an idea.

At that time, the entire California, or the entire West Coast, had a population of just over [-] non-Indian settlers, many of whom were Mexicans, and the economy was also very backward.

At that time, there were only some limited agriculture and animal husbandry in the west coast area. As for industry, there were only some blacksmith shops and small handicraft workshops that could barely touch the industry.

In addition to the sparse population, backward economy, and no demand for railways, the limited survey of the western region in the United States at that time was also the reason why this bold idea could only stay at the level of imagination in the end.

Now the West Coast has undergone great changes. The number of settled American citizens exceeds half a million, and this number is still growing at a very rapid rate.

With a population of more than [-], it is no longer considered a small state among the states in the United States. This population has surpassed many southern states. Take Texas, which joined the big family of the United States a little earlier than California, as an example.

The current non-Indian resident population in Texas is only [-], less than one-fifth of California's.

Even compared with the more densely populated free states, the population of California is a little lower than the middle level.

Where there is a population, there is a demand. The current situation in California does require the construction of a railway line across the North American continent.

"Bold projects are only dared to be undertaken by bold people." Liang Yao said, "This line is a line that the Fremont team spent two years exploring. My idea is that with Promontory as the boundary, the California Railway The company will build the western route, and your railroad company and Atlantic Railroad will build the eastern route."

There are only a few adventurous entrepreneurs in the United States who dare to take on such a challenging project.

Vanderbilt is one of them. There are not many people in the United States who dare to drive ships to open new routes like him.

For people like Vanderbilt, this big project is both a challenge and a temptation.

If the railway can be successfully built, it will not only bring him real economic benefits, but also his status as a giant in the American railway industry will be unshakable.

The Pacific Railway itself is a business card that best represents his strength.

"When you met Mr. President, did you submit this report to him?" Vanderbilt began to think about the feasibility of this project. "There is still funding, which is also a big problem."

In addition to the construction difficulty of the project itself, the biggest difficulty lies in obtaining the support of the federal government and raising enough start-up funds.

Not only Liang Yao couldn't afford enough funds for such a huge project, but Vanderbilt couldn't afford it either.

"Mr. President is very interested in this project. This project can directly or indirectly bring at least [-] to [-] jobs to the states along the route. It's just that Mr. President's term is running out. If Mr. President can be re-elected, It can save us a lot of unnecessary trouble," Liang Yao said.

"As for the funding issue, it can be raised on Wall Street just like when the Erie Canal was built."

Liang Yao has also considered these two issues, but compared to the financial issue, Liang Yao is more worried about whether Fillmore can be re-elected.

The Pacific Railway project, as long as the president with a slightly normal mind will support it. After all, this railway can bring not only economic benefits to the federal government, but also political benefits to the federal government. The eastern core area is connected as a whole, making the United States a true power across two oceans.

But the problem is that Pierce happens to be a president with a not-so-normal mind in the history of the United States.

As a president who mainly relied on northern votes to come to power, Pierce was able to openly express his sympathy and support for the miraculous move of the slave owners in the South. This kind of operation that fueled the flames eventually led to the outbreak of the Kansas Civil War.

In August 1854, Britain and France were locked in the Crimean War and Spain faced an economic crisis.The United States had a chance to seize the long-coveted Cuba in one fell swoop.Let Cuba also be a star on the Stars and Stripes.

At that time, Pierce also said that if Spain did not agree to the United States' request to buy Cuba in good faith, the United States would seize Cuba by force.

But in the end, because of the local civil war that broke out in Kansas, he had no time to take care of the Cuban issue and had to give up.

During his tenure, Pierce used the presidential veto power nine times to negate some congressional legislation, but five of them were re-vetoed by Congress, becoming the first president in American history whose veto failures outweighed his successes.

In view of Pierce's poor performance in the presidency, after the end of his term, his Democratic Party was so disappointed in the president of his own party that he was directly removed from the list of candidates for the next president. .

In contrast, Fillmore's mind is much more normal than Pierce's. Although Fillmore cannot fundamentally solve the North-South issue, he can at least make peace and delay time. He is a normal politician.

"His Excellency Fillmore has given great support to the railway industry during his term of office. People in the New York railway industry also hope that His Excellency Fillmore can be re-elected. Regarding the election, the New York Railroad Industry Association will do its best to do everything possible. Support Lord Fillmore."

Although Vanderbilt's personality is straightforward, he is also a smart person. He knows that Liang Yao hopes that he can use his influence in New York to support Fillmore's re-election.

(End of this chapter)