1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 314
As the most populous and most powerful traditional state in the United States, it is the undisputed number one voter in the United States at this time, with 35 electoral votes.Winning the votes of New York State is equivalent to winning five or six southern states.

New York state is bound to become the focus of the two presidential candidates.

Vanderbilt is an entrepreneur. If he had to choose between Fillmore and Pierce to be president, he himself would prefer Fillmore.

Although Fillmore ruled with an attitude of non-criminalism between the North and the South, and had no obvious intention to favor the North, Fillmore did not favor the South either. This is obvious to all.

It was indeed in Vanderbilt's interest to choose Fillmore than Pierce, who was sympathetic to Southern slaveholders.

Supporting Fillmore's re-election is not only Liang Yao's business, but also his Vanderbilt business.

Nor did he wish to become president as a sympathizer of Southern slaveholders.

As for the financing of the huge project of the Pacific Railway, if the initial start-up funds can be raised on Wall Street, and then some assistance can be requested from the federal government, the project can start.

The construction of the Erie Canal in 1817 is essentially the same as the westward movement advocated by the federal government today. They both use the means of opening up to the west to alleviate the contradiction between the large number of people in the east and the lack of land.

It's just that the place where the westward movement was located was the Great Lakes region not far from the eastern coastal areas, but today the westward movement will open up the vast central Great Plains and the distant west coast.These places are the true west of America today.

Although the contradiction between more people and less land in the United States is a bit Versailles compared with the contradiction between people and land in the Qing Dynasty.If it were placed in the Qing Dynasty, a palm-sized place like New York State would be able to hold the entire population of the United States.

However, it is an indisputable fact that the per capita land in the thirteen eastern states, especially the northern states, has been decreasing with the increase of population.

When it comes to the United States before and after the Civil War in the mid-19th century, many people always have the stereotype that the southern part of the United States has developed agriculture and the north has developed industry.

In fact, it is true that the industry in the South was backward and there were not many factories.When the Civil War broke out, 81% of the factories in the United States were in the North, and they had a complete range of categories. 19% of the factories in the South were basically textile mills and cotton gins built around the cotton textile industry.

But the situation in the north is not the same. 67% of the farms in the United States are in the north, and the farmers in the south account for only 33% of the whole United States.In other words, even in terms of agriculture, the north has a huge advantage over the south.

An old state like New York State needs to develop both agriculture and industry. Both agricultural land and industrial land must be taken into account. It is inevitable that land resources will become more and more tense.

This is also the driving force behind the westward expansion of the United States. The earliest main force to join the westward expansion movement was not factory owners and businessmen, but farmers and farmers who had an urgent need for land.

"If you are willing to join in this big project, I think I can start building up momentum in the newspaper tomorrow to prepare for raising funds on Wall Street." Liang Yao said with a very firm attitude.

"Of course, if you don't want to take risks, I will also start this project, even if I am the only railway company in the United States who is willing to undertake this project."

"Adventure is the joy of life, and this is a good opportunity to be recorded in the annals of American industry." Vanderbilt walked to the window with his hands in his pockets.

Outside the window is the Hudson River he is familiar with, the Hudson River flowing quietly in the sunset, he looked at the boats coming and going on the Hudson River and said: "When I first started my business, there was only one boat. The routes on the New York waters are all monopolized by the Livingston family, so I have to worry about driving my dilapidated boat and being chased by the New York police to snatch passengers and transport.”

"Take food from the mouth of a tiger." Liang Yao commented.

"But my ship is full of passengers every time. Many passengers know that they will be chased by the police, but they still like to take my ship. Do you know why?" Vanderbilt asked.

"Exciting?" Liang Yao thought for a while and said.

"Yes, exciting, the whole of New York, they only have this experience on my boat, and I also like the exciting feeling." Vanderbilt said, "Big projects with hundreds of millions of dollars, it's exciting to think about it, I It’s been a long time since I’ve experienced a thrill.”

Now in the American railroad industry, apart from Liang Yao's California Railroad and Atlantic Railroad, the only one that can compete with Vanderbilt is the Erie Railroad.

In the railroad industry, Vanderbilt is really hard to find the excitement when he first entered the shipping industry.

"Then I will take it as your consent." Liang Yao said.

"Going west is the national policy of the United States. The future of the United States lies in the west. I am very interested in the Pacific Railway. But whether this national policy can be well implemented in the next four years depends on the results of this general election. When the general election is over Let's make a decision later, don't be in a hurry." Vanderbilt turned his head and said.

"I will also find an opportunity to contact His Excellency Pierce and find out what he has to say."

After the conversation, Liang Yao had dinner with the Vanderbilt family.

After dinner, Fan Daze couldn't wait to find Liang Yao.

"The department store building on 42nd Street in the West Side of Manhattan has been completed and is currently being renovated. Shouldn't you take some time to take a look there too?" Fan Daze said, "According to your original request, this commercial building is seven stories high. It’s even higher than Stewart’s marble palace! I have to say that the aesthetics of designers in London is much better than the old hats in New York.”

"That's the designer of the Crystal Palace, and the surrounding supporting facilities have also been built?" Liang Yao asked.

The department store on 42nd Street in the West Side of Manhattan was designed by Paxton, the designer of the Crystal Palace, who paid a lot of money. Paxton’s design for the venue of the first World Expo was able to stand out among 246 architectural design proposals. His aesthetics must have its own advantages. Excellence.

However, the reason why Liang Yao hired Paxton as the designer of the mall was not because of his superior aesthetics.

Instead, the construction period required by the use of cast iron prefabricated components and glass buildings is much shorter than that of traditional buildings.

One of the main reasons why Paxton’s proposal for the Crystal Palace was adopted was that the cast iron prefabricated components and glass building not only met the demanding requirements for completion within one year (in fact, the Crystal Palace took less than six months from the start of construction to its completion. ), and the cost is lower than traditional masonry buildings.

The huge building of 74000 square meters was built in less than six months, which is unimaginable in the agricultural society, and this is the efficiency only available in the industrial age.

Not long after the London World Expo held in 1851, many people are still immersed in the shock brought to them by the Crystal Palace.

This gimmick can also be used, and free advertising is not for nothing.

"Not yet, the main building has been completed." Van Daze said, "The lot at the junction of 42nd Street and Broadway in the West Side of Manhattan is very expensive. There are not many commercial buildings in such a place, and a piece of land must be vacated to build a park. , you are the only one in America who dares to sit like this."

"It's not a park, it's an entertainment and leisure center. Since it's a palace, consumers should have the experience of an emperor, not just a name." Liang Yao shook his head and said.

He wasn't the guy who built New York's first mall and has lost his head start.

The marble palace built next to the New York City Hall by Stewart in 1848 has become the new favorite of American consumers and even the city card of New York.

If he wants to seize the consumer market that Stewart, a retail giant, has already occupied under the circumstances of a bad start, he must strive for excellence in details.

The shopping mall is a long-term business. As long as it is properly managed and recognized by half a million New Yorkers, the shopping mall will be his money printing factory in the future.

(End of this chapter)