If conditions are proved to be
unstable, capital will prove more than cautious in risking itself. That
is elementary. Surely you can see that point."
"I can see that, all right," admitted Bob.
"Well," went on Oldham, taking heart, "think of the responsibility you
are assuming in pushing forward a mere technicality, and a debatable
technicality at that. You are not only jeopardizing a great and
established business--I will say little of that--but you are risking the
prosperity of a whole countryside. If Mr. Baker's enterprises should
quit this section, the civilization of the state would receive a serious
setback. Thousands of men would be thrown out of employment, not only on
the company's works, but all along the lines of its holdings; electric
light and power would increase in price--a heavy burden to the consumer;
the country trolley lines must quit business, for only with
water-generated power can they compete with railroads at all; fertile
lands would revert to desert--"
"I am not denying the value of Mr. Baker's enterprises," broke in Bob;
"but what has a billion and a half of timber to do with all this?"
"Mr.
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