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Bolton, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1841-1901

"The Harris-Ingram Experiment"

The City recognizes the Christian faith, generosity, and public
spirit that have prompted him to supply the long felt wants by these
gifts of great and permanent usefulness."
Similar resolutions were adopted by the county commissioners.
Nearly three millions were thus disposed of by the mayor and his wife.
Close attention to business, and the severe labors in behalf of the city,
undermined the health of George Ingram, and his physical and mental
strength failed him at the wrong time, for his ship was now approaching
a cyclone on the financial sea.
Tariff matters had been drifting from bad to worse, politicians were
seeking to secure advantages for their constituents by changes in the
tariff schedule, speculation was running wild in the stock exchanges of
the country, cautious business men and bankers in the larger cities
discovered an ominous black cloud rising out of the horizon. Bank rates
of interest increased, more frequent renewals were made, deposits
dwindled, country bankers weakened, and financiers in the metropolis
were calling loans made to the interior. With the financial cyclone at
its height, the demands were so great upon The Harris-Ingram Steel Co.
that creditors threatened to close the steel plant.


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