Source: St. Louis, MO

Year: 1896

Dawson Alias: Lawrence Rivers

Acquired by Taylor

 

Background:

 

 

The year was 1886, and St. Louis, Missouri was already a growing metropolis. The city was embracing that new power called electricity, and Lawrence, with his uncanny ability to sense opportunity, could see that this was the way to his next fortune. The city was about to embark on a new cable car system in the downtown area. Thanks to Anthony and his ability to be at just the right table at just the right time, Lawrence had been made aware of this new project, and had invested heavily in it. As the St. Louis Cable and Western cable car line began operations, Lawrence could see the fruits he had cultivated so carefully come to flower.

The cable car system ran along Franklin Avenue from Sixth and Locust Streets to Vandeventer Avenue. Lawrence enjoyed walking the route and watching the expanding system add dollars to his bank account. The system was initially installed in the more populated and on the more popular routes in the city. Accordingly, in 1886, a line was run out to the Fairgrounds. Lawrence smiled and watched with anticipation.

Growth is not just an increase in square miles and population for a city. Growth also brings about change. Lawrence recognized the increasing desire for better and faster transportation in the enlarging city. He watched the growth of the cable system, knowing that this system would soon be replaced by the faster electric trolley cars. He knew that the larger the cable car system, the larger the electric system that would replace it. Yes, run those cables, young man, he sang under his breath. He was going to be a much richer man.

As predicted, 1887 saw the cable cars give way to the electric trolleys. Lindell Railway Company, Union Depot Railway Company, and the Mound City Railway Company were the principal cable car companies at the time. Each had their own territory that covered most of the city: The Lindell Railway Company ran lines from downtown to the west end. The Union Depot Railway Company operated in south St. Louis. Finally, the Mound City line covered most of the north side. Each of these companies had quietly sold a large block of stock to that chef at the Royale Hotel. Neither company had a list of the other’s investors, and Anthony had not bought enough stock to threaten controlling interests in either business. But in 1899, most of the small transit firms consolidated into the St. Louis Transit Company. Suddenly, “that cook at the Royale Hotel” owned 33% of the stock. Anthony was now able to quit the Royale and open his own restaurant. He and his new friend had become very rich men.

Lawrence, however, was not through. A walk through the blustering streets of Saint Louis was enough to show him that the growth in the city would soon rival some of the larger eastern cities. Each week he noted new shops, new restaurants, new businesses, and new homes. The city had already outgrown its old boundaries and had extended well into the county. The city of New York had seen its growth move from horizontal to vertical, and Lawrence, seeing such growth potential in St. Louis, knew that the city was going to quickly run out of lateral space. Steel was the next growth market for the city.

So Lawrence instructed Anthony to throw a lavish and very private party for some of the most wealthy and influential men of the city and state. By this time, he and Anthony had a well-developed plan for gathering intelligence and making alliances. He would function as a waiter, with Anthony directing him to specific groups to listen to points of interest. Despite his success, no one really considered Anthony a businessman. Most of St. Louis’ business community felt that Anthony had simply gotten lucky with the trolley car deals. Indeed, his conversation, which centered on food and fashion, did little to convince anyone that he was a business brain. His obvious disinterest made it easy for the invitees to speak freely about pending deals and upcoming projects. None of them thought that Anthony was a threat.

As the day ebbed away to evening, Lawrence sat in his lavish quarters above the new restaurant and looked down Broadway, the center of the downtown district, and visualized the future of the city. In his mind, he could see the new “skyscrapers” growing up along Broadway and Sixth Street. He knew that these new monolithic structures would mark the growth of every major city in the new world, and there was money and power in supplying the materials needed to create these new buildings.

One of the men on his guest list tonight was Edgar Dale. Edgar was an “engineer”, the name given to the men involved in the new industrial and mechanical developments. Edgar and his associates were what many people called “the men of the future”. He understood the mechanics behind many of the new devices, including building construction, elevators, and electricity. Lawrence felt that men such as Edgar, though not world leaders, would be the backbone of the world’s economy. With their knowledge and inventions, engineers would set the pace for the world. Lawrence knew that controlling this new knowledge and these men was the way of the future. Anyone that seeking fortune would be foolish not to cultivate relationships with men of this ilk.

The dinner party was a glorious success.

Tonight the talk was about the design of the new Wainwright building. Louis Sullivan was more than happy to discuss his plans. He freely discussed the design, types of materials he planned to use, and when and where the building would be erected. Yes, he was quite proud, as this would be one of the first steel framed structures in the country. Excellent, thought Lawrence. Acquiring stock in several of the new steel companies was about to pay off. He quietly asked Anthony which of the wines to serve with desert. The question let Anthony know he had found out what he wanted to know from this group.

Over the next decade, Lawrence saw his wealth and anonymous influence quadruple in the city. St. Louis was undergoing a transformation, with a multitude of multistory buildings going up in the city. The Chemical building, a 16-story building that went up in 1896, was one of many erected during this period of growth and construction. Lawrence and Anthony now inhabited one of these buildings, riding the wave of prosperity that had enveloped the city.

With the coming of the new century, Lawrence was looking more toward electromechanical devices as his “new project”. He read constantly, and his knowledge of science and engineering rivaled any of the country’s best engineers. The more he studied, the more he wanted to learn, finding a new love for the potential and possibilities in science. Rumors were swirling about the city that St. Louis might well be the city to host the coming “World’s Fair”. Lawrence was excited at the prospect – and the new opportunities the Fair would bring.

Lawrence had marked the end of the Fair as his time to “move on”. Many people in the city felt he and Anthony were lovers, so there was no real problem with Anthony continuing to be his front man. The problem, as usual, was his age. Anthony’s aging was beginning to bring attention to the fact that “Lawrence” was not. Lawrence still looked as he had when he first “went to work” for Anthony, and his alterations to his appearance could not quell the increasing comments about their apparent age difference. Eventually, Lawrence shaved his head, noting that bald men were much harder to date. Indeed, his new appearance cooled the age comments for a while, but he knew that the time for departure was close at hand. He quickly sat about creating the foundation for a new identity and enterprise.