CHAPTER LXVIII.

WALL STREET’S WILD SPECULATION, 1900-1904. MCKINLEY’S REËLECTION AND THE DEFEAT OF BRYANISM SET THE BIG BALL OF SPECULATION ROLLING ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE.—THE TREMENDOUS VOLUME OF SPECULATION BY BOTH LARGE AND SMALL CAPITALISTS.—THE RUSH TO INCORPORATE NEW COMPANIES AND CREATE INDUSTRIAL TRUSTS AND RAILWAY COMBINATIONS.—THE ENORMOUS CAPITALIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION AND OTHER COMPANIES IN EXCESS OF REAL VALUES.—THE RAPID GROWTH AND POPULARITY OF NEW AND OLD TRUST COMPANIE…