Life — January 24, 1907 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine, January 24, 1907: Edward Harriman This page examines railroad magnate **E.H. Harriman**, who controlled approximately one-third of American railroad mileage worth roughly $4 billion—extraordinary power for a single individual in the early 1900s. The article presents Harriman as a complex figure: a brilliant financial strategist who accumulated vast wealth and influence, yet also someone criticized for "abrupt" and "profane" language. The text defends him somewhat, crediting his intelligence and domestic virtue while acknowledging public concern about his concentrated power. The decorative line illustrations appear to be generic period embellishments rather than specific satirical caricatures. The overall tone is analytical rather than purely mocking—examining whether such concentrated railroad authority benefited or threatened the American public.