The Wasp — 1881 — page 250: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This March 1881 *Wasp* cartoon depicts two rotund figures labeled "S.P.R.R." (Southern Pacific Railroad) milking a cow in a barren landscape. The title "Sucking Her Dry" suggests the railroad is exploiting California's resources or economy unsustainably. The figures appear to represent railroad magnates or the company itself personified. The desolate background with broken structures suggests economic devastation or environmental damage. The cow likely represents California or its wealth being depleted. This satirizes the Southern Pacific Railroad's monopolistic practices and perceived exploitation during the Gilded Age, when railroads wielded enormous economic and political power in California. The cartoon criticizes how corporate interests were extracting resources and wealth while leaving communities impoverished.