Changes

John Galt's camouflage solution was a screen of heat rays and reflectors designed to project a false image of a rock-strewn valley five miles distant, plus a smaller version designed to hide the northern road. Galt also built a powerhouse to provide electric power for these screens, and for Midas' house and any other house that a man might care to build in the valley. He also built a water pump and reservoir system. John Galt took great pains to keep his electrostatic motor secret: even though he never expected that anyone would ever set foot in the valley who was not a part of his strike (an expectation that would prove moot later on), he kept his invention, and the power installation, locked down. He erected a blockhouse of [[granite]], about half the size of a railroad freight car, and installed a special [[sound]] [[lock]] in the one and only door. This door would open only when someone repeated, slowly and with an inflection that would indicate understanding and wholehearted belief, the Oath of the Strike that John Galt had written. He carved this oath on the transom over the front door. It read thus:{{cquote|I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.}}

John Galt's camouflage solution was a screen of heat rays and reflectors designed to project a false image of a rock-strewn valley five miles distant, plus a smaller version designed to hide the northern road. Galt also built a powerhouse to provide electric power for these screens, and for Midas' house and any other house that a man might care to build in the valley. He also built a water pump and reservoir system. John Galt took great pains to keep his electrostatic motor secret: even though he never expected that anyone would ever set foot in the valley who was not a part of his strike (an expectation that would prove moot later on), he kept his invention, and the power installation, locked down. He erected a blockhouse of [[granite]], about half the size of a railroad freight car, and installed a special [[sound]] [[lock]] in the one and only door. This door would open only when someone repeated, slowly and with an inflection that would indicate understanding and wholehearted belief, the Oath of the Strike that John Galt had written. He carved this oath on the transom over the front door. It read thus:{{cquote|I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.}}

In fact, in June of 2011, John Galt, [[Francisco d'Anconia]], [[Ragnar Danneskjöld]], [[Hugh Akston]], [[William Hastings]], and [[Richard Halley]] all built houses in the valley. They intended using those houses in annual visits every June. (William Hastings would use his house one more time, in 2012. He died shortly after he returned to his home on the outside.)

In fact, in June 2011, John Galt, [[Francisco d'Anconia]], [[Ragnar Danneskjöld]], [[Hugh Akston]], [[William Hastings]], and [[Richard Halley]] all built houses in the valley. They intended using those houses in annual visits every June. (William Hastings would use his house one more time, in 2012. He died shortly after he returned to his home on the outside.)

Francisco d'Anconia took care of the Million Dollar Highway. He had long sought to learn who had secretly bought the Uncompaghre River Valley and its Red Mountain Pass, under what he, Francisco, knew were assumed names. When John Galt told him that he not only knew who owned the valley, ''but had recruited him into the strike,'' Francisco almost quivered with excitement. He readily agreed to act as Galt's subcontractor for the project to seal the Red Mountain Pass, tear up the Million Dollar Highway, and restore the region to the "wilderness condition" that prevailed in Chief Ouray's day. (If anyone would have appreciated the delicious irony of giving hard-core environmentalists exactly what they ''said'' they wanted, it would be Francisco d'Anconia.) Francisco took a strictly nominal fee for this work, because he ''really'' wanted a leasehold in the Red Mountain Pass. Mulligan sold him this, and Francisco prospected for [[copper]] in the pass. He found it easily and drove the first excavation in 2011.

Francisco d'Anconia took care of the Million Dollar Highway. He had long sought to learn who had secretly bought the Uncompaghre River Valley and its Red Mountain Pass, under what he, Francisco, knew were assumed names. When John Galt told him that he not only knew who owned the valley, ''but had recruited him into the strike,'' Francisco almost quivered with excitement. He readily agreed to act as Galt's subcontractor for the project to seal the Red Mountain Pass, tear up the Million Dollar Highway, and restore the region to the "wilderness condition" that prevailed in Chief Ouray's day. (If anyone would have appreciated the delicious irony of giving hard-core environmentalists exactly what they ''said'' they wanted, it would be Francisco d'Anconia.) Francisco took a strictly nominal fee for this work, because he ''really'' wanted a leasehold in the Red Mountain Pass. Mulligan sold him this, and Francisco prospected for [[copper]] in the pass. He found it easily and drove the first excavation in 2011.

When John Galt informed Midas Mulligan that Judge Narragansett had joined the strike, Mulligan offered the judge a permanent leasehold so that he could build a house and stay permanently. The judge obliged, and also started a chicken and dairy farm, using a loan from Midas. Shortly thereafter, Mulligan and Narragansett offered the same invitation to Richard Halley. Why Mulligan did this, the novel also never explains. However, Mulligan did have a selective art collection, and probably reasoned that the best way that he could enjoy the best music that anyone could write at the time was to become a [[music]] patron. Halley was having none of that, however: he planted fruit trees on his land, so that he could make a living selling the fruit to Midas and the Judge. Mulligan, for his part, grew [[wheat]] and [[tobacco]] and co-founded, with Hugh Akston, a company to make a special blend of cigarettes.

When John Galt informed Midas Mulligan that Judge Narragansett had joined the strike, Mulligan offered the judge a permanent leasehold so that he could build a house and stay permanently. The judge obliged, and also started a chicken and dairy farm, using a loan from Midas. Shortly thereafter, Mulligan and Narragansett offered the same invitation to Richard Halley. Why Mulligan did this, the novel also never explains. However, Mulligan did have a selective art collection, and probably reasoned that the best way that he could enjoy the best music that anyone could write at the time was to become a [[music]] patron. Halley was having none of that, however: he planted fruit trees on his land, so that he could make a living selling the fruit to Midas and the Judge. Mulligan, for his part, grew [[wheat]] and [[tobacco]] and co-founded, with Hugh Akston, a company to make a special blend of cigarettes.

For a long time, no one but Mulligan, Narragansett, and Halley lived in the valley full-time. In June, other strikers would come to stay for one month out of the year. In September of 2016, Richard McNamara came to the valley, built his own house, and, with another contract from Midas, rerouted the electrical wires and water mains and even set up the telephone exchange. He did not stay permanently; Midas could give him a contract for a one-shot redo of the utilities, but no one could support sufficient regular fees. But when Dwight Sanders, a noted aircraft designer, came to the valley, he set up a hog farm and build the valley's first functioning airstrip. Those activities gave him enough income to stay permanently.

For a long time, no one but Mulligan, Narragansett, and Halley lived in the valley full-time. In June, other strikers would come to stay for one month out of the year. In September 2016, Richard McNamara came to the valley, built his own house, and, with another contract from Midas, rerouted the electrical wires and water mains and even set up the telephone exchange. He did not stay permanently; Midas could give him a contract for a one-shot redo of the utilities, but no one could support sufficient regular fees. But when Dwight Sanders, a noted aircraft designer, came to the valley, he set up a hog farm and build the valley's first functioning airstrip. Those activities gave him enough income to stay permanently.

As a result of these activities, the valley not only had resources available for anyone having the knowledge to exploit them, but also capital available to lend to support this activity.

As a result of these activities, the valley not only had resources available for anyone having the knowledge to exploit them, but also capital available to lend to support this activity.

As [[Dagny Taggart]] began her efforts to renovate the Rio Norte Line of the [[Taggart Transcontinental Railroad]] (and eventually take over the line temporarily as the John Galt Line), John Galt recruited several more men into his strike. Some of these were businessmen and inventors of the sort that could exploit the resources of the valley and thus enable the valley to support more of the strikers with full-time gainful employment. Richard McNamara and Dwight Sanders were only two of the recruits during that period.

As [[Dagny Taggart]] began her efforts to renovate the Rio Norte Line of the [[Taggart Transcontinental Railroad]] (and eventually take over the line temporarily as the John Galt Line), John Galt recruited several more men into his strike. Some of these were businessmen and inventors of the sort that could exploit the resources of the valley and thus enable the valley to support more of the strikers with full-time gainful employment. Richard McNamara and Dwight Sanders were only two of the recruits during that period.

The transformational event, the event that finally changed the valley from a simple place of refuge for Mulligan, Narragansett, and Halley—and a holiday resort for Galt and the other strikers—to a thriving community with many more full-time residents, was the disastrous decision by the [[United States]] government, in November of 2017, to promulgate a series of new laws and "directives" that effectively destroyed the boom that had begun in [[Colorado]] after the John Galt Line had opened. Capping the indignity was a direct [[tax]], which would have been flatly unconstitutional but for the runaway [[Constitution]]al convention of 2000, specifically on Colorado's businesses. John Galt was on the scene, of course, and recruited several Colorado businessmen to join his strike, and to come to the valley where they could build new lives for themselves right away. The most spectacular defection was that of [[Ellis Wyatt]], who had devised a method for extracting [[oil]] from [[shale]]. Wyatt set fire to his entire shale field and left a sign on his property explaining his actions:{{cquote|I am leaving it as I found it. Take over. It's yours.}}

The transformational event, the event that finally changed the valley from a simple place of refuge for Mulligan, Narragansett, and Halley—and a holiday resort for Galt and the other strikers—to a thriving community with many more full-time residents, was the disastrous decision by the [[United States]] government, in November 2017, to promulgate a series of new laws and "directives" that effectively destroyed the boom that had begun in [[Colorado]] after the John Galt Line had opened. Capping the indignity was a direct [[tax]], which would have been flatly unconstitutional but for the runaway [[Constitution]]al convention of 2000, specifically on Colorado's businesses. John Galt was on the scene, of course, and recruited several Colorado businessmen to join his strike, and to come to the valley where they could build new lives for themselves right away. The most spectacular defection was that of [[Ellis Wyatt]], who had devised a method for extracting [[oil]] from [[shale]]. Wyatt set fire to his entire shale field and left a sign on his property explaining his actions:{{cquote|I am leaving it as I found it. Take over. It's yours.}}

Ellis Wyatt and the others, quite simply, had to hide. So for them, living on unskilled-laborer's wages outside the valley was out of the question. Wyatt took the lead by converting whatever part of his wealth that he could keep safe into gold or machines, and bringing it to the valley. With abundant start-up capital and natural resources ready for the taking, Wyatt and the others started to exploit the valley in earnest. In so doing, they created permanent jobs for most of the strikers. McNamara had to hire three assistants to service a tremendously accelerated demand for utility services.

Ellis Wyatt and the others, quite simply, had to hide. So for them, living on unskilled-laborer's wages outside the valley was out of the question. Wyatt took the lead by converting whatever part of his wealth that he could keep safe into gold or machines, and bringing it to the valley. With abundant start-up capital and natural resources ready for the taking, Wyatt and the others started to exploit the valley in earnest. In so doing, they created permanent jobs for most of the strikers. McNamara had to hire three assistants to service a tremendously accelerated demand for utility services.

The community now known as Galt's Gulch began to thrive. More and more strikers left off their outside lives and went to work for the most recent defectors. Thus in the period from November 2017 through May of 2019, the valley gained an oil field, a foundry, and an [[automobile]] factory, all its own. By then the valley was almost self-supporting; Mulligan maintained a channel to the outside to acquire the few goods that the valley residents could not produce for themselves. Whether the government could ever have compromised that channel would never be known, because the outside society collapsed before anyone in the government ever knew or suspected that Galt's Gulch existed.

The community now known as Galt's Gulch began to thrive. More and more strikers left off their outside lives and went to work for the most recent defectors. Thus in the period from November 2017 through May 2019, the valley gained an oil field, a foundry, and an [[automobile]] factory, all its own. By then the valley was almost self-supporting; Mulligan maintained a channel to the outside to acquire the few goods that the valley residents could not produce for themselves. Whether the government could ever have compromised that channel would never be known, because the outside society collapsed before anyone in the government ever knew or suspected that Galt's Gulch existed.

== Naming ==

== Naming ==

John Galt made no specific plan. He and his fellow members of the Committee of Safety let each adult make his own decisions. Neither Galt nor either of his two friends would have predicted, on the night they first met in a garrett walk-up in [[New York City]], that a mere twelve years would suffice to collapse the society of the [[United States of America]]. They were ready to "pass on [their] secret to the next generation."

John Galt made no specific plan. He and his fellow members of the Committee of Safety let each adult make his own decisions. Neither Galt nor either of his two friends would have predicted, on the night they first met in a garrett walk-up in [[New York City]], that a mere twelve years would suffice to collapse the society of the [[United States of America]]. They were ready to "pass on [their] secret to the next generation."

That would become unnecessary. In April of 2020, Galt declared the strike settled. Then the strikers went out to build a new American economy, one that would operate by the basic principles by which they lived in Galt's Gulch.

That would become unnecessary. In April 2020, Galt declared the strike settled. Then the strikers went out to build a new American economy, one that would operate by the basic principles by which they lived in Galt's Gulch.

== Immigration ==

== Immigration ==

# The immigrant must under no circumstances reveal the valley's location or even its existence to the outside.

# The immigrant must under no circumstances reveal the valley's location or even its existence to the outside.

The Gulch did not recognize "collective commitments." That meant that even a husband would not be allowed to bring his wife in, unless she took the Striker's Oath herself. This is why William Hastings' wife never entered the Gulch, nor knew what or where it was or even that it existed, when Dagny Taggart visited her in early November of 2017.

The Gulch did not recognize "collective commitments." That meant that even a husband would not be allowed to bring his wife in, unless she took the Striker's Oath herself. This is why William Hastings' wife never entered the Gulch, nor knew what or where it was or even that it existed, when Dagny Taggart visited her in early November 2017.

The most famous marriage among the strikers was the marriage of [[motion picture]] actress Kay Ludlow to Ragnar Danneskjöld, in 2015. Even after that happened, Kay Ludlow Danneskjöld returned to her secluded house on the outside—until November of 2017, when the Colorado debacle exploded the resident population of the Gulch. Kay Ludlow came back when she knew she had a business opportunity. So he moved into her husband's house, and also opened a restaurant in the center of the town.

The most famous marriage among the strikers was the marriage of [[motion picture]] actress Kay Ludlow to Ragnar Danneskjöld, in 2015. Even after that happened, Kay Ludlow Danneskjöld returned to her secluded house on the outside—until November 2017, when the Colorado debacle exploded the resident population of the Gulch. Kay Ludlow came back when she knew she had a business opportunity. So he moved into her husband's house, and also opened a restaurant in the center of the town.

The only person, other than a permanent immigrant, to visit the valley was [[Dagny Taggart]]. Though she declined to stay, she agreed to keep the existence and location secret. [[Henry Rearden]] guessed the secret of the existence, not of the valley ''per se'' but of a place where the talented men who had quit and vanished had repaired to. But he would not learn the location of the valley until [[Francisco d'Anconia]] recruited him in November of 2019.

The only person, other than a permanent immigrant, to visit the valley was [[Dagny Taggart]]. Though she declined to stay, she agreed to keep the existence and location secret. [[Henry Rearden]] guessed the secret of the existence, not of the valley ''per se'' but of a place where the talented men who had quit and vanished had repaired to. But he would not learn the location of the valley until [[Francisco d'Anconia]] recruited him in November 2019.

== Defense ==

== Defense ==

== Retransformation ==

== Retransformation ==

In September of 2019, [[Francisco d'Anconia]] completed his destruction of his old family firm, on the very day that the People's State of [[Chile]] attempted to [[nationalization|nationalize]] it. But he did not come to the valley permanently. Instead he applied for a job at Rearden Steel as a furnace foreman. Henry Rearden was his personal recruitment project, and had been ever since Rearden had announced his invention of the Metal that bore his name.

In September 2019, [[Francisco d'Anconia]] completed his destruction of his old family firm, on the very day that the People's State of [[Chile]] attempted to [[nationalization|nationalize]] it. But he did not come to the valley permanently. Instead he applied for a job at Rearden Steel as a furnace foreman. Henry Rearden was his personal recruitment project, and had been ever since Rearden had announced his invention of the Metal that bore his name.

Two months later, Henry Rearden joined the strike. With him came a large number of his regular employees, including a second physician for Galt's Gulch, to wit, Henry Rearden's infirmary director.

Two months later, Henry Rearden joined the strike. With him came a large number of his regular employees, including a second physician for Galt's Gulch, to wit, Henry Rearden's infirmary director.