Changes

News of the order did not help the reputation of Rearden Steel, and for a time it harmed the reputation of Taggart Transcontinental. The reason was nothing more than what today is called [[FUD]] (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt). No one had used anything like Rearden Metal before, so no one expected it to work, and everyone expected a spectacular failure. Dagny Taggart bore the brunt of the criticism, but stubbornly insisted on using the new metal. Henry Rearden couldn't be more pleased that in Dagny Taggart he had a customer who concentrated on what was important, and ignored the voices of mindless fear.

News of the order did not help the reputation of Rearden Steel, and for a time it harmed the reputation of Taggart Transcontinental. The reason was nothing more than what today is called [[FUD]] (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt). No one had used anything like Rearden Metal before, so no one expected it to work, and everyone expected a spectacular failure. Dagny Taggart bore the brunt of the criticism, but stubbornly insisted on using the new metal. Henry Rearden couldn't be more pleased that in Dagny Taggart he had a customer who concentrated on what was important, and ignored the voices of mindless fear.

Toward the end of October of 2016, Dagny Taggart came to see Rearden with a story that probably struck him as distasteful. Instead of trusting Dagny's judgment and confidence that she could have the Rio Norte Line back in proper repair within a year, Dagny's brother James had lobbied in Washington for passage of a measure called "The Anti-dog-eat-dog Rule," the latest of a number of measures intended to protect less-able businessmen who were under pressure from more-able competitors. Under that new rule, the Phoenix-Durango Railroad was ordered essentially to cease operations within nine months, and Taggart Transcontinental would be the only railroad available in Colorado. The head of the Phoenix-Durango line had accepted the rule without much protest, and then had announced his intention to retire permanently. The Phoenix-Durango Line's best customer, Ellis Wyatt (who had made a fortune extracting [[oil]] from [[shale]]), had come to deliver an ultimatum to Dagny that if his business failed on account of Taggart Transcontinental's faulty transportation, he would make sure that Taggart Transcontinental would not survive either. Now Dagny felt herself in honour bound to get the Rio Norte Line in proper shape within the deadline.

Toward the end of October 2016, Dagny Taggart came to see Rearden with a story that probably struck him as distasteful. Instead of trusting Dagny's judgment and confidence that she could have the Rio Norte Line back in proper repair within a year, Dagny's brother James had lobbied in Washington for passage of a measure called "The Anti-dog-eat-dog Rule," the latest of a number of measures intended to protect less-able businessmen who were under pressure from more-able competitors. Under that new rule, the Phoenix-Durango Railroad was ordered essentially to cease operations within nine months, and Taggart Transcontinental would be the only railroad available in Colorado. The head of the Phoenix-Durango line had accepted the rule without much protest, and then had announced his intention to retire permanently. The Phoenix-Durango Line's best customer, Ellis Wyatt (who had made a fortune extracting [[oil]] from [[shale]]), had come to deliver an ultimatum to Dagny that if his business failed on account of Taggart Transcontinental's faulty transportation, he would make sure that Taggart Transcontinental would not survive either. Now Dagny felt herself in honour bound to get the Rio Norte Line in proper shape within the deadline.

Rearden rushed the order, and charged her extra for the tonnage yet to ship. Dagny did not complain, and accepted that as a legitimate business cost. In so doing, she won even more of his respect.

Rearden rushed the order, and charged her extra for the tonnage yet to ship. Dagny did not complain, and accepted that as a legitimate business cost. In so doing, she won even more of his respect.

== A new motor ==

== A new motor ==

In September of 2017, Henry and Dagny decided to distract themselves by taking a driving trip. As it happened, they drove to [[Wisconsin]] and the site of the now-defunct [[Twentieth Century Motor Company]]. There, in the ruined and abandoned factory, Dagny made an incredible discovery that she shared with Henry: the partially wrecked prototype of a motor that could draw static [[electricity]] from the atmosphere and use it to do useful work. Dagny knew that this technology could start another [[Industrial Revolution]], because it would have an obvious application in [[railroad]]ing, shipbuilding, and power generation.

In September 2017, Henry and Dagny decided to distract themselves by taking a driving trip. As it happened, they drove to [[Wisconsin]] and the site of the now-defunct [[Twentieth Century Motor Company]]. There, in the ruined and abandoned factory, Dagny made an incredible discovery that she shared with Henry: the partially wrecked prototype of a motor that could draw static [[electricity]] from the atmosphere and use it to do useful work. Dagny knew that this technology could start another [[Industrial Revolution]], because it would have an obvious application in [[railroad]]ing, shipbuilding, and power generation.

But the prototype that they found was unusable, and the notes left behind were incomplete. Someone had removed or destroyed the critical portion containing the motor's secret.

But the prototype that they found was unusable, and the notes left behind were incomplete. Someone had removed or destroyed the critical portion containing the motor's secret.

== The destruction of Colorado ==

== The destruction of Colorado ==

In November of 2017, all hopes of a boom in Colorado were dashed, when the federal government issued a raft of regulations that effectively destroyed all the incentives that Colorado offered. In response, several of the businessmen who had relocated to Colorado now vanished, as tracelessly as had the young inventor of the [[John Galt#The electrostatic motor|electrostatic motor]]. The most spectacular disappearance was that of Ellis Wyatt, who set his oil shale fields on fire ("Wyatt's Torch") and left a big sign near his property line:{{cquote|I am leaving it as I found it. Take over. It's yours.}}

In November 2017, all hopes of a boom in Colorado were dashed, when the federal government issued a raft of regulations that effectively destroyed all the incentives that Colorado offered. In response, several of the businessmen who had relocated to Colorado now vanished, as tracelessly as had the young inventor of the [[John Galt#The electrostatic motor|electrostatic motor]]. The most spectacular disappearance was that of Ellis Wyatt, who set his oil shale fields on fire ("Wyatt's Torch") and left a big sign near his property line:{{cquote|I am leaving it as I found it. Take over. It's yours.}}

Hank Rearden's first reaction to Wyatt's Torch was to cry a blessing on Ellis Wyatt. His second reaction was horror. He felt as though his appreciation of Wyatt's obvious act of rebellion was sinful, for a reason he could not define.

Hank Rearden's first reaction to Wyatt's Torch was to cry a blessing on Ellis Wyatt. His second reaction was horror. He felt as though his appreciation of Wyatt's obvious act of rebellion was sinful, for a reason he could not define.

== The Project X order ==

== The Project X order ==

In or about June of 2018, Rearden received an order that he decided that he would never fill. It was a peremptory instruction, written in an imperative, authoritarian tone, for him to deliver ten thousand tons of Rearden Metal to the [[State Science Institute]], for use in a project known only as "[[Project X]]."

In or about June 2018, Rearden received an order that he decided that he would never fill. It was a peremptory instruction, written in an imperative, authoritarian tone, for him to deliver ten thousand tons of Rearden Metal to the [[State Science Institute]], for use in a project known only as "[[Project X]]."

Rearden was not accustomed to receiving business orders that read like expropriations. He said so to the first Washington representative sent to him, a man named [[Cuffy Meigs]], who wore a semi-military-looking tunic and the leather leggings of a traffic policeman. Not long after that, Dr. [[Floyd Ferris]], the Associate Director of the State Science Institute, came to renew the demand. Henry Rearden gave Ferris his refusal as well, in no uncertain terms. He explained that he could state as his reason that he could not provide material for a secret project having a goal that no one would reveal to him, because as the inventor of Rearden Metal he held himself responsible for any use that anyone might make of it. But his actual reason is that he would never supply anything to the State Science Institute for "any project, good or bad, secret or open." Floyd Ferris threatened Henry with some unspecified action. Henry dismissed the threat and said that Ferris could now leave.

Rearden was not accustomed to receiving business orders that read like expropriations. He said so to the first Washington representative sent to him, a man named [[Cuffy Meigs]], who wore a semi-military-looking tunic and the leather leggings of a traffic policeman. Not long after that, Dr. [[Floyd Ferris]], the Associate Director of the State Science Institute, came to renew the demand. Henry Rearden gave Ferris his refusal as well, in no uncertain terms. He explained that he could state as his reason that he could not provide material for a secret project having a goal that no one would reveal to him, because as the inventor of Rearden Metal he held himself responsible for any use that anyone might make of it. But his actual reason is that he would never supply anything to the State Science Institute for "any project, good or bad, secret or open." Floyd Ferris threatened Henry with some unspecified action. Henry dismissed the threat and said that Ferris could now leave.