Changes

The year 2016 found James Taggart faced with a difficult business situation—one made difficult by his own actions and attitudes, though he refused to admit it to himself. The Rio Norte Line, that served [[Colorado]], had fallen into disrepair, so much so that wrecks on the line were frequent, and the TTRR could not make a proper shipping schedule. Mr. [[Dan Conway]], the upstart head of the rival Phoenix-Durango [[Railroad]], was already taking customers away from the TTRR, because its line was newer and in better condition.

The year 2016 found James Taggart faced with a difficult business situation—one made difficult by his own actions and attitudes, though he refused to admit it to himself. The Rio Norte Line, that served [[Colorado]], had fallen into disrepair, so much so that wrecks on the line were frequent, and the TTRR could not make a proper shipping schedule. Mr. [[Dan Conway]], the upstart head of the rival Phoenix-Durango [[Railroad]], was already taking customers away from the TTRR, because its line was newer and in better condition.

James Taggart had given an order for a new track to his friend [[Orren Boyle]], head of Associated Steel. That was back in August of 2015. Orren Boyle still had not filled that order, thirteen months later. Nevertheless, Orren was Jim's friend, and Jim was determined to "give him a break."

James Taggart had given an order for a new track to his friend [[Orren Boyle]], head of Associated Steel. That was back in August 2015. Orren Boyle still had not filled that order, thirteen months later. Nevertheless, Orren was Jim's friend, and Jim was determined to "give him a break."

Dagny was having none of that. She overrode him and replaced the track order with [[Henry Rearden]]'s steel company. Not only that, but she ordered the rail made of Rearden Metal, the new [[alloy]] of [[copper]] and [[iron]] that Rearden had invented.

Dagny was having none of that. She overrode him and replaced the track order with [[Henry Rearden]]'s steel company. Not only that, but she ordered the rail made of Rearden Metal, the new [[alloy]] of [[copper]] and [[iron]] that Rearden had invented.

In the meantime, he saw the economic boom that [[Colorado]] was enjoying, due entirely to the excellent transportation afforded by the John Galt Line, now once again part of the TTRR system. And he determined, with the help of a number of unions and other like-minded organizations, to destroy it—by proposing a series of burdensome and often contradictory regulations.

In the meantime, he saw the economic boom that [[Colorado]] was enjoying, due entirely to the excellent transportation afforded by the John Galt Line, now once again part of the TTRR system. And he determined, with the help of a number of unions and other like-minded organizations, to destroy it—by proposing a series of burdensome and often contradictory regulations.

The regulations went through in November of 2017. They produced the result that Jim Taggart had hoped for. But not all the results were as he predicted. The most spectacular result was one that worried him, at least to some degree: [[Ellis Wyatt]], who had developed a method for extracting [[oil]] from [[shale]], set fire to his oil fields and vanished without a trace. Those fields, referred to as "Wyatt's Torch," continued to burn for the rest of the period in the narrative.

The regulations went through in November 2017. They produced the result that Jim Taggart had hoped for. But not all the results were as he predicted. The most spectacular result was one that worried him, at least to some degree: [[Ellis Wyatt]], who had developed a method for extracting [[oil]] from [[shale]], set fire to his oil fields and vanished without a trace. Those fields, referred to as "Wyatt's Torch," continued to burn for the rest of the period in the narrative.

== The Stock Crash ==

== The Stock Crash ==

== Directive 10-289 ==

== Directive 10-289 ==

In April of 2019, James Taggart was in Washington once again, in the office of Wesley Mouch, who now was the senior coordinator of the Bureau of Economic Planning and Natural Resources. With him were Orren Boyle; Mr. Clem Weatherby (also of the BEPNR); [[Fred Kinnon]], head of Amalgamated Labor of America; [[Floyd Ferris]] of the [[State Science Institute]]; and [[Mr. Thompson]], the Head of State. After a round of complaints about economic conditions, Mr. Thompson gave his assent to the promulgation of [[Directive 10-289]], an emergency regulation designed to freeze all economic activity at then-current levels. Jim Taggart's chief contribution to this was the recommendation that all [[science]] and [[engineering]] departments at all major universities would close, to satisfy Point Four of the Directive, which provided that no new inventions would be brought on-line. Floyd Ferris relished the idea of being the employer of last resort for "those who prove[d] cooperative" among university faculty.

In April 2019, James Taggart was in Washington once again, in the office of Wesley Mouch, who now was the senior coordinator of the Bureau of Economic Planning and Natural Resources. With him were Orren Boyle; Mr. Clem Weatherby (also of the BEPNR); [[Fred Kinnon]], head of Amalgamated Labor of America; [[Floyd Ferris]] of the [[State Science Institute]]; and [[Mr. Thompson]], the Head of State. After a round of complaints about economic conditions, Mr. Thompson gave his assent to the promulgation of [[Directive 10-289]], an emergency regulation designed to freeze all economic activity at then-current levels. Jim Taggart's chief contribution to this was the recommendation that all [[science]] and [[engineering]] departments at all major universities would close, to satisfy Point Four of the Directive, which provided that no new inventions would be brought on-line. Floyd Ferris relished the idea of being the employer of last resort for "those who prove[d] cooperative" among university faculty.

But by far the most important implication of Directive 10-289 was the requirement that all recent inventions be turned over to the [[public domain]] through the use of "gift certificates." Floyd Ferris expressed his concern that "the guiltless man" would prove intractable in this regard. But Jim Taggart had an answer to that, too: he could prove that [[Henry Rearden]] and his sister [[Dagny Taggart|Dagny]] had been having an affair (information that he had from Henry's wife [[Lillian Rearden|Lillian]]), and such information would be quite valuable for [[blackmail]]. He won an increase in freight rates from the sale of this information.

But by far the most important implication of Directive 10-289 was the requirement that all recent inventions be turned over to the [[public domain]] through the use of "gift certificates." Floyd Ferris expressed his concern that "the guiltless man" would prove intractable in this regard. But Jim Taggart had an answer to that, too: he could prove that [[Henry Rearden]] and his sister [[Dagny Taggart|Dagny]] had been having an affair (information that he had from Henry's wife [[Lillian Rearden|Lillian]]), and such information would be quite valuable for [[blackmail]]. He won an increase in freight rates from the sale of this information.

On September 2, he asked Dagny into his office, where he began to make a speech complaining that, despite the Railroad Unification Plan and all his deal-making, Taggart Transcontinental was losing money. As he continued to talk to Dagny, he became increasingly agitated, and finally roared at her that she ought to help him in his role as President of the TTRR, because he was her brother. Dagny responded by quietly repeating to him a common parentage epithet.

On September 2, he asked Dagny into his office, where he began to make a speech complaining that, despite the Railroad Unification Plan and all his deal-making, Taggart Transcontinental was losing money. As he continued to talk to Dagny, he became increasingly agitated, and finally roared at her that she ought to help him in his role as President of the TTRR, because he was her brother. Dagny responded by quietly repeating to him a common parentage epithet.

Then at 10:00 a.m., Jim turned on the radio in his office, and asked Dagny to stay and listen. But the report he heard horrified him. Apparently, when Señor Ramirez had struck the gavel to call his parliament to order, an explosion had rocked the chamber. That explosion was actually several explosions at once, as the D'Anconia docks were demolished. Later, the Chilean and [[Argentina|Argentine]] authorities found that all of the D'Anconia Copper assets were demolished, and Francisco d'Anconia and all of the most qualified members of his workforce were nowhere to be found.

Then at 10:00 a.m., Jim turned on the radio in his office, and asked Dagny to stay and listen. But the report he heard horrified him. Apparently, when Señor Ramirez had struck the gavel to call his parliament to order, an explosion had rocked the chamber. That explosion was actually several explosions at once, as the D'Anconia docks were demolished. Later, the Chilean and [[Argentina|Argentine]] authorities found that all of the D'Anconia Copper assets were demolished, and Francisco d'Anconia and all of the most qualified members of his workforce were nowhere to be found.

Jim immediately called Rodrigo and protested that Rodrigo had said that the investment would be safe. At the same time, Orren Boyle called him on another line, and Jim finally told the complaining Orren to shut his mouth, because he could say nothing else.

Jim immediately called Rodrigo and protested that Rodrigo had said that the investment would be safe. At the same time, Orren Boyle called him on another line, and Jim finally told the complaining Orren to shut his mouth, because he could say nothing else.