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Mulligan had bought the land and the mountains, intending to restart its mining industry. He was convinced that he could find prospectors who in turn could find the mineral wealth that an earlier generation of miners had given up on. But now he had another purpose: to retire permanently and "never again look into the face of a looter." And so he built a house up-slope from the old town center and stocked the valley with food and livestock sufficient to last one man a lifetime. This was in accord with John Galt's original strike plan: that those who could, would retire to live off their savings; the rest would take the lowest jobs that they could find, barely enough to afford them housing and food.

Mulligan had bought the land and the mountains, intending to restart its mining industry. He was convinced that he could find prospectors who in turn could find the mineral wealth that an earlier generation of miners had given up on. But now he had another purpose: to retire permanently and "never again look into the face of a looter." And so he built a house up-slope from the old town center and stocked the valley with food and livestock sufficient to last one man a lifetime. This was in accord with John Galt's original strike plan: that those who could, would retire to live off their savings; the rest would take the lowest jobs that they could find, barely enough to afford them housing and food.

John Galt told Midas that if he valued his privacy as much as he seemed to, he would take steps to hide the valley, now known as Mulligan's Valley, even further. He proposed to build an image projector, using microprocessor-controlled heat rays mounted 700 feet above ground level, to project a false image of a rock-strewn valley five miles distant. Nor did Midas have to worry about electric power: John Galt also proposed to build a powerhouse, using a larger version of the electrostatic motor he had invented. Midas, impressed, hired Galt on the spot.

John Galt told Midas that if he valued his privacy as much as he seemed to, he would take steps to hide the valley, now known as Mulligan's Valley, even further. He also explained to Midas a point he took at once: ''Midas dared not hire a workforce of workers not part of the strike.'' To do so would be to compromise the location of the valley, which by now was forgotten, and therefore a secret. Galt boldly asked Midas to hire him as his general contractor. He proposed to build an image projector, using microprocessor-controlled heat rays mounted 700 feet above ground level, to project a false image of a rock-strewn valley five miles distant, and a similar, ground-level device to hide the northern road from view. Nor did Midas have to worry about electric power: John Galt also proposed to build a powerhouse, using a larger version of the electrostatic motor he had invented. As to the southern road, Galt proposed to tear it up, and indeed obliterate it as though no one had ever built it. Midas, impressed, hired Galt on the spot.

Galt set to work at once. The powerhouse, of course, came first. For that, Galt designed a simple granite blockhouse, half the size of a railroad boxcar, with a single door, that he secured with a sound lock. Above that door he carved an oath for those wishing to enter to pronounce:{{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.}}

Galt set to work at once. The powerhouse, of course, came first. For that, Galt designed a simple granite blockhouse, half the size of a railroad boxcar, with a single door, that he secured with a sound lock. Above that door he carved an oath for those wishing to enter to pronounce:{{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.}}

Anyone pronouncing that oath with meaning would, by so doing, open the lock. Now with electric power to spare, Galt built the ray screen. He also blocked the Million Dollar Pass to the south. He left the northern (downstream) approach in place, but use a smaller version of his ray screen to camouflage it. Finally, John Galt built his own house in the valley, to use for one month out of the twelve.

Anyone pronouncing that oath with meaning would, by so doing, open the lock. Now with electric power to spare, Galt built the ray screen. He subcontracted the obliteration of the Million Dollar Highway to Francisco d'Anconia, after Francisco applied to Midas for a leasehold in the Red Mountain Pass. Galt left the northern (downstream) approach in place, but use a smaller version of his ray screen to camouflage it. Finally, John Galt built his own house in the valley, to use for one month out of the twelve.

This project began in May of 2011. In June, five other men came to visit John and Midas in the valley: [[Francisco d'Anconia]], [[Ragnar Danneskjöld]], [[Hugh Akston]], [[William Hastings]], and [[Richard Halley]], a [[music]] composer. June was the "vacation month" of the strike, and Midas agreed to let these other five build their own houses. Francisco built his in the forest near the old Ice Park, and while there he collected some rocks, intending to [[assay]] them. He actually assayed them on-site, as he knew how to do, and found them rich in [[copper]]. So he was the first to ask Midas for a major leasehold, which Midas granted. That was the beginning of D'Anconia Copper Number One.

This project began in May of 2011. In June, five other men came to visit John and Midas in the valley: [[Francisco d'Anconia]], [[Ragnar Danneskjöld]], [[Hugh Akston]], [[William Hastings]], and [[Richard Halley]], a [[music]] composer. June was the "vacation month" of the strike, and Midas agreed to let these other five build their own houses. Francisco built his in the forest near the old Ice Park, and while there he collected some rocks, intending to [[assay]] them. He actually assayed them on-site, as he knew how to do, and found them rich in [[copper]]. So he was the first to ask Midas for a major leasehold, which Midas granted. That was the beginning of D'Anconia Copper Number One.