Associates Four Capitalists Who Created California

This is a tale of ruthless ambition, staggering greed and the making of a nation. One hundred and forty years ago, four men rose from being Sacramento merchants to become the force behind the American transcontinental railway and became wealthy beyond measure. To sustain their power, they lied, bribed, wheedled and, when necessary, arranged for obstacles to disappear. Known as "The Big Four" or "The Associates", their legacy is a university, public gardens, museums, mansions, banks and libraries - and to a large degree California itself.