Name: Mobile & Ohio Railroad Co.
Brand: Ghosts of Wall Street
SKU: 1120
Price: 12.0 USD
Availability: InStock

Mobile and Ohio Railroad Co. Stock Certificate

Only 1 available!
Inventory on the way

Product Details

Company	Mobile & Ohio Railroad Co.
Certificate Type	Capital Stock
Date Issued	March 7, 1874
Canceled	Yes
Printer	American Bank Note Company
Signatures	Hand signed
Approximate Size	11" (w) by 7" (h)
Product Images	Show the exact certificate you will receive
Authentic	Yes
Additional Details	Please note cut cancel removing lower right section of certificate

Historical Context

The Mobile and Ohio Railroad was conceived after hard times in Mobile following the Panic of 1837. The port was not generating the business that it had before the panic and businessmen and citizens in the city were inspired with a plan for a railroad to restore commerce to the city. The first section of track opened for service in 1852 between Mobile and Citronelle, Alabama and was constructed in 5 ft. The line made it to Columbus, Kentucky on April 22, 1861, steamboats were then used to connect with the Illinois Central Railroad at Cairo.

The start of the Civil War shortly after the completion of the line saw it converted to military use and it quickly became a military target for both sides during the war. Following the conflict the M&O had to be almost entirely rebuilt and was facing near total financial ruin due in part to an unpaid debt of $5,228,562 that had been owed by the Confederate government. It was placed in receivership in 1875 and did not emerge until eight years later.

By 1870 the operators had seen the need to complete the line all the way to Cairo and make it the northern terminus instead of Columbus, but financial problems stood in the way. Finally on May 1, 1882 the extension to Cairo was opened. The company then acquired the St. Louis and Cairo Railroad, which was narrow gauge. They converted it to 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in standard gauge and had a line from Mobile to St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1896 the company decided to build a line from its Columbus, Mississippi, terminal toward Florida. On June 30, 1898 the Tuscaloosa to Montgomery line opened in Alabama, along with two short branch lines. That same year they decided to build a 39-mile line from Mobile to Alabama Port and Bayou La Batre, naming it the Mobile and Bay Shore Railway. It was completed in 1899.

The M&O's stockholders and bondholders accepted a stock exchange plan in 1901 from Southern Railway. A merger of the two was attempted in 1902 but vetoed by Mississippi governor James K. Vardaman. Thereafter the M&O continued operations under Southern's control. From 1908 the M&O was considered to be a highly prosperous railroad, but net income declined sharply after 1926 and by 1930 the M&O had a net deficit of almost $1,000,000. On June 3, 1932, the M&O went into the receivership yet again. Southern was accused of having violated the Clayton Antitrust Act by using the M&O for its own profit at the expense of the M&O, though the case was dropped in 1933. Southern sold its M&O bonds in 1940 to the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad. The GM&N was then combined with the M&O to form the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad.

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Additional Information

Certificates carry no value on any of today's financial indexes and no transfer of ownership is implied. All items offered are collectible in nature only. So, you can frame them, but you can't cash them in!

All of our pieces are original - we do not sell reproductions. If you ever find out that one of our pieces is not authentic, you may return it for a full refund of the purchase price and any associated shipping charges.

FAQ

Are the certificates offered on your site genuine or reproductions?

All of the certificates you see on our site are genuine pieces, we do not sell any reproductions.

Are the certificates you sell negotiable on any of today's stock markets or indexes?

No. All of the pieces we sell are either canceled or obsolete and have collectible value only.

Are the images presented in your product listings of the exact piece I will receive?

It depends. We try to present images of the exact piece you will receive whenever possible. However, when we are offering quantities of a piece, this is impossible. Within every product page we detail whether or not you will be receiving the exact certificate listed, or if the image is a representative example of the one you will receive.

How will you ship my order and how much do you charge?

We ship all orders via the United States Postal Service. For orders taking advantage of standard (First Class) shipping within the United States, we offer flat rate pricing, so you pay only the advertised shipping charge regardless of the number of pieces you purchase. Current charges may be reviewed here. USPS International, Priority and Express Mail, UPS and DHL services are also available, and costs are calculated during checkout.

Can I return my purchase?

Absolutely. You may return any merchandise, for any reason, within 30 days of the purchase date for a full refund of the purchase price.

We guarantee all of our pieces to be authentic. If you ever determine that a piece is not authentic, it may be returned for a full refund of the purchase price as well as any associated shipping charges.