1850 American Gold Tycoon

This is the first time that the Crystal Palace in New York has appeared in front of the world in its complete form. The Crystal Palace is 400 meters long, 130 meters wide, and 30 meters high at the flat top, of which the vault is 42 meters high.

The entire building volume is slightly smaller than the original Crystal Palace in London, but the choice of building materials is different from the Crystal Palace in London.

The Crystal Palace in London took into account the problem of dismantling after the World Expo, so it used all cast iron and glass building materials.

The Crystal Palace shopping mall in New York does not have this problem, and the construction period is longer, so it can use thicker cast iron beams than the Crystal Palace in London. Moreover, considering the structural strength issue, the first floor wall does not use all-glass walls. Instead, opt for masonry walls.

The Crystal Palace that hosted the London World's Fair was demolished as scheduled in 1852, and the new Crystal Palace was rebuilt on Sydenham Hill in south London. It would not be completed until 1854. Therefore, the Crystal Palace shopping mall in New York became the only Crystal Palace that existed during this period.

At this time, the shock left by the first World Expo was still lingering on people, so there were also many onlookers who had traveled all the way from Europe to New York by boat to visit the Crystal Palace Mall in New York.

Shocking, this was Fillmore's first impression of New York's Crystal Palace Shopping Mall. Being able to cut the ribbon for such a New York wonder made him feel it was worthwhile.

Liang Yao can always bring him some fresh tricks and some unexpected surprises.

"Mr. Liang, thank you very much for your willingness to spend a lot of money to build the Crystal Palace and build the Crystal Palace into a long-lasting shopping mall so that New York citizens can experience shopping in this miracle of industrial civilization every day. This is a genius idea."

Paxton extended his hand warmly, shook hands with Liang Yao and said.

Paxton is now a close friend of Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. He designed the Crystal Palace and received a reward of 5,000 pounds from the British Empire. It can be said that he has gained both fame and fortune, and has become a hot upper-class figure in England.

"Only a genius designer like you can realize a genius-like idea, otherwise no matter how good the idea is, it will just be a loft in the sky." Liang Yao said while looking at the magnificent Crystal Palace Mall.

There is a glass corridor surrounding the main building of the Crystal Palace in New York. This was a project that Paxton failed to build at the Crystal Palace in London and was finally realized in New York.

"Get ready to start cutting the ribbon." Van Daze eagerly handed over a pair of exquisite scissors.

He has been waiting for this day for two full years. When the Crystal Palace was still under construction, he often ran to the construction site, eagerly looking forward to the early completion of the mall.

"Your Excellency, please." Liang Yao made a gesture of invitation to Fillmore.

With a smile on his face, Fillmore solemnly took the scissors from Van Daze and said: "It is my honor to cut the ribbon for the Crystal Palace Mall."

Immediately, Fillmore completed the ribbon-cutting in front of dozens of cameras that had already been set up, and then took a group photo with Liang Yao and others in front of the gate of the Crystal Palace Mall.

This scene made Stewart, who came to inspect the Crystal Palace Mall, jealous. He had invited the governor of New York State to cut the ribbon for the Marble Palace's ribbon-cutting ceremony, which gave him great dignity at the time.

The president personally came to cut the ribbon at the Crystal Palace Mall. Not only local celebrities in New York such as Fish, Backhouse, and Vanderbilt came to support them, but even wealthy European families such as the Rothschild family and the Baring family sent representatives to the scene. It can be said that Crystal Palace Shopping Mall has earned enough face and gimmicks.

After the group photo, Fillmore and others couldn't wait to express their desire to enter the Crystal Palace shopping mall for a visit. This made Fan Daze feel very embarrassed. Fan Daze came to Liang Yao and whispered to Liang Yao: "Tens of thousands of customers outside the Crystal Palace. what to do?"

Liang Yao looked at the endless New York citizens who were also impatient. It was obviously inappropriate to put all these people into the mall at once.

Fillmore is now the president. He must consider Fillmore's safety, but the New Yorkers outside cannot let them feel neglected. Besides, the mall also needs popularity. After thinking for a while, Liang Yao said: "Let the two people go first." Thousands of citizens came in. After these distinguished guests left, the mall was fully opened and the security personnel of the mall were notified to maintain order at the scene. "

Van Daze nodded and said: "I understand."

Liang Yao led Fillmore and others through the gates of the Crystal Palace Shopping Mall and the Americas Group trademark, and walked into the interior of the Crystal Palace.

Since the dome and the walls above the second floor are made of glass, the lighting inside the mall is very good and it looks very spacious.

Fillmore couldn't help but marveled and asked curiously: "How many dollars did the Crystal Palace cost to build?"

"2.8 million US dollars." Liang Yao replied, and he was also very satisfied with the effect of the Crystal Palace.

2.8 million U.S. dollars. Fillmore lamented that Liang Yao, a gold tycoon, was still very wealthy. This was almost equivalent to the annual fiscal revenue of a medium-sized state.

In fact, the cost of the Crystal Palace could have been lower, but because the cast iron prefabricated components at the joints could not be produced by domestic manufacturers in the United States, they could only be purchased from British manufacturers at a high price.

Then there are the triangular roof system used in the Crystal Palace Shopping Mall, the integrated drainage system integrated into the building structure, and the design of curtain wall shutters in the ventilation system. They are all patents held by the British. Liang Yao paid a fee to the British for this. The patent royalties are substantial.

The construction cost was US$2.8 million, and the British businessmen made at least US$300,000.

Technology and patents are money, which began to take shape in the mid-19th century.

Backhouse, who had never had a good relationship with Liang Yao, was smiling from ear to ear when he visited the Crystal Palace Shopping Mall. He was in a very happy mood. Even the eyes he looked at Liang Yao were much kinder. This Liang Yao was not that unpleasant. People are disgusting.

Liang Yao also knew why Backhouse was so happy. The unprecedented popularity shown by Crystal Palace Mall in New York on the first day of its opening also showed that Liang Yao's business plan to build a business district and open a comprehensive shopping mall in New York was successful.

small book booth

The land prices around the Crystal Palace shopping mall are bound to skyrocket, and the owner of the surrounding land is Backhouse.

Backhouse can be said to have become the winner lying down.

"Mr. Backhouse, don't forget the gambling agreement we signed. I think you are now ready to give me 2 acres of land in Manhattan." Liang Yao teased Backhouse.

When he originally purchased the 5-acre piece of land, Backhouse's asking price was US$200,000 per acre. In the end, Liang Yao and Backhouse signed a gambling agreement.

Liang Yao purchased the 5 acres of land from Backhouse at a unit price of US$150,000 per acre. Within four years, the price of land around the business district could not rise to US$240,000 per acre. Liang Yao needed to pay for it within four years. An additional $90,000 per acre was paid to Backhouse as compensation for the five acres of land purchased.

On the contrary, Backhouse had to give Liang Yao two acres of land in Manhattan.

Now the land price in Manhattan has risen to US$220,000 per acre. After the Crystal Palace Mall is put into operation and the construction of surrounding supporting facilities is completed, it will be easy for the land price in Manhattan, which is the core of New York, to rise to US$240,000 per acre.

Backhouse now still owns 23 acres of land in Manhattan. If he gives Liang Yao another 2 acres, he still has 21 acres of land. In exchange for the two acres of land, the remaining 21 acres of land will be exchanged for an increase of more than $40,000 per acre. This is such a beautiful thing. Backhouse would wake up laughing from his dreams.

Backhouse had already imagined in his mind the wonderful vision of building more houses in Manhattan and collecting more rent, and he felt happy.

"I will donate 2 acres of land in Manhattan as agreed, and the location is up to you to choose." This was the first time Backhouse was so polite to Liang Yao, and then Backhouse said to Liang Yao again.

"Very good. Our win-win cooperation this time can be said to be a model of business cooperation in New York." Liang Yao was also in a very happy mood.

Based on this calculation, plus the deed paid to the New York government, he actually acquired 7 acres of land in Manhattan, New York, for US$110,000 per acre, almost half the market price.

He is now also a large landowner in New York, owning 7 acres of land in New York, still in Manhattan. This is something he could not even imagine in the 21st century, but it was realized in the mid-19th century.

Moreover, these land assets are not dead assets. It is quite easy to use the land in New York as collateral to obtain a part of the loan from the bank as working capital. After all, land in New York is now the most valuable land in the United States.

"General Liang, are you interested in building business districts in Boston and Philadelphia? I also have land in the core areas of Boston and Philadelphia. If you want to build shopping malls in other big cities, please be sure to come to me for cooperation. I can provide it to you for free. Enough land!" Backhouse swallowed his saliva and said to Liang Yao, his eyes looking at Liang Yao were full of expectation.

Backhouse, who has enjoyed success in New York, hopes to enjoy success in other big cities.

There is a successful example in New York, which gave Liang Yao some land to increase the price of the land around him. This deal is very cost-effective no matter how you look at it.

The Astor family, which has always been famous for being stingy in New York and regards land in the city as a treasure, took the initiative to give land in the city to Liang Yao. Fish and Vanderbilt who were standing by were shocked and felt very incredible.

If New York is the only first-tier city in the United States, Philadelphia and Boston are the first-tier cities in the United States after New York.

Although the land prices in Philadelphia and Boston are not as high as those in New York, they are definitely not low. The land in these two cities is also a hot commodity in the real estate industry.

Liang Yao intercepted Backhouse's son John's gold worth millions of dollars in Sacramento. This was a well-known fact in the New York business community.

As a representative of the so-called old aristocracy in New York, the attitude of Backhouse, the helmsman of the Astor family, towards Liang Yao also shows that not only the new aristocracy of New York headed by Vanderbilt recognize Liang Yao, but also the old aristocracy of New York also recognize and accept Liang Yao.