It ran through two thriving streets of red-brick houses, and was destined to have a great future once the city grew large enough.

As yet it was really not long enough.
If he could get that, for instance, and combine it with Butler's lines, once they were secured--or Mollenhauer's, or Simpson's, the legislature could be induced to give them additional franchises.

He even dreamed of a combination between Butler, Mollenhauer, Simpson, and himself.
Between them, politically, they could get anything.

But Butler was not a philanthropist.

He would have to be approached with a very sizable bird in hand.