To raise the immense sums necessary for these vast undertakings, new stock was occasionally created. The original shares in the com- pany, were 500 livres each; but the new stock which was created from time to time, was rated at an advanced price; at the last creation of new shares, the subscription price was advanced to 5000 livres: and so much were the expectations of the public excited, and such was the competi- tion for the possession of the stock, that these same shares sold on the public exchange for 10,000 livres. Such of the old proprietors as sold out at this advance, realized immense fortunes. As the company.
