The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-06-21
CENTRAL PACIFIC HUNTINGTON

A San Francisco telegram Of the 10th,
says it is reported that VIM. Sharon has
finally purchased the interest Of Hunting
ton in the Pacific Railroad. If the state
ments which have heretofore appeared in
the public prints uncontradicted, are liter
aly true, Mr.. Z. Z. Huntington is the real
founder and builder Of that great enter
prise, the first Pacific railroad. The Cen
trail Pacific at least, was directly begun,
and completed by his personal business en-
ergy, and without the confidence Ill Con
gress and the country at large, which was
inspired by AIr. Huntugton's character and
ability, it is doubtful whether the Union
Pacific railroad would have started as it
did. on the notable race across the alkali
deserts, to meet the Central at Ogden.
Mr. Huntington was simply a hardware
merchant at 81 X street, Sacramento, Cal,
when the project Of building the Central
Pacific was undertaken. All California
had dreamed Of such a road for years.
Public spirited men, Mr, Huntington fore
most among them, encouraged surveys oY
private subscriptions till their patience was
worn out, and they concluded that as they
furnished the money, they might as well dl,
rect the preliminary work themselves
From this point step by step, they advan
ced against multiplied obstacles, till the
Company had gained credit for tremendous
energy and business earnestness, and so
won the desired help from Congress and
eastern capitalists, and laid down the rails
of the first continental railway.
The headquarters Of the company were
at the hardware store, "a X street, while
c. P. Huntington, or Centra1 Pacific Hun
tington as he was called, continued to man
age the road. He spent no money on show.
Every dollar dropped with full weight. An
engineer planned $4,000 office for the
Sacramento business. Huntington said
that would do for bye and bye, and the
same afternoon threw up a board shanty
costing $3.50 to use in its place.
1t illustrates the character of the man,
and the faith of his associates in him, that
when they sent him at the most critical
time in the history Of the road, to Washing
ton, he was granted full power of attorney
to "buy, sell, bargain, convey, borrow or
lend without any If or but, let or hind
rance whatever" except that he would share
their risks His integrity and capacity fully
justified their unlimited confidence. But it
is quite apparent that no railroad man OF
the Gould or Vanderbilt stripe, would have
obtained such paper, or have brought
such railway through the difficulties it
encountered.
The Credit of the Central Pacific has al
ways been as good as gold, and it was the
boast of the company up to the present
year. that the original managers of their
road still controlled it. Its affairs are said
to be as solid as those of the Pennsylvania
Central. It's bonds in Europe, but a trife
below L. S. bonds. It's credit in England,
France and Germany, equal to the faith of
the L. S. Government.
After such work and record, Mr.. Hunt
ington now. seems about to pass over the
Central Pacific to other parties. How 1t
will fare in their hands remains to be seen.
If they manage it with ordinary discretion,
the character Huntington has already given
it, will keep the Central among the first
roads of the country. A railway enterprise
is success or failure, according to the en-
ergy of the men that manage it. One c. 2.