The Portland daily press., 1883-12-31
A Remarkable Correspondence.

The Chicago Tribune has given to the
public an interesting series of letters written
by c. P. Huntington of the Central Pacific
Railroad TO his confidential agent in Wash
ington. Friend Colton.' There are also
given with them few letters from Mr..
Croker one Of Mr.. Huntingtou's associates
In the railroad business. The subject mat
ter of the letters is the Southern Pacific
scheme, and the means of heading off
Thomas Scott's Texas Pacific project in
Congress. 1t is not only for the light thrown
upon the plots and motives of the rival Pa
cifc railroad companies and their managers.
that this correspondence is interesting. We
regret to say it will tend to confirm the pop
ular suspicion that members of Congress are
not always actuated by as honorable motives
as they would like to be credited with,
Huntington talks very plainly about certain
Congressman, chiefly those from the Pacific
coast, and prides himself upon his success
in getting the Senate committee on Pacific
Railroads made up in his interest, although
Scott afterwards succeeded in making one
S~~~ooO' Inv AZ bAiO WOllu buSsC lSJl6T3
were obtained for publication we do not
know. The Chicago Tribune received item
in proof slips from the San Francisco Chron-
icle. Nobody who has seen Mr.. Hunting
ton and heard him talk will question their
genuineness. They are highly characters
tic. He expresses great opinion of Scott's
ability who seems to have got a wonderful
power over the press as well as over public
men. There are about sixty of these let
ters. The following samples will give an
idea of their quality.
New YORK, Dec %, 1876
FRIEND CoLToN: I have Just returned
from Washington. The Doctor (Gwin) was unfor-
tunate about the Railroad Committee is. there
was not man put on The committee that was on his
hst,and must say was deceived; and he was often
with Kerr, and x. was at his rooms and spent near
ly one evening. The committee is not necessarily
Texas Pacific, but it is commercial committee
and have not much fear but that they can be con
WINGED hat is the right bill for the country If
things could have been left as we fixed them last
winter, there would have been little difficulty in
defeating Scatt's BILL bat heic only argument is it
is controlled by the Central. That does BOT amount
to much beyond this 1t allows members to vote for
Scott's bill for enc and give the other; that
it was to break up great monopoly, &c. If these
damned interviewers would keep out of the way it
would be much easier travelling. 1 send a few
clippings. Yours trGly
G. P. HUNTINGTON.
NEW YORK, Jan. II, 1888.
1 have received several letters and tele-
grams from Washington today, all calling me
there, as Scott will certainly pass his Texas Pacific
bill if do not come over, and shall go over to-
night, but think he could not pass his bill If T
should help him; but of course cannot know this
for certain and just what effort to make against
him is what troubles me. 1t costs money to fix
things so that would know his bill would not
pass. believe with 100000 can pass our bill.
but take it that it is not worth that much to us.
Yours truly, G. P. HUNTINGTON.
NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 1875.
Friend Cotton;
Scott is making terrible effort to pass
his BILL and he has many advantages with railroads
running out from Washington id almost every di-
rection which he gives free passes to every one
which he thinks can help him ever so little The
Texas Pacific seems to own almost every one in the
whole country. hear in very many of the large
towns there are parties holding stock in this con.
struction company, and they are all in Washington
working for the I. P. bill Then on our side we
have Sargent Booth Jones. Cole and Gorham in
the Senate to help us. Scott is working
mostly among the commercial men. He switched
Senator Spencer of Alabama and Walker of Virgin
Ia this week, but you know they be switched
back with the proper arrangements when they are
wanted; but scott asking for much that he can
promise largely to pay when be WINS and you know
keep on high ground. All the members in the
House from California are doing first rate except
Piper, and he is a - hog any way you can fix him.
wish you would write letter to LuttreIl saving
that say he is doing first rate and is very able &C.
and send me copy. Yours truly,
G. P. HUNTINGTON.
P. ST. will get you telegraph passes. H.
NEW YORK, Jan. IL, 1888.
Friend Cotton:
Scott is developing more strength for
his Texas and p than thought it possible for him
to do. He has all the country to bring in
huence to bear on their NJ. c. They have consider
abba money, as they have convinced severalparties
that thought we had sure. am doing all can,
but it Is the livelest fight ever in. l sent
man 70 Richmond, Va, Saturday, and one to AL