Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-04
AN INTERESTING C0RRESPOyDENC E.

AN INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE.
A series Of letters written in 1S1j--77 by
G. P. Huntington of the Central Pacific rail
road to his confidential agent In Washington,
"Friend Cotton" have just been made pub
lie, and an interesting lot Of epistles they are.
The subject matter IS the southern Pacific
railroad scheme, and the IN ans OF heading
off Thomas SCOTS Texas Pacific project in
Congress- Mr.. Huntington talks very plain
ly about certain Congressmen, chiefly those
from the Pacific coast, and pridcs himself
upon his success in getting the Senate COM
mittee on Pacific railroads made up in his
interest, although scott afterwards succeeded
in making one change. There are about six
ty of these letters The following samples
will give an idea of their quality:
New YoRK, Dec. %, 1916
Friend Cotton; | have Just re-
turned from Washington. The Doctor
(Gwiu) was unfortunate about the railroad
committeeman is, there was not man put
on the committee that was on his list and
must say was deceived aud he was often
with Kerr, aud h was at his rooms and
spent nearly one evening. The committee is
commercial committee, and have not much
fear but that they can be convinced that ours
is the right bill for the country. If things
could have been left as we fixed them last
Winter, there would have been little difficult
ty in defeating SCOTS bill but their only
argument is, it is controlled by the Central.
That docs not amount TO much beyond this.
1t allows members to vote for Scotl's bill for
one reason and give the other that it was
n IN nfrpaa NJ nltv nt . haze
damned intervlcwers would keep out of the
way it would be much easier travelling.
send a few clippings.
Yours truly,
{. p. uUNTINGToN.
New YORK, Jan. II, 1883
Friend Cotton:
have received several letters and
te'e!rams from Washington to-day, all call
Ing me there, as Scott will certainly pass bis
Texas Pacific bill if DO not come over, and
| shall so over tonight, but think he could
not pass his bill il should help him but OF
course | cannot know this for certain, and
just what effort to make against him is what
troubles me. Ii costs money to fix things SC
that | would know his bill would not pass.
believe with $500 600 can pass our bill, but
take it that It is not worth that much to US
Yours truly,
~ LIZ NilNplON.
New YORK, Jan. 80, 1876.
Friend Cotton
Scott is making terrible eff1r
to pass his bill, and he has many advantage.
with railroads running out from Washing or
in almost every direction on which he gives
free passes TO every one which he think!
can help him ever so little. The Texas Pa
cifc seems to own almost every one in til,
whole country. | hear in very many Of th
large towns there are parties holding stock il
this construction company, and they are all
in Washington working tor the 7. p. bill
Then on our side we have Sargent, Booth
Jones, Cole and Gorham in the Senate to hel,
us. Scott is working mostly auonl
the commercial men. He switched Senate
Spencer of Alabama and Walker Of ViriaiD
ia this week, but you know they can b.
switched back with the proper arrangement
when they are wanted; but Scott is askin
for 30 much that he can promise largely t
pay when he wins, aud you know | keep o.
high ground. All the members in the nnus
from California are doing frst tIale rxceu
Piper and he is a - hog any way Won ca
fix him. | wish You would write letter 4,
Luttrell saying that | say he is doing frs
Fate and is very able etc, aud send me
copy. Yours truly,
Z. p, HUNTINGTON.
New " <, Jan. II, 1877.
Friend Cotton;
Scott is developing more strengl
for his Texas and +. than thought it no
sible for him to do. He has men all over IN
country to bring Influence to hear on The
NJ. g. They have considerable money. ,
they have convinced several parties that
thought we haG sure. am doing all | Car
but 1t is the llyclicst fight l ever was in.
sent man to Richmond, Va, Saturday, an
n f., flot
ed by the legislatures against subsidies. If
can get Them it will control two members q
the railroad commi tee, and l want the
very much. vi course you will see the M
cesslty OF Keeping such matters to ourselye
l have not time to write more as il is mic n
and so to Washington at 0 p. m.
Yours truly,
&. 7. HUSTINGToN.
Huntington found Jay Gould very muc
in his way and says in one of his letters.
think him the worst man to do anytb,r
with ever knew" lie also pleasantly speal
of him as 'hog." After saying in anoth
letter that Gould and Dillon had been at b
house until midnight, and that thew new
seemed so much in favor of certain O. &,
company as they did then, he adds, "B
just whether that was sign TINT thew we
about to throw it overheard or take it in
camp is one of those things that do n
propose to risk any money on" In anoth
letter after narrating some statements of d
Ions to him he says 81 can hardly belle
that he lied to me but doubtful tbngs a
very uncertain Cotton having written
huntington That William b. Carr had be,
paid 100000 in S. p bonds and asking no
much he would be worth for the fu,ur
Huntington replies as follows:
That Is a very difficult question 10 ansve
as 90 not know how many years Mr.. Ca
mas been In our employ, or how far ia ii
future we shoul1 want him. In view of Il
many things we have now before Cmgres
and also In this sinking fund which we wi,
20 establish, IN which we propose 10 put {