Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-28
THE RAILROADS.
C. p. HUNTINGT0NS PLANS FOR
FUTURE ACTION.
The Work Contemplated Upon Ex-
tensions and New RoaLds-Mat-
tiers of Public Interest.
S. =. Call. Marc, d 9th.


Coils P. Huntington looks but littleelder
than he did a year ago. His thick beard
may be a trifle grayer, his hair a little
thinner, bit he seems tc retain all his old
time vigor, both of mind and body His
step is light, his ayes are clear and his
glance as keen as ever. OF the two sur
viving members of the big four who built
the Central Pacific, he is certainly the
more powerful. Apparently. he has years
of life before him. He talks freely and
agreeably his memory, apparently, is pro-
digious, as he betrsys the most complete
familiarity with every detail of his enor-
nous interests. both in California and
throughout the East. Ee owns and con-
trolls thousands of miles of railroad and
steamer lines; his possessions are practi-
caliy unlimited. He can travel from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, from Newport News
TO Portland, Oregon, over his own track,
something that neitherJay Gould nor Van
derbilt can do.
Mr.. Huntington is engaged now IN an in
spection of the Southern Pacific system.
He left New Orleans more than month
ago, and has been travelling every since.
HIS special train took him over the Next
can International to Torreon, thence to
Mexico City, where he was entertained by
President Diaz, whom be speaks of as a
man of great power and ability, who is
building up his country. Thence he has
been travelling by easy stages to this city.
He arrived here on Friday last and plunged
into business almost Immediately.
There iS NOTHING uDuSual in nv visit
here at this time" he said to Call reporter
last night. 4 have big interests in Cali
fornia and ana anxious to see how they are
getting along. The system is in good condi-
ton now, and is the best equipped line in
the country. We have plenty of rolling
stock and motive power and will have no
difficulty in handling whatever freight is
brought US. Rates are low, though" he
continued, eve are not getting what the
service is worth. Our earnings are large,
but so are our expenditures, and there
is not enough margin between them. That
is an unhealthy state of affairs and shows
that prices are not what they ought to be-"
DO you propose doing much in the way
of extensions this year," was asked.
About the usual amount" answered
Mr. Huntington. " We shall probably lay
about 200 miles of track in the State, about
the same as last year. There is nothing
special in contemplation. We shall proba-
bly, build some line in the San Joaquin
valley, and finish those now under con-
struction, put in line somewhere up
north, and do something in the Coast line
How much we shall do there cannot yet
say; propose visiting that country my
self to-see what the physical distractions
below Santa Margarita are like. If the
work is going to be very heavy. proba-
bly, we won't build at once if it is not, we
may do something soon. We will do our
building from this end, however; it is the
most practicable.
About local lines I'll have to talk to
Colonel Crocker. He knows more about
them than do. We may do little build
ing into Lake county, and we may cross it
to Nendocino county from Fruito, or per-
haps build another line from point fur
ther north-nearer Redding. 1t is too early
to telk about these matters at present, as
nothing has been decided regarding them
We may do little down Monterey way,
but how much or in what direction ] can
not say"
How about the financial standing of
the company" was asked.
:" 1t never was better replied Mr.. Hunt
ington. The Southern Pacific is one of
the most prosperous and strongest proper
money, and stands well. Its earning ca
paeity is great, and constantly increasing.
There is nothing in al this talk about
a change of management. There will be
no change. Mr.. Towne will remain here as
General Manager, and q most capable one
be makes. The operating and accounting
headquarters will always be here. and that
is about all there is of a railroad We might
decide to move the executive headquarters
20 New York that is, we would dictate the
policy of the company from there, but such
a move has not been discussed or talked of
il IS only possibility. There may be some
changes in the Directory. too. Mr.. Gage
may go East TO assist Senator Stanford he
is the Presidents assistant, you know.
Regarding the mortgage recently fled
on the Northern Railroad Company's prop
erty there is nothing to say. Ii is Just an
ordinary blanket mortgage, covering a
great many small lines of road we have
built recently. A portion of it is to take
up old bonds. The other bonds we will
float when 1t appears desirable 10 rs to do
son
How about the other Southern Pacific
extensions. Mr.. Huntington ?" was asked.
We don't intend building further north
than the Columbia river. The terminus of
oa-.systen is at Portland and will remain
lISIS. 1dCOlUG oGdNllt Out vi our
osiliwick. The California and Oregon
road regard as one of the best of our
lines 1t is good property and in a very
few years will be exceedingly prosperous.
L tFaverses a splendid country, and is
bound to increase in value. / wanted
that line for a long time, and it took me
three years to get 1.-THE stockholders were
all in Europe. 1t does not pay yet, but it
wiiliin time. | suppose if the Northern
Pacific owned the road it would be doing q
local business with our line on this side Of
the mountains. Instead, however, it is a
pretty brisk through line.
''lns1exico, the International will prob
ably De extended to Durango. That State
is probably the best in the union. The
mining interests there are ima ense. i
wrote 10 the Governor of Durango, offering
to build if he would do certain things
make certain concessions-and he promised
he would. 1t will take some little time to
bring them round. however. There is
plenty of freight at Durango. 1t is great
silver mining district, and there ese Just
millions CT tons of ore there on the dumps
ready 10 be moved by the fist railroad that
comes along. You can haul ore that will
yield three or four hundred dollars ton a
long way. We have a line surveyed and
located and there need be ne delay in start
ing "ofk lcSt rs Soon - We are Ieauy.
II am also building lines in Texas and
have of late done great deal to the Chesa-
peake and Ohio system. Ii is now in ssrst-
class conditions; the lines THAI ! own my
self always are. l like TO have them in
good order. l can run mike minate
over any Of nay own tracks.
"Yes," continued Mr.. Huntington, L
carried the Chesapeake and Ohio for a long
time. own about $40 600 shares of stock
in il. OF course | would sell it or any
other property have if | got my price,
though am not thinking of selling any
thing just at present. have just built g
road along the Ohio river on which there
is about le2,o0S feet of masonry. There