Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-28
THE RAILROADS.
C. p. HUNTINGToN'S PLANS FOR
FUTURE ACTION.
The Work Contemplated Upon Ex-
tensions and New RoaAds-Mat-
tiers of Public In terest.
S. r. Call, March 9th,

S. 4. Call, Marc 9th.
Coils P. Huntington looks but littleoide
than he dida year ago. His thick beard
may be triae grayer, his hair little
thinner, bet he seems tc retain all his old
time vigor, both of mind and body. His
step is light, his eyes are clear and his
glance rs keen as ever OF the two sur
vivlng members Of the big fouy who built
the Central Pacific, he is certainly the
more powerful. Apparently. ne has years
of life before him. He talks freely and
agreeably his memory, apparently, is pro-
digious, as he betrays 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 neither.Jay 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 unusual in my visit
here at this time, T" he said to Call reporter
last night. Il 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, 1--WE 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 osee 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 il
to Mendocino county from Fruito, or per.
haps.build another line from point FUR.
Their north-nearer Redding. II 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"
Z. 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.
ties in the country. 1t owes but little
money, and stands we'll Its earning ca.
paeity is great, and constantly increasing
There is nothing in al this talk about
a change of management. There will BIZ
no change. Mr.. Towne will remain here as
General Manager. and most capable one
be makes. The operating and accounting
headquarters will always be here. and thai
all 81 l.
decide to move the executive headquarters
TO New York that is, we would dictate the
policy of the company from there, but such
move has not been discussed or talked of
il IS only possibility. There may be some
changes in the Directory, too. Mr.. Gage
nay go East to assist Senator Stanford; be
is the Presidents assistant you know.
Regarding the mortgage recently fled
on the Northern Railroad Company's prop.
erty there is nothing to say. Il is Just an
ordinary blanket mortgage, covering q
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
feet when 1t appears desirable to Us to dc
so"
How about the other Southern Pacific
extensions. Mr. Huntington ?" was asked
We don't intend building further north
tEEl tue AOiulupid IlNtF- ne tcTIulnuS o.
o0-.system is at Portland and will remain
there. Tacoma and Seattle are out of oul
bailiwick. The California and Oregon
road regard as one of the best OF our
lines. II is good property and in a very
few years will be exceedingly prosperous
Il tFsverses splendid country, and Il
bound to increase in value. / wanted
that line for long time, and it took me
three years to get 1.-THE stockholders were
ali in Europe. 1t does not pay yet, but i
wilis1n time. / suppose If the Northern
Pacific owned the road il would be doing
iocah5usiness with our line on this side O,
the mountains. Instead, however, it is
pretty brisk through line.
''InsIexico. the international will prob
ably be extended to Durango. That State
is probably the best in the union. Th,
mining interests there are imEE ense
wrote to the Governor of Durango, offerine
to build if he would do certain things
make certain concessions-and he promised
he would. 1t will take some little time Il
bring them round, however. There il
plenty Of freight at Durango. 1t is q grea
silver mining district and there ese jus
millions CT tons of ore there on the dump;
ready 10 be moved by the first railroad tina
cones along. You can haul ore that viii
yield three or four hundred dollars ton G
long way. We have a line surveyed ano
located and there need be nc delay in start
ing work est as soon as We are ready.
Il am also building lines IN Texas anG
have of late done great deal to the Chesa
peske and 9hio system. 1t is now in tsrst-
class condition; the lines thai ] own my.
self always are. | like TO have them in
good order can run a mae q minate
over any o. nay own tracks.
tsVao - ro,tinraI Nv unnf,nutop Al
carried the Chesapeake and Ohio for lone
time. ! own shout 10000 shares of stock
in it. 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 9
road along the Ohio river on which there
is about B2o06 feet of masonry. There