Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-10
THE PRESIDENCY OF THE SOUTHERN
PACIFIC COMPANY,

>~>~ ~AAs
The retirement of Governor Stanford
from the Presidency of the Southern Pa
cifc Company is not a matter that in any
respect affects the interests of that COM
pany or the relation of the corporation to
transportation interests, or the people of
the State. 1t is, in fact, more formal than
otherwise, and is in line with desire long
entertained by the Governor. The syndi-
cate which constructed the first transcon-
tinental railroad, and which built up and
has maintained the great railway system
of the State, and largely of the coast,
more than any similar organization i'm
pressed their thought upon the material
Interests of the country. In the concep-
tion and heroic execution of the far-seeing-
ing scheme that has given California the
splendid system of railroads it now enjoys,
the combination referred to, acting as an
association, merged the individuality of
the members into an undistinguishable
personality. So it comes about that the
names Of Messrs. Huntington, Stanford,
Crocker and Hopkins are indissolubly
emitted, irrevocably linked for all time
with the great enterprise of which they
were the founders. 1t was by conjoint ac-
tion, by united purpose and steadfast faith
in their undertakings, that they accom-
piished the great works for which they
have been and are Justly distinguished.
Hence it is that no consideration of the
development and upbuilding of the State
and coast is possible that does not embrace
The joint labors, the executive capacity
and the far-seeing wisdom associated in
separately with those names.
When therefore one of the survivors of
the little band that laid the lines and
built the sunerstructure of the California
system of railways takes up the Presi-
dency of the board of control that another
1ays down, it Is not an event that marks
an epoch in the history of Pacific coast
transportation interests, or that in any way
whatever will affect their future history.
for the mere change of positions in the
board of Direction does not reflect change
Ct policy or mean the withdrawal from
the great industry of any surviving mem
ser of the syndicate that gave birth to,
and whose genius has brought the railroad
sytem to its present high standard. That
IS to say, there is no dissolution of part
nership, no dissipation of strength no
severance of the ties that have bound
these men hand and heart, these many
years in the prosecution of the great en-
terprises that have had such a mighty in
huence in shaping the destiny and devel-
oping the empire of State upon the Pacific
coast. The Presidency of the Southern
Pacific Company has not really been
matter of personality; it has resided, as it
viii continue to do, in the unanimous con-
currence of the great leading proprietors
Of the roads. Under such a compact and
strength-creating system official position
Las had less significance than in any other
railroad directorate in the entire country.
Governor Stanford remains upon the
Board OF Directors. His voice will be
what it has been in the company as one
of the Directors; his mastery executive
ability and his far-seeing wisdom, con-
jointly with his associates, will continue
TO be felt in the government of the great
interests that are so closely related to the
prosperity and growth of the State.
Relief from the duties of presiding officer
will give Governor Stanford more time to
forward the great industrial and educa-
tional schemes with which his name is
linked and that SO nearly concern the
welfare Of the State. The respect and
gratitude of many thousands of people
who know him, and the many other
thousands who know of him, will accom-
pany him in his partial retirement.
Were it not that it would make this ar
s;cle too extended, it would be very
gratifying task to refer at length to tie
position Governor Stanford holds in the
hearts and the esteem of the people of
this State; to refer somewhat extendedly
10 the many great enterprises in which he
has interested himself, with view to
developing the State, and securing it a
heritage of wealth, industry and intelli-
gence that will make California known
proudly to the ends of the earth, and
secure for her lofty place among the
commonwealths of the world But since
the mere change of official position from
one to another of the syndicate of railroad
promoters is not of special significance, a
more appropriate occasion for a review of
the services of Governor Leland Stanford
to his adopted State will offer and be
avsiled of.
Mr.. c. p Huntington, who relieves
Governor Stanford of the duties of pre-
siding officer of the Southern Pacific
Company, has, as already stated, been in
separately related to the railroad interests
of the State and coast since their incep-
ton, and in the syndicate of railroad
builders which merged the individuality
of its members, he has been, from the out
set, one Of the directing minds. Person
ally it is to be said of Mr.. Huntington
that he is the first financial genius, the
strongest executive mind, and has the
broadest and most comprehensive abilities
of living Americans. The indication
is, say newspaper reports, that
he will make California his residence,
since his earliest triumphs are part and
parcel of the history of the State, and his
duties as President will require him to be