Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-02

place in the state. Alter o most exciting
canvass he was elected by plurality o.
| over 90, 900 votes. Almost the first topic
discussed in his inaugural was the impor
tance of Pacific railroad. He remembered
when a boy hearing his father talk with Asa
Whitney. one of the engineers of the Al.
bany and Schenectady, the first railroad
built in this country, as to the feasibility of
constructing railroad across the continent
to Oregon. and the idea of Pacific railroad
appears always to have had an attraction
for him.
Before 1860 the rich silver strike had been
made in Nevada which was afterward
known as the Comstock lode. This drew a
large emigration to the new mines and great
quantities of supplies were transported over
the Slerras by mule and OK teams. There
was also considerable trade carried on with
Salt Lake and the country north OF it. The
project presented itself to Stanford that if
the construction of railroad across the
mountains was feasible a monopoly of this
business might be secured, and if, as he felt
confident, the venture proved successful it
would result eventually in the building of
transcontinental line. c. P. Huntington,
Charles Crocker and Mark Hopkins, who
were also merchants in Sacramento at the
time, were consulted and it was decided to
make personal inspection of the proposed
route. General Judah, an accomplished
engineer, accompanied the party and they
STARTED ON HORSEBACK
to climb the summit of the Sierra. The
engineer saw serious obstacles to the build
ing ofa railroad, but he was oyerruled and
1t was decided to make the attempt. A
railroad company was incorporated July 1,
1861, though little work was done till the fall
OF 1863, and in July, 1854, the first 80 miles
were graded.
1--WE knew the only competitors of rail-
road, said the Governor, "would be the
mule and OK teams then used, and therefore
we should be able to ask price for trans
portation which would justify the construc-
tion of the road.
''Stanford's Pacific railroad scheme" as
1T was then sneeringly spoken of by San
Francisco capitalists, was considered a very
doubtful enterprise, and until after 1864 no
one would have anything to do with it. 1t
does not speak very well for the business
foresight OF our people that only ten shares,
amounting to 81, 900, were subscribed for in
this city. The work went ahead, however,
through all sorts of difficulties, both natural
and financial. The last spike was driven at
Promontory Point, Utah, May 10, 1869, and
an electric wire attached to the silver ham
die of hammer held in Stan iord's hand
flashed the tidings across the continent. At
the conclusion of his Gubernatorial term
Stanford refused all political preferment,
remarking that she would rather build the
Central Pacific Railroad than be President
of the United States" and he never held
any public Office until his election to the
United States Senate in 1885.
The business success of the venture of
Stanford and his associates, three or four
country merchants, was something marvel
GUS. The first ten years their net cash earn
1ngs amounted to nearly $40, 600, 900, and
the corporation acquired richer property
than the East India Company during the
two and half centuries of its existence.
A LOVER OF HORSES.
Fifteen years ago Senator Stanford bought
Mohawk Chief, son of Rysdick's Hamble-
tonian, General Benton and some 80 head of
brood mares of Lexington stock and at Palo
Alto, 80 miles south of this city, started his
breeding farm, the products of which have
become famous all over the world. He now
has nearly 500 animals there of all ages
from the newly dropped foal to the great
sire, Electioneer, over q years old. Here
was bred Bell Boy, who sold over year ago
for $50, 900; Hinda Rose, who has 3-year-
old record of 2:19%, and Sunol, with g.
year-old record of 2:18, late sold to Robert
1t is at Palo Alto that the Leland Stanford,
Jr., University, established in memory of
his only son, who died at Florence, Italy, a
few years ago, IS located. No institution of
learning was ever founded for which its pro-
jector had loftier aims and more liberal pur-
poses than this. AS set forth in the grant
of endowment, the university is intended
s'to qualify students for personal success
and direct usefulness in life and to promote
the public welfare by exerting an influence
in behalf of humanity and civilization;
teaching the blessings of liberty regulated
by law and inculcating love and reverence
derived from the inalienable rights of man
to life, liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness"
COST OF THE GRAND GIFT.
Both sexes are to be admitted, and the ad-
vantages will be shared alike by male and
female 1t is expected that the university
will be ready for the reception of students
October next. The cost of the buildings,
which will probably exceed So, coo, 900, is not
included in the endowment of real estate,
cash, Libraries, etc., which will amount to |
$40, ,000, 900 in value. No such princely eu-
lowment was ever bestowed upon an institu- |
ion of learning before.
Senator Stanford is splendid specimen |
If American manhood. He is large and |
imposing. He has a massive, deep head: |
prominent jaws; round, close shut mouth; |
'uperlative gray eyes, which OF late years,
'1nce the loss OF his son, have assumed a |
inge of sadness; high forehead, and his
ace has frmness, energy and intelligence
depicted on every feature. His voice is
pleasant and we'll modulated, and he is a
most interesting talker. He dresses very
plainly, though with care and neatness.
When in San Francisco he rises at 7:3O
very morning, eats hearty breakfast and
walks to his office, distance of q mile and
half. He lunches in the railroad building
md at o'clock walks home. He is simple
n his habits, democratic in his manner and
asily approached. Like all other successful
nen, Leland Stanford has strong enemies,
'ut by the people of California generally