The record-union., 1891-04-24
HE LIKES SACRAMENTO.
President Huntington's Admiration for
His Old Home.
He Would Rather Live Here Than
Elsewherc-Some Promised
improvements.

SCSlSIudy aiIerDOOl, on MS TeIuTH IIOIu
trip up the west side of the Sacramento
River as far as Marysville, whittier he
went to examine the recently-constructed
branch between that city and Knights
Landing. He was accompanied by Gen
eral Manager a. \. Towne, eX-United
States Senator Fair, Division Superin-
tendent J. b. Wright of this city, w. G.
Curtis, Engineer William Hood and n.
d. Rideout.
Mayor Comstock and a delegation of
citizens, composed Of Trustee McLaugh
lin, II. Weinstock, Senator Dray, G. a.
Luhrs, L. X. Alsip and G.. +. Adams,
called upon Mr.. Huntington in his pri-
Yate car for the purpose of directing his
attention to the matter of having China
Slough reclaimed.
After the members Of the committee
had been introduced to Mr.. Huntington
several Of whom, however, Were known
to him, personally-Maior Weinstocz, at
the request of the Mayor, explained the
chief object of the committees visit. He
said the slough, in its past and present
condition, has been and still is menace
TO the health of the city, as well as an
eyesOre to the public, and it was believed
that it was only necessary to have the
the matter, and that they would realize
the necessity of filling the basin and max
ing valuable property out Of that which
is now useless.
Mr.. Huntington listened attentively to
what Major WeinStOck had to say, and
then replied:
"Well, gentlemen, think understand
the subject. am familiar with the slough
and its surroundings, for, you know, l
lived here in Sacramento some fifteen
years myself. 1t is desrous that the basin
be filled, but the cost would be very
great, and the railroad company has had
no money to spare except for needed i'm
provements. Wenever keep any money.
True, we take in a great deal, but it is paid
right out again for rolling stock, track
building, machine shops, wages of en-
ployes, and so forth, and somehow it
seems as if we couldn't get much ahead.
l have been borrower Of money for
nearly fifty years, but I am pleased to be
able to say that our company is borrow
ing less to-day than at any time during
its existence, and I have strong hopes Of
its soon being practically out of debt.
Il have not had time during my pres
ent visit to the coast" continued Mr..
Huntington, Ito spend any time in Sac
ramento, as / had hoped to do. And then
the Governor has not been feeling very
well, besides being busily engaged III
preparing for his reception of President
have not been able to give the time we
had wished TO the consideration Of this
and other matterS.'
This is to us SacramentanS a matter of
considerable importance, Mr.. Hunting
tom remarked Major WeinstOck.
Yes, l am aware of that" replied Mr..
Huntington, land for that reason / feel
an interest in it; but you must remem-
Der that our company operates many
thousands of miles of railroad, and that
almost every place Of any size along the
routes wants something done for it. How
ever, like Sacramento, and wish TO see
the city prosper. And / say to you, gen
temeu, that / know of no place in all
this country where l would rather live
than right here i'll Sacramento. You have
more pleasant days the year round than
are enjoyed by the people Of any other
part OF the country.
Why" continued Mr. Huntington, a
pleasant smile spreading over his face,
when | lived here l thought there was
no place and no climate so nice. In the
early springtime l used to get me a loose
fitting suit of thin blue flannel, and | can
remember how comfortable felt through
the summer days. There was always
soft bit of breeze here in the afternoon
just the edge, as it were, of the ocean
winds that are so cold in San Francisco.
If / didn't have to work so hard when
come out to the coast, I would spend lust
Sacramento. But, you see, find so much
to do, so many places to visit, so many
things to look after, that almost before
l know it my time is up, and | have
10 speed back TO the East again.
And now, as regards the filling of the
slough, l am In favor of having il done.
Some work Will be required in the way
Of surveys, and estimates Will have to be
made as to the number of cubic yards of
earth required, and all that, and if we
find that the expense comes within rea-
son l have no doubt the work viii be
DONE"
Yes, remarked Mr.. Alsip, "and see
what valuable property you will have
after the slough has been tilled.n
Mr.. Huntington's eyes twinkled know
ingly as he replied: "Oh, as to the bust
ness side of the proposition, there isn't
much in its favor. / could go over as far as
street and buy all the land we need for
far less money than it would cost To fill
the'slough."
Mr.. Adams suggested that the city
might aid III the work and stand por-
uon of the expense.
NO" replied Mr.. Huntington, ''if it
was any other place than Sacramento,
where our road first took its start, |
might consent to that; but am in favor of
having this large basin reclaimed, and
having our company do it at its own
expense. That is because we like Sac
l.
Why, gentlemen, it would surprise you
to know the enormous amount Of money
that we have buried here beneath our
shops and tracks in reclaimiug this
locality. 1t was not sound business
proposition in the first place TO locate our
works in this spot. l believe we could have
gone east of Tenth street and purchased
athousand acres of real estate for less
money than has been buried here.
II did not" he added, 'at. first favor
the location of our shops in this spot.
looked at the matter as "A business prop
OSitiOn, but my associates took another
view Of il, and l gracefully submitted;
Gnd now / am glad ] did, chiefly for the
reason that our improvements here stand
a a bulwarE between the city and all
danger from floods in this direction"
Turning to General Manager Towne,
Mr. Huntington said: 81 suppose there
Is little doubt, Mr.. Towne, but that we
shall need more room here soon?"
We shall, !" replied the latter, Indeed,
we need more now"
W ell, gentlemen" said Mr.. Hunting
ton, you may rest assured that we will
give the matter our early attention. At
least; we c2n have portion of the basin
hliGI NJ first, and presume ii will make
no ulherence TO the people of Sacramento
which portion we reclaim at first"
No., replied one OF the committee
men; but how would it do TO have it all
hlSd 10 water hight, even if it did not go
higher for Ii timer"
What would be the object of that ?''
inquired Mr.. Huntington.
''Well, it would improve the sanitary
condition" was the reply.
II tmnk, SAID MIR. Huntington, ''you
are mistaken on that point. The sanitary
condition would not be greatly improved
with the water SO near the surface. No.
it would be better to ill it clear nm rs we
hg4f gHnlG ~ &,