The record-union., 1891-09-25
COLLIS P. HUNTINGTON.
Some Peculiar Phases of His Re-
markable Character.
His Broad-Gauge Methods of Railroad
Management-Some Illustrations of
the Softer Side of His Nature-How
He Manages His Charitable Work.
Los Angeles Times. Sent. ootb. !

view OF his literary ability by the pub
hcatlon Of "a Plea for Railway Con-
solidation," !" in the North 1mericdR Re
Vteao. For many years he has been
known as an expert letter writer, and
long ago it was developed that even his
most confidential letters were written for
the public; in other words, he was al
ways speaking TO the galleries. Little as
1t has been known, AIr. Huntington is
man who does not believe that there
are any secrets. Not that he blazons his
business before the public, but that all Of
his actions are governed by the idea that
sooner or later they will be known to the
world. But when he makes an argument
IN favor Of any project, he deals with the
subject just as he talks in making a trade
presents all the good points on the side
for which he is contending, leaving the
oad ones to be discovered by his oppo-
nents. lie seldom tells too much on the
SIDE he tayors, and when he finds talk q
necessity, always has a story with which
to embelllSh his idea, leaving his hearers
to make the application.
viewed from every possible point of
observation. it can be said of Mr. Hunt
ington that he is the most remarkable
|
tury has produced in this country The
OLD adage that ''the rich despise those
tilat Halter too much and hate those that
do not fatter at at ALL" does not apply
to him. The 1latterer Of any degree at
once arouseS his suspicion, and he asks
himself, Nv hat does this person want?v
lie is purely u practical man Of business.
ana no man gains favor with him by
merely Indorsing his ideas, or by telling
MIN what great man he is. And it is
remarkable how quickly he can abandon
his own ideas for those which appeal to
MS experience as being better than those
which he had advocated. In this respect
he IS like unto sponge. When he comes
IN contact with man whose abilities he
respects, he has the faculty of provoking
an argument, and i'll short time he has
the best thoughts OF his adversary.
Ills greatest weakness Seemsto be his de-
sire TO be known only as successful man
OF business. And this weakness hides from
the public all Of the softer and better
qualities OF his nature. He seems to
want to be known as an unSwerving
persistent and unrelenting character, no
matter what may be the subject in hand,
and yet he is-as all men are who have q
weakness-exactly the opposite.
AS builder or railroads he seems al
ways to have been governed by the one
practical idea: "How much debt can this
y
build railways with the sole object of
wrecking them by overcharges in con-
Struction, as is the general rule, but is
content with the largest profit consistent
with the future life of the property, be-
cause he knows that if living margin is
left between the debts of construction and
the revenues of the property, in time the
stock will have value live or six times
greater than any wrecking profit in the
building would give him. He has not
always found the happy medium in this
direction, but the percentage of his mis-
takes has been so small that his judgment
can be regarded as wonderful indeed.
And this principle is the one he applies
IN the operation of his properties He
charges all that the traffic will bear. But
III doing this he certainly causes the ex-
ercise OF very fine discrimination, for it
must be admitted by all candid observers
that his properties on the Pacific Coast
have built up-though slowly-almost
every substantial industry by which the
public are benefited. Competition and
the consequent reduction in rates have.
with his properties, kept pace with the
increase of business. In ten years the
increase of business has been enormous
but the decrease IN rates has kept the net
revenues at about the same figure until
now the danger point seems to have been
passed, and hereafter an investment of 75
CGllbo w III ttl3 II dIi lIlIGGtSb ItIfOE 81.
But the business side of Mr.. Hunting
toms character is not the one of which [
would write. / prefer the softer side of
his nature, which he tries to hide under
the mistaken belief that no successful
general in war or commerce should be
known as having any gentle qualities.
Over a year ago l went into his Office in
New York and found him busy with
mail, which had accumulated during an
absence of two weeks. Before him was
batch of letters marked personal, which
he seemed to be reading with great care.
As soon as l was seated he said:
Il wish | could get a first-class man to
take charge of what little charity business
/ have, as that would relieve me of nv
most unsatisfactory work. / mean un-
satisfactory, because am never quite GER
tain that what | do is just what should
be done. l find myself influenced by i'm
pulse rather than judgment"
II think | could fill such an office sat
isfactorily," l said, ''if the salary is not
too small"
Very well, let me give you a trial.
What would you do in that case?'' and
he handed me letter.
l read the letter, which, as nearly as /
can remember, was as follows:
WASHINGTON, d. c., June 13, 1890.
hy Deor Hlu1tt'tgton When l saw you
here the other day / told you that would
need $500 at once, and you asked me to write
you at New York. comply with your reouest
and hope you will send me draft at once.
Yours, etc,
But l know nothing of the facts in
this case" / said
II will tell them to you. The writer is
nearly so years of age; was member of
Congress, United States Senator and for
eign Minister before the war, and Sena-
tor in the Confederacy, and also a Cen
eral, think, III the Southern armv For
some years | have been allowing him
$500 per month, but at times he gets ex-
travagant and spends his allowance before
it is due. Lately he has been doing this
frequently, and / am troubled about find
ing some way of holding him in check,
Why not send him the $500 and notify
him that you will not again pay him out
if he gets behind" / suggested.
That would do no good. / will send
hi m nnlr Sl6n with no n,-,,1n,,n4;-... -