The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-03

naturally acquainted with the topography
Il all sections Of the United States, to
which fact he naturally attributes some OF
his success in railroad building. He left
school in his fourteenth wear and went to
work for a ne ghb0r at 81 a month and
board. In his fifteenth year, with S175. he
went to New York City. There he pur-
chased a stock OF goods. principally watch
findings and jewelry, and also bought at a
heavy discount 2 number of unsolicited
notes due from the S0nth. and then for the
next six years travelled throughout the
country below Mason and DXon's line, be-
ing very successful in all his ventures. In
his twenty-hrst year, with his brother
Scion, he went into the merchandise bust
ness at Oue0nt3, OtSeg0 County, \. \. In
September, 1914, he married Elizabeth T.
Stoddard of Ltchield County. Conn,
charming woman of sterling character and
a member of one Of the best and oldest of
New highlands families. On March 10,
1879, MI Huntington sailed on the steamer
Crescent City for the ISthmus Of Panama,
en- route to California. On the isthmuS he
bought the outfits of many disappointed
emlgrants, and when re arrived here on
the steamer Humboldt he had a capital
of $1,000
Approaching the advantages of Sacra-
mentO as a distributing point TO the mines,
Huntington went there, and in May, 1854,
with Mark Hopkins, established the now
famous house OF Huntington, Hopkins ~
Co. In 1854 they cleared over 100000.
With that keen commercial instinct which
his early training had developed, Mr.. Hunt
lngton, as soon as he reached California,
appreciated the great advantages that would
a crue to this State were IL connected by
railroad with The East. The project Of
Pacific railroad was one which for years
had received the consideration of the most
able men of the country. Mr.. Huntington
saw that were eaST and quick cOmmunica-
fR4fp. A
boards OF the United States established it
would cause the cultivation of a vast area
OF land between the Missouri and the Sacra-
mentO, which, without such aid. would re-
main undevel0p d. While he had given this
matter much thought, it was not until 1861
that he berame actively engaged in an en-
terpliSe having for its object the passage of
the SleTraS with a railroad.
1t was in 1860 that Theodore D. Judah,
civil engineer, who had made surveys of the
mountain ranges with view Of ascertain
Ing the possibility of the construction Of a
railroad line across the mountains, an
nouHced that he had found practical route
by way of Dutch Flat in 1861. He returned
to Sacramento, and, at a meeting of citizens
he at the 81. Charles Hotel, assured the
people that lie had found a practical line,
but that he desired financial aid to enable
him 10 make a thorough survey. Many
small subscriptions were made at this meet
lug. but Mr. Huntington, who was present,
suhscrlb d nothing. He appreciated the
magnitude Of the proposition, and knew, as
he expressed il, that contributions TO
picnic would not have the desired effect.
He invited Mr.. Judah TO meet him. When
they met at Mr.. Huntingt0n's Office. the
latter agreed to secure six men who would
pledge themselves to pay the expenses OF
thorough survey across the mountains,
which the engineer estimated would cost
about S35,000. For this purpose Mr. Hunt
ingt0n associated with himself his partner,
Mark Hopkins, Leland Stanford, Charles
Cr0cker, l.. 4. Booth and James Bailey.
MI Judah, for his services, was TO have
One-Seyenth interest IN the prOntS of the en-
teTpTise. The associates determined upon
the Immediate construction OF the Dutch
Fiat road, which could be made profitable,
as Il would connect with WaEOn-rOad TO the
Comstock mines. The road was built to
Newcastle, but at that point, each member
of the syndicate having expended fully
$4,000 MeSSrs. Booth, Bailey and judah,
appalled, by the greatness OF the enterprise,
dropped out, leaving MeSSrS. Huntington,
HOPKINS. Stanford. Charles Croker and h.
Il. Croker aS tue sole projectors Of the road.
They formed the Central Pacific Railroad
Company Of California, with a capital of
$1,000. goo. AlT. Huntington went t. Wash
ingtOn during The season OF 1S6l-62, and there
secured the passage Of the bill OF 1862 and
1864 by which the Central Pacific entered
into a contract with the Government to
construct a railroad and telegraph line from
the Pacific Coast at or near San Francisco,
or the pavigaOie waters of the Sacramento,
to the eastern boundary Of California, hav-
ing the right to buHd eastward until it met
the Union Pacific. In ala Of the enterprise
the United States donated certain sections
Of public lands aud bonds. The entire rail-
road line between the Sacramento and the
Missouri was 10 be ready for use by July l,
1876.
The passage Of this act, due mainly to
the endeaYors Of Mr.. Huntington, who pre-
scented TO Congress- the great advantages 10
be derived by the country from the road,
was a great triumph for him and his ass0-
ciates. After this great battle in Overcom-
ing possible antagOnistic legislation and Sc
curing the passage Of a favorable bill be
went to New York City. to there encounter
the moneYed men of the country and en-
deaVOT TO lnstili in them such confidence in
the Central Pacific Railroad as would in
dGce them TO aid its building by purchasing
its bonds. In order 10 support his PROPOSE
ton he made himself and his four aSS0-
ciates, Stanford, Hopkins. Charles Croker
aud r. Is. CrGcker personally responsible
for the whole amount Of the bonds. They
pledged their private fortunes TO the con
structiOn Of the road. The success which
attended Mr.. HuntingtOn's efforts was far
greater than less able or daring men would
have ever hoped for. The manner in which
he secured support from tie many doubling
ones am0ng the Eastern capitalists IS now
part Of The cOuntry'S history. Besides his
heTculean work in floating the bonds OF the
new company he also acted as purchasing
agent At this time there was more cap
ital interested in the construction Of the
Central Pacific Railroad than in any othe