The record-union., 1895-10-08
THE RAILROAD BUILDER OF THE
PACIFIC COAST.

States. It's pages are cnlelly uoFOtoo w
transportation upon inland waters, and
the publication is accompanied by map
showing the navigable rivers within the
boundaries of the Nation. The map Is
in outline merely as to States presenting
leading geographical features only in the
way OF placing the principal cities OF Inc
country in their proper relations. Inc
rivers are outlined with distinctness. but
special emphasis in high color is given 10
their nayigable portions Thus the map
presents a striking appearance to the eye'
and il is seen at once, without the trouble
of detailed examination, just what por-
tions of the national domain are served
by navigable inland waters. 1t requires
but glance at this map to show that,
except as to the Missouri River, which is
designated as navigable to Fort Benton,
the navigable waters of this country lie
east of the rinety-6fth meridian. Inc
Columbia River, q short distance of the
lower courses OF the Snake River, the
Sacramento River TO Red Bluff, the San
Joaquin River to Firebaugh's Ferry and
the Colorado River a short distance above
Yuma constitute all the red lines to be
seen on the face of the map of the terri
tory west of the ninety-titth meridian.
With these slight exceptions. territory
embracing 100000 square miles is de-
void OF navigable water.
This statement of geographical fact
brings into view 3 commercial considera-
ton relating to railroads. 1t means
simply that the internal commerce OF
little more than half of the national do
main is dependent entirely on the con-
struction and the operation OF railroads
The populations now occupying this
1000. 900 square miles are wholly depend
ent upon the railroads constructed for
their benefit. These populations are
small, and in most instances migratory
and transient. This latter statement Is
peculiarly applicable to the mining re-
gions of the country lying west of the
ninety-fif meridian, and embraces
within it's category Nevada, Arizona.
Utah, Idaho Montana and about one-half
of the area of California.
We recently called attention to the fact
that of the ,20S, 900 people found in Cali
fornia by the census takers Of 1890, all
but 3SI, 900 resided in the cities and towns.
Railroad construction, therefore, in the
territory mentioned was in the beginning
projected under conditions which consti-
tuted the highest risk of profitable re-
turn. The populations occupying the
100000 square miles do not exceed
4,5OO,O people. And yet the one thing
which this territory possesses and which
will remain an invaluable Inheritance is
completely adequate railroad system.
The pioneer of the gigantic undertak-
ing of supplying the western half Of the
United States with railroads was the Cen
trail Pacific Railroad Company, which
constructed railroad from Sacramento
to Promontory Point, and the controlling
personality of that great undertaking was
c. P. Huntington. That trunk line con-
stituted the basis of railroad construction
in the arid West, and it has expanded into
a system of trunk and branch lines,
which, when all the circumstances are
considered, are marvels of human enter
prise and energy.
It would be within the bounds of ac-
curate statement to say that @. P. Hunt
ington has brought into this western
territory $500, 900, 600. which have been
used in the construction of railroad sys-
tenn entirely indispensable to the growth
and prosperity, or even to the mainte-
nance. of population upon the ground.
The contemporaries of men may be in
full possession of the facts which consti-
tute their life work, but they seldom oc-
oupy the point Of view which inspires
them to accord to their oo-laborers that
full and complete justice which is so
freely bestowed by the biographer, and
30 readily accepted by succeeding gen.
eratIons. Misrepresentation and detrac-
ton during the lifetime OF a benefactor of
his kind give place to lsudation and en-
comium when his living personality no
longer antagonIzes interests. excites
jealousy, or inspires envious malevo-
lenoe. We hazard nothing Of impartial
conclusion in saying that but one man
has lived In modern times who could
have accomplished the gigantic work OF
bringing $500, ,0OO, 900 into the sparsley
settled regions of the West, and convert
ing it into factor Of perpetual produc-
ton by the construction OF indispensable
lines of commercial transportation. That
this has been accomplished, no one will
deny. That the Southern Pacific Rail
way system. now serving the Pacific
States and Territories, has been con-
structed far in advance Of the invitation
which development constantly extends
is equally undeniable. That chiefly to
the energy. foresight, administrative
ability and financial genius OF C. p.
Huntington the existence of that system
is due is incontrovertible.
The most cursory glance at the hydro
graphic map already alluded to is suffi-
cient to disclose the fact that the nation
we call the United States resides east OF
the Missouri River; that in a commercial
sensa the territory living west of thai